Application data security vendor Imperva has launched its first tiered channel programme to swell its mid-market presence.

Under the new PartnerSphere programme, Associate partners are required to have two certified sales staff, while higher-level Premier partners need two certified sales and four certified technical staff.

Imperva is reviewing where its seven UK partners, which includes Vistorm and Blue Cube, will sit in the new set up.

Mark Kraynak, vice president of global marketing, said more mid-market firms are moving to protect themselves from data breaches and comply with Payment Card Industry regulations.

The vendor has just launched SecureSphere Standard Edition, its first product for mid-market firms.

“We were seeing traction in the mid-market and needed a product specifically designed for that,” said Kraynak. “There will be a new set of partners focused on the mid-market that will start at Associate level.”

He claimed the application data security market is worth about $1.5bn (£832m) annually and is growing at 30 per cent.

Rob Swainson, managing director of Blue Cube, said: “We would have preferred it if things had stayed the same, but we knew Imperva would move to a broader model.”
Imperva tackles PCI compliance market.