Communications vendor Alcatel-Lucent is embarking on a UK channel recruitment drive in a bid to sign up more data and security VARs.

The company recently launched its OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian and OmniAccess 8550 Web Services Gateway security offerings and is hoping to woo UK and Ireland VARs to sell the products. The vendor is also on the lookout for resellers to take on its enterprise data portfolio and earmarked its OmniSwitch 6850 range of LAN switches as an attractive proposition for potential partners.

Alcatel-Lucent has also spruced up its business partner training programmes which will now include technical training for its full complement of data and security products. The sessions will also provide new and existing partners with an increased emphasis on sales methodologies.

David Parker, Alcatel-Lucent's vice president of UK and Ireland enterprise activities said: “As we bolster our position in the UK and Ireland data market and establish ourselves as a leading provider of enterprise security solutions, it is vital that we have similarly ambitious and skilled partners on board.

"Furthermore, with end users recognising the vast potential of IP solutions to enable dynamic communications, it is no longer acceptable for resellers to just pitch one-size-fits-all technology at these organisations. Our training helps partners take a new approach to sales, understanding end user business needs and demonstrating how Alcatel-Lucent solutions can transform their businesses by turning every interaction into a business opportunity.”

New recruit Abraxas, which specialises in the finance sector, will focus on selling the OmniAccess 8550 Web Services Gateway into financial institutions. Managing director Iain Roache said: “None of Alcatel-Lucent’s competitors has a product similar to the Web Services Gateway. Combining this with our financial sector expertise positions us well to target the large number of organisations looking to tighten their information security procedures and improve the secure flow of data within their business.

"Furthermore, our environmental focus is to reduce the carbon impact of these companies through the deployment of smart technology, and with its emphasis on low power consumption, the Alcatel-Lucent product range certainly fits the bill.”