News & Analysis

Elitecore has global plans for Cyberoam

The company is taking its identity-based Internet security appliance to markets around the world, says Vinita Gupta.

Elitecore Technologies is expanding its footprint around the globe by taking its product Cyberoam to a global audience. Cyberoam is an identity-based Internet security appliance that lets a company track people, based on their login names, and not just IP addresses. It also protects enterprises from external and internal threats such as spyware, phishing, pharming, viruses, worms, Trojans and more.

The company has a presence in West Asia, Africa, India, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia. For the past three years it has been available in India. Now Elitecore is focussing on the US market.

"Recently we have received an order of about 200 boxes of Cyberoam worth $1.2 million from one of the distributors in the US" - Hema Patel CEO, Elitecore Technologies

Hemal Patel, CEO, Elitecore Technologies explained, “Cyberoam was launched in the US earlier this year and was an instant success. In the US, identity-based Internet security appliances are required at educational institutions as there is a Child Online Protection Act which prevents students from making wrong use of Internet like visiting adult sites.”

He added, “Recently we have received an order of about 200 boxes of Cyberoam worth $1.2 million from one of the distributors in the US.” Presently it has five distributors in the US. Elitecore is driving its expansion plans through the creation of a global distribution channel in addition to leveraging its operational efficiencies on account of its low-cost operations based in India.

In India, Elitecore has entered into a strategic alliance with Avaya Global Connect for national distribution of its appliances and put a channel partner network in place. The company is focussing on the SMB market as it feels that this segment is an ideal target to buy security appliances.

Patel added, “We target the SMB market and not the enterprise as the latter usually goes for different Internet security solutions such as firewall and spam. While SMBs prefer to have a single Internet security solution as they do not have the money to spend on several solutions, nor the desire to manage multiple solutions.”

Elitecore is a $3 million company and it expects its revenues to touch $10 million in the coming year. India contributes about 30 to 40 percent of the company’s revenue.

Patel informed: “We are expecting this kind of growth as according to IDC integrated security appliances are slated to grow at 47.9 percent CAGR during 2004-2009 to reach $2.4 billion in revenue by 2009.”

Elitecore claims to have a marketshare of 60 percent in India and in the coming year it plans to increase this to 80 percent. Its other plans include focussing on the SOHO market, adding channel partners and introducing managed service products.

Cyberoam has over 1,000 installations worldwide, including corporations, government organisations and educational institutions. It also protects enterprises from internal threats due to user ignorance or malicious intent.

Some of the Indian companies using Cyberoam are Honda, IIM-Lucknow, UTI Bank, Ernst & Young, Fortis Bank and Symbiosis Institute of Management.

Elitecore was established in 1999 by Eclipse Micro Computer Inc of New York and it provides convergent billing and identity-based Internet security solutions. It has a 250-plus team of technical, marketing and support personnel. With the corporate office and R&D centre in Ahmedabad, it has offices in Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai, and the international office at USA.