Big Switch Networks inks new Aussie distie agreement with Orca Tech

Data Center networking company Big Switch Networks has announced it has signed on Orca Tech as a value-added distributor (VAD) in Australia.

Based in Sydney (but operating nationally), Orca Tech specialises in cybersecurity and analytics and will distribute Big Switch's network packet broker, Big Monitoring Fabric (Big Mon), and its data center switching fabric, Big Cloud Fabric.

Orca says it is the only independent value-added distributor solely focused on the IT Security marketplace, with a product/vendor portfolio that specifically focuses on security expertise.

Beyond Big Switch, it currently has seven vendor partners, including Forcepoint, Checkpoint, vArmour, Extrahop, Bitglass and Cyber Risk Aware.

Big Switch Networks ANZ managing director Steve Coad says, "Orca Tech is a nimble distributor with serious credentials in cybersecurity and monitoring.

"The company has quickly become the distributor of choice for next-generation, software-driven companies like Big Switch Networks. We can't wait to get to work with Orca Tech to drive support for Big Switch's software-defined networking solutions across Australia." Orca Tech general manager Craig Ashwood says Big Switch provides innovative solutions that are disrupting the data center market, and will serve as a valuable vendor partner for the distributor. "Big Switch Networks' solutions are switching up traditional data center networking," Ashwood says.

"We're excited to dig in with Big Switch to offer our shared customers intelligent, predictive and cloud-native solutions for their software-defined data centers—as this is where the market is headed. We see Big Switch as a natural extension to our portfolio as its solutions complement our current vendor line up in many ways.

Ashwood also says Big Switch's existing relationship with fellow vendor partner Extrahop will also provide another element value to its partner community.

"Our partners are seeking comprehensive solutions to differentiate their offerings and Big Switch helps meet this requirement. A key example is the partnership between Big Switch and ExtraHop to provide pervasive monitoring and unparalleled visibility into all network activity more cost-effectively." ExtraHop and Big Switch have an existing partnership for the delivery of a scaled-out solution for deep application visibility and security.

The joint solution - consisting of ExtraHop's stream analytics platform with Big Switch's SDN-based Big Monitoring Fabric - offers real-time insight into performance and security issues, both on-premise and in public cloud environments.

Orca Tech will join Big Switch's two other Australian distribution partners SAPPLY and Newgen Systems.