Canon Canada has become an authorised gold reseller partner for ESET, adding cybersecurity products to its managed IT services business in Canada.
The agreement brings ESET's security tools into Canon Canada's existing portfolio of network infrastructure, hardware and operational support services. Canon said the move is aimed at businesses looking for a single supplier for a broader set of technology needs, including endpoint security.
Cybersecurity vendors and IT service providers have been broadening their alliances as ransomware, phishing and other attacks put greater pressure on mid-sized and large organisations to review how they buy and manage digital protection. For office technology groups, that shift has created an opportunity to extend relationships built around print, devices and workflow management into wider IT support.
The addition of ESET's products complements services Canon Canada already provides to corporate customers. Traditionally associated with imaging and document systems, the company has expanded its managed services offering as customers seek fewer vendors across infrastructure and support.
ESET, headquartered in Europe and operating globally, is known for endpoint security and threat prevention products used by businesses and public sector organisations. Under the reseller arrangement, Canon Canada will market and sell those products as part of its services offering.
Broader portfolio
The companies framed the partnership around cybersecurity's growing role in business continuity and daily operations. Canon said the integration would give customers a more joined-up approach to network security, hardware infrastructure and IT support.
That reflects a broader market trend, with security purchasing moving away from isolated point products towards bundled service models. Businesses facing rising compliance demands and limited in-house expertise have increasingly turned to managed service providers for monitoring, maintenance and protection.
For Canon Canada, the tie-up with ESET adds a security layer to its established base in device fleets, print environments and operational workflows. For ESET, it provides access to Canon's customer relationships in Canada and a route into organisations that may already rely on Canon for critical business systems.
Gary Hansra, Senior Director of Sales, Service & Marketing Strategy at Canon Canada, outlined how the company views the relationship. "Our clients have long trusted Canon to manage their critical workflows and secure document environments," he said.
"By introducing ESET as a powerful extension of our portfolio, we are adding specialized layers of security to our existing offerings. This partnership seamlessly extends that umbrella of trust across the entire digital perimeter, quickly protecting vulnerable endpoints and delivering the vast strategic advantages of Canon's complete managed IT services."
Channel strategy
The reseller status indicates Canon Canada will distribute ESET's products through its own sales and service operation rather than build proprietary security software. Such arrangements are common in the IT channel, where service providers combine third-party software with consulting, support and infrastructure management.
In Canada, the managed IT market has become more competitive as traditional hardware suppliers, telecoms groups and specialist service firms all seek a larger share of cybersecurity spending. Partnerships can allow those companies to expand more quickly than developing in-house products, while vendors benefit from local sales coverage and service expertise.
Canon said the combined offering is intended to simplify IT management for customers by bringing print, device fleets, network infrastructure and cybersecurity under one provider. It also pointed to the need for threat protection that does not disrupt day-to-day operations.
Bob Bonneau, Country Manager at ESET Canada, said the partnership was designed to meet that demand. "As Canadian organizations face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, the need for high-performance, low-friction security has never been greater.
"Canon Canada's trusted role in managing critical business infrastructure makes it an ideal partner to extend that protection to the endpoint. Together, we're enabling organizations to strengthen resilience and simplify their technology ecosystem, without compromising performance."
Canon Canada is based in Brampton, Ontario, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A. Its support model for products distributed in Canada is based in the country, a factor that can carry weight with organisations seeking local service for infrastructure and security issues.
ESET said its business is built on research and threat intelligence, with products spanning endpoint, cloud and mobile protection. The Canadian partnership gives it another route into a market where customers increasingly want security wrapped into broader managed services rather than bought as standalone software.