Building a Stronger, Simpler Security Practice with WatchGuard
CommPutercations had been working with a firewall vendor for several years, but over time, the quality of the relationship began to decline. “While the products continued to meet our needs, the vendor's support started to deteriorate,” said Devaughn Bittle, vice president at CommPutercations. “Response times for quote and pricing requests grew significantly longer, and there was a broader decline in channel support. It became increasingly difficult to get the responsive assistance we needed.”
This frustration sparked a search for a new cybersecurity partner, one that offered both reliable products and strong, consistent channel support. “We were looking for good products that are solid and easy to use, but even more than that, we wanted to feel like the vendor would be a true partner,” Bittle explained.
That search led CommPutercations to WatchGuard. “Once we invited WatchGuard in for a meeting, we were very impressed. The Channel Manager who visited us was incredibly professional and authentic,” said Bittle. “We felt confident they were the type of partner that would show up for us. After that meeting, we started evaluating the Firebox, which was excellent! And to this day, it doesn’t feel like the company is too big, which is a critical component of the partnership.”
Firebox at the Core
Among WatchGuard’s offerings, the Firebox T Series has become central to CommPutercations’ managed services. “The Firebox T Series serves as the cornerstone of our managed services offering,” said Bittle. “It effectively meets the needs of most of our managed customers with its ideal form factor.” For larger clients, CommPutercations relies on smaller models in the M Series to ensure scalability and performance.
WatchGuard’s MSP-focused approach has proven to be another major asset. “A significant advantage of partnering with WatchGuard is their strong commitment to the MSP market, demonstrated through flexible consumption models,” Bittle explained. “We leverage their MSP points program for the T Series, which efficiently manages costs. Their monthly subscription option for the M Series provides a more economical solution, benefiting both our business and our customers.”
Fast Ramp-Up, Lasting Value
The transition to WatchGuard was seamless. “Once we partnered with WatchGuard and started utilizing their firewalls, the ramp-up was fast and remarkably smooth,” Bittle shared. “WatchGuard’s interface is intuitive and easy to use. New hires always tell me this is much easier to use than whichever vendor they had experience with. To summarize WatchGuard for us ‒ it’s just easy!”
This simplicity encouraged CommPutercations to expand their relationship with WatchGuard. “Over time, we added MFA and Secure Wireless Access Points to our stack,” said Bittle. “My philosophy has always been, if one of my existing vendors offers the product I need, I evaluate them first. We were so pleased with WatchGuard’s Firebox and partnership that it was an easy decision to evaluate and then adopt AuthPoint. Adding managed wireless was a natural evolution, and WatchGuard’s offering was very sound.”
Real Business Impact
Since switching to WatchGuard, CommPutercations has experienced measurable internal improvements. “We chose WatchGuard for the excellent firewalls and strong, reliable partnership, but they exceeded expectations with their easy setup, efficient management, and quick onboarding process for new employees,” Bittle said.
Managing solutions through WatchGuard Cloud has further streamlined operations. “It’s significantly boosted our operational efficiency and simplified workflows,” he noted. “We’ve saved valuable time on vendor searches by expanding within the WatchGuard ecosystem.”
WatchGuard’s ongoing investment in partner success has only deepened the relationship. “Their exceptional support, from local managers to executives, has further solidified our trust,” said Bittle. “Exclusive partner events and opportunities to connect with their executive team continue to strengthen this fantastic relationship.”