BridgeHead Software, developer of Enterprise Data Archiving software, and Avnet Technology Solutions, a value-added distributor of enterprise computing products, embedded subsystems, software and services, have announced a worldwide distribution agreement. Under this agreement, BridgeHead’s Archiving and Backup Software products will now be available through Avnet’s channel partners, with an initial emphasis on the healthcare market.

"Opportunities for technology resellers are growing in all vertical markets that are subject to regulatory and corporate compliance oversight," said Ryan Witt, senior vice president, sales & marketing, BridgeHead Software. "This is particularly true in the healthcare market where there are rapidly growing needs for secure management and protection of electronic patient medical records and high resolution medical imaging. Disaster recovery data protection and data security are key requirements for any healthcare institution and are called out specifically by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)."

"The need for data protection and disaster recovery solutions is growing at a tremendous pace, particularly in healthcare," said Tony Vottima, vice president of vertical market solutions at Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. "Healthcare is a highly specialised market that requires a deep level of expertise and knowledge which can take years to acquire. To address the needs of Avnet’s channel partners, we launched our HealthPath practice in March 2006. Avnet HealthPath provides in-depth pre- and post-sales support, along with comprehensive sales training and market-specific technology solutions such as BridgeHead’s Enterprise Data Archiving and Information Lifecycle Management products. These resources combine to help our channel partners provide the solutions that their healthcare customers urgently need."