OnLine Distribution adds Fortinet security solutions to its product offerings

Partnership helps Fortinet expand its regional presence in the Middle East; enables OnLine to deliver a full range of network and application-level services in integrated, easily managed platforms

Dubai, 08 September 2004: OnLine Distribution, the Middle East's leading distributor for networking products and solutions, has announced its distribution agreement with Fortinet, the only provider of ASIC-powered, network-based antivirus firewall systems for real-time network protection. With this agreement, OnLine can now offer its channel partners premier, integrated security solutions to thwart viruses, worms, Trojans and other content-based attacks.

"Fortinet stood out as a company that we believe represents the qualities for not only leading but defining network security through its ASIC-based high-performance technology that is quickly being recognized as an essential element for real-time network protection," said Keith Rich, Managing Director for OnLine Distribution.

Fortinet's award-winning FortiGate series of ASIC-accelerated antivirus firewalls detect and eliminate the most damaging, content-based threats from email and Web traffic such as viruses, worms, intrusions, inappropriate Web content and more in real time without degrading network performance. In addition to providing application-level protection, the FortiGate systems deliver a full range of network-level services including firewall, VPN, intrusion detection, intrusion prevention, content filtering, traffic shaping and anti-spam, providing complete network protection services in dedicated, easily managed platforms.

"Enterprises in the Middle East, and around the world, are vulnerable to so-called "content-based" network attacks, such as viruses, worms and Trojans that are being introduced into organizations via seemingly innocuous activities such as Web browsing," said Andre Stewart, Fortinet's regional director for Southern Europe and the Middle East. "Unfortunately, conventional network protection systems, such as firewalls and host-based antivirus software, lack the dedicated hardware required to perform the deep packet analysis. Fortinet solves this by providing all the necessary applications in one integrated channel friendly security platform that offers easy manageability, configuration and real time protection."

OnLine, operating as a Value Added Distributor covering the Middle East, will identify key partners to take the benefits of Fortinet products to the marketplace. This is in addition to its traditional role of pricing and logistical support.

"Our role is to build requisite skill sets in the channel community and provide them with technical inputs as well as sales and marketing resources to drive the business jointly," continued Rich.

OnLine is focused on the value-add sale of products and service to resellers of data network solutions, systems integrators and network service providers across the Middle East. This partnership is a further consolidation in OnLine's efforts towards providing a complete bouquet of cutting edge security products to a broader group of solution providers in the Middle East. Fortinet's integrated approach to stopping threats at the gateway will bring a new dimension to the highly focused technology security solutions and services that OnLine provides to its resellers and systems integrators.

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About OnLine Distribution
OnLine Distribution Ltd. based in the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone of Dubai, U.A.E., is a value added distributor of data networking products operating throughout the Middle East, Western Asia and North Africa. It is a subsidiary of Datatec, an international networking and IT services group with operations in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.

OnLine serves its customers, companies providing network integration services, not only with industry leading products but with a range of services including logistics, network design, technical support, sales support and marketing programs.

With over 40 highly qualified employees that have a combined Middle East experience of 250 years, OnLine carries extensive regional support to both its vendors and channel partners in the region, with a special focus on networking solutions.

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