Channel Post speaks to Ahmad Elkhatib, the Managing Partner at Shifra, about the company, the products and services it offers and the plans ahead
Tell us something about your company. The profile, number of partners and so on?
Shifra is a value added Information Security Solutions distributor based in Dubai and founded in 2007. In 2010 Shifra was re-launched as a VAD with a complimentary portfolio of Information Security, Identity and Mobility solutions to introduce to the MEA market.
With an extensive experience in channel development for multi-national vendors the Shifra team has the perfect aptitude to understand the needs of the market and satisfy them.
Which markets are you currently present in?
We cover the Middle East and North Africa region through an extensive network of local reseller partners. We have local presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Which products, brands and services do you represent and offer in the markets you are present in?
Currently our portfolio includes leading international brands in Security, Identity and Mobility. Our vendors include companies such as Aerohive, AhnLab, Bradford Networks, Centrify, Cloud4Wi, Evidian, Gemalto , Hillstone Networks, Proofpoint, Versatile Security, Vormetric, Voltage Security, and VSS Monitoring.
We also offer professional services, training and support around the vendors we represent.
What is the workforce strength of your organisation?
Our team consists of information technology experts that hold a cumulative experience of over 50 years in the field. Shifra professionals bring international experience across the world.
Passion, responsiveness and customer satisfaction are key principals of the Shifra team which has around 15 people.
What is the annual turnover of the company?
Our turnover was $8 million last year, with almost 50 percent growth from the previous year. We are on track for double digit growth for this year, too.
Do you plan to add any new service, product or brand to your portfolio?
We have recently added Next Generation Firewalls Hillstone Networks, and Advanced Persistent Threat protection from AhnLab.
Do you plan to add new channel partners to your channel community this year?
We are continually looking to expand our channel partners to give us better coverage in the region. However we are not looking to sign lots of partners because each partner requires the time and attention to enable them and make sure they have the right tools to serve their prospective markets.
How has the technology and telecom market grown in the MEA region?
The MEA region is growing economically with a young population that is hungry for technology and innovation. This has lead to the market being ahead of developed markets in terms of investment in the technology and telecom areas.
