Tesserent forges strategic partnership with SXIQ

IT security provider Tesserent has formed an alliance with cloud and infrastructure firm SXiQ, in a bid to boost its managed networks and cloud services offerings.

The news come following a turbulent period for Tesserent, having posted a 10 per cent fall in after-tax profit in 2018 - the loss came despite the company seeing a 21 per cent rise in revenue year-to-year from 2017.

Two months later, Tesserent’s Keith Glennan stepped down as CEO, with former Litmus Group managing director Julian Challingsworth taking over to lead for an interim period.

Glennan, who now holds the role of CTO, said the deal with SXIQ will create a “one-stop-shop” across infrastructure management, security and cloud.

“Tesserent and SXiQ are like-minded organisations, both experts in our chosen fields, with great synergy from a cultural point of view,” he told investors.

As part of an effort to increase its capabilities in cloud and networks, Tesserent recently announced plans to acquire Australian managed services provider Asta Solutions for $3.8 million.

Tesserent’s chief customer officer Remko Jacobs said the new partnership had already secured the two companies a pipeline of joint new business.

“The partnership with SXiQ is part of our new go-to-market partner strategy and further expands our ability to deliver large IT infrastructure and security projects,” Jacobs said.

The company, which listed on the ASX in 2016, now counts Palo Alto Networks, AlienVault and Cisco among its vendor partners.

Formerly known as Southern Cross Computer Systems, SXiQ was acquired by consortium led by its managing director John Hanna in 2016.

Hanna said the deal with Tesserent would allow SXiQ’ to offer cyber security to its cloud services clients.

Like Tesserent, SXIQ is also a partner for Cisco, while also serving Apple, Dell and the HPE-owned Aruba.