How to Choose a Reliable Security Licensing Provider

The security landscape, as well as the fast-growing market behind it, can be highly unpredictable. From adaptable threats to surges in demand, there are countless ways your company can be caught off guard. And never was this trend more visible than in the past year, when the increase in remote work prompted an avalanche of cyber threats.

Unfortunately, the providers of cybersecurity and the companies who need it don’t always have the resources to keep up. This is especially true if their core expertise lies in a different security area or a different domain altogether.

While some prefer to build in-house, update their technologies, or even outsource, a single solution yields the best results: technology licensing.

Licensing technology has become ubiquitous in 2023. Its utility in providing quick access to knowledge, increasing efficiency, and decreasing costs made it a solid choice, not just for security, but for many other domains too.

We’ve covered many of the advantages of using such a solution in our previous articles. Licensed security technology saves time and infrastructure, decreases business risk, offers a quick go-to-market, and increases competitive advantage. However, even if you’re convinced of the benefits of licensing, you might still have one question in mind: “How do I choose the best technology provider?”

Choosing a vendor to license a technology from is a serious affair. You’re planning a long-term commitment, risking your brand reputation and your company assets and resources. Thus, it is important to choose wisely.

What makes a good licensor

The first step in choosing a reliable technology provider is mapping your needs. If you’re an established security vendor yourself, you might only need specific technology. As a hardware manufacturer, you could focus on network and IoT security. An MSSP, on the other hand, might want a white label solution, which it can then bundle and resell.

This step is important not just because it narrows the search, but also because it offers a clear view of your own capabilities. Next, it’s time to look for a technology partner. To make your job easier, we’ve compiled a list of seven areas in which a licensor should excel, before you sign the agreement.

1. Proven expertise in the field. All security companies claim expertise, but not all can demonstrate it. Luckily, it’s easy to search for facts and figures. How many years has the licensor been on the market? What does its technology offer look like? And, most importantly, are there any independent benchmarks that can prove its claims?
2. Proven expertise in technology licensing. A vendor may be reliable technically but, if it just started licensing technology, it will take a while until they are ready. It will take a while before the technology is easy to integrate, is properly documented, has all necessary functionality available, exposes enough information for your support team to troubleshoot issues, etc. This is not possible to do through internal QA.
3. Prestige and reputation. After making sure the technology works, delve deeper into the company’s background. What do professional reviewers say? Has the company won any notable awards that can indicate its market position? Are they subject to government sanctions in the markets you’re selling? Is their financial situation stable or have they been acquired and re-acquired continuously?
4. An extensive network. When you use licensed technology, your provider’s intelligence network is your network. Solid threat intelligence, multiple laboratories, and strong R&D are signs that your will always getup-to-date products.
5. Original technology. Is the licensor the original creator of the licensed product? Did it receive patents for its work? If the licensor is actually sublicensing the technology they license from another vendor, this exposes your company to more business risk, and will be more expensive.
6. Flexibility. Does the new technology require you to change infrastructure? Can you integrate it directly or sell it under your label? Does the vendor offer any help if you’re short of time to hit the market? Ideally, a proficient licensor should offer multiple methods of using its products.
7. Adoption. Who else uses this vendor’s technology? Who is distributing and reselling it? The answers to this can give you a clear hint as to the adoption rate and availability of this technology. You don’t want to beta test on your own clients.
8. Support. Reliable technical and business support is essential for any partnership. In the cybersecurity landscape, the stakes are even higher: support can make the difference between a vulnerability and a threat. Ask for support upfront and make sure it covers all your needs.

Why choose Bitdefender?

With 21 years of experience and more than 1,800 employees in 17 offices, Bitdefender is a natural choice when it comes to technology licensing. Our solutions are used by 38% of global security vendors and by 50,000-business customers worldwide.

Furthermore, over 20,000 distributors and more than 180 technology partners have made Bitdefender their first choice.

We consistently surpass our competition in independent tests. Our solutions are not just proficient, but also highly innovative. Half our workforce is focused on R&D and engineering and our six innovation hubs are responsible for over 440 issued patents and pending.

Due to our large security-delivery infrastructure, we have contributed to the development of highly secure ecosystems including VMware, Nutanix, Citrix, Linux Foundation, Honeywell, Microsoft, AWS, and Pivotal. We’ve also worked on countering international cybercrime with major law enforcement agencies such as FBI, Europol, and the Department of Justice.

Whether you choose to integrate our technology, offer it as an add-on, upsell it to existing customers, or bundle it, Bitdefender has you covered. Our flexible licensing models help you protect customers with best-in-class security solutions and subscriptions that match your business goals.

• Our SDK integration is fully customizable and works with your existing architecture and interface. Our choice of over 20 modular software development kits and APIs can be directly integrated into your product or service.
• If you choose to rebrand and enter new markets, our white-label packages are the way to go. You will get turnkey award-winning security, as well as the flexibility to change features and content and add your brand elements.
• Looking to bundle our technology with your products? Our platforms are fully compatible with all major operating systems and hardware. Furthermore, we offer you complete cybersecurity expertise as well as dedicated resources to ensure the success of your deployment.

And the best part? Bitdefender guarantees full support both pre-and post-integration, as well as regular technology updates to ensure your solutions are up-to-date with the latest threats.

Reach out to Bitdefender's team of experts to find out all the details.