Saudi-based Naizak Global Engineering Systems said it has signed a value-added distributorship agreement with Blue Coat Systems, a leading provider of web security and wide area network (WAN) optimization solutions.

A leading engineering & IT conglomerate in the Kingdom, Naizak, will help build the partner network across the Middle East and distribute the entire range of market-leading Blue Coat solutions for WAN optimization, application performance management and Web security.

The core area of focus will remain on expanding the Blue Coat WAN optimization business in the region, as this is a technology that  Naizak has been a key market player in since 2005, said a top company official.

"Requirements for WAN optimization are changing and must include all important applications and content, including Web, cloud and video," remarked Salim Abdulghani, regional manager at Naizak Distribution Services.

"To meet traditional requirements as well as new ones, we are pleased to partner with Blue Coat. Its unique technology is extremely relevant in today’s context where businesses are struggling to contain costs and stay competitive in a rapidly changing economy,” he added.

Blue Coat Proxy SG appliances accelerate and optimize email and file access in addition to enterprise applications, live and on-demand video, web content and cloud-based software-as-a-service applications, said Hussam Abusamra, regional director – Enterprise, Middle East & Turkey at Blue Coat Systems.

“As a value-added distributor, Naizak has built a solid reputation as a company that has the experience, technical expertise, market coverage and drive that can help technology vendors more fully reach the Middle East market."

"It has been a trusted source for WAN optimization solutions since 2005, and gives Blue Coat access to important, new resellers who specialize in WAN optimization," Abusamra added.

Abdullah Dakroub, sales manager at Naizak Distribution Services in Dubai, said the bandwidth cost in the Middle East was very high and a matter of real concern for the majority of businesses today.

"CIOs and IT managers are constantly looking for ways to manage and accelerate critical business applications without constantly adding expensive bandwidth upgrades or changes to their network infrastructure," he noted.

Another key complementary product is the Blue Coat PacketShaper appliance that provides visibility and control over today’s web-heavy traffic by its unmatched auto-classification capabilities.

PacketShaper appliances allow IT managers to monitor network application performance, categorize and manage Web traffic, guarantee quality-of-service for business-related applications, and contain the impact of undesirable traffic.

“Blue Coat’s versatile and complete infrastructure solutions manage, optimize and secure the flow of information to users on any network, anywhere in the world. Its suite of products will add a lot of value to our existing product and services portfolio,” added Abdullah Dakroub.

Naizak, a subsidiary of Al Abdulkarim Holding Company, maintains a network of offices in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.-TradeArabia News Service