Procurement and Cost Options

Aligned Technology Advisers gives enterprises flexibility in how SE Labs testing is funded and procured.

Organizations can engage in the way that best fits their budget structure, procurement requirements, and existing vendor relationships.

There are three primary engagement paths.

Two of the three options can be structured to be budget neutral ($0 additional spend).

This option is commonly used when:

• New budget is available for testing or evaluation

• Speed and simplicity are the priority

• The engagement is limited to a specific decision or timeframe
  

With direct payment:

• Testing is scoped and contracted through ATA

• SE Labs conducts testing independently

• Results are delivered for use in renewal, product selection, or security stack decisions

Direct Payment

Purchase testing directly through ATA

ATA as VAR

Organizations may choose to use ATA as their VAR

Layered with an Existing VAR

Organizations with established VAR relationships can layer ATA alongside their existing partner, with the VAR’s consent.

This approach is often used to:

• Offset testing costs through existing VAR margin

• Simplify coordination between ATA and the client

• Maximize budgeted allocated to offsetting testing costs

This option allows buyers to:

• Maintain existing contracts and procurement workflows

• Introduce independent SE Labs testing without disruption

• Absorb testing costs without increasing total spend

CDW is ATA’s largest partner VAR and a proven execution path, but not a requirement.

ATA can work alongside other VARs where appropriate.

Why organizations choose this model:

• The existing VAR can often aggregate spend by working with ATA, and can defend that spend more effectively with the differentiated value this partnership brings

• ATA can move faster with established partners and play its role as an information provider

  • For transactions that are large and complex enough, large VARs have a vital role to play that ATA is best suited to compliment