Portnox Taps Veteran Kristen Knight for Global Channel Power Play

AUSTIN, Texas – January 13, 2026 – In a significant move to accelerate its market penetration, universal zero trust security provider Portnox has announced the formal launch of a new global channel partner program. The initiative is being spearheaded by newly appointed Vice President of Channel Sales, Kristen Knight, a seasoned cybersecurity executive known for building and scaling partner ecosystems at industry heavyweights like Barracuda and Mimecast.

This strategic pivot comes as enterprises grapple with rapidly expanding digital frontiers. The widespread adoption of cloud infrastructure, AI-driven tools, and permanent hybrid work models has created a complex and porous attack surface that legacy security solutions struggle to defend. Portnox aims to arm a global network of partners with its cloud-native security platform to address this challenge head-on, moving from over 100 disparate reseller agreements to a formalized, high-growth ecosystem.

A Strategic Pivot to Channel-Led Growth

The decision to formalize and supercharge its channel program signals Portnox's ambition to compete more aggressively in the crowded and complex zero trust market. While the company already has a foothold with existing partners, this new program represents a deliberate shift from organic growth to a structured, channel-first strategy. This approach is critical in a market dominated by giants like Zscaler, Palo Alto Networks, and Cisco, all of whom leverage vast and mature partner networks to achieve global scale.

By appointing Kristen Knight, Portnox is making a clear statement about its investment in the channel. Building a successful partner ecosystem in the cybersecurity space requires more than just a strong product; it demands deep relationships, trust, and a program that prioritizes partner profitability and enablement. The new framework is designed to empower a broad range of partners, including Value-Added Resellers (VARs) and, critically, Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), who are at the forefront of delivering security-as-a-service to enterprises of all sizes.

The program's launch is timed to capitalize on a critical market inflection point. As organizations accelerate their digital transformations, they are increasingly turning to channel partners not just for product fulfillment, but for strategic guidance on architecting modern security frameworks. A robust partner program enables a vendor to scale its expertise and support, reaching customers that its direct sales force cannot.

The Architect of Alliances: Knight's 'Hands-On' Blueprint

At the heart of this new initiative is Kristen Knight, whose appointment is as significant as the program itself. With a background scaling channel operations at established security firms, Knight brings a wealth of experience in building the infrastructure needed for rapid expansion. Her vision for the Portnox program is centered on a philosophy she calls “hands-on enablement.”

"I am thrilled to join at such a pivotal time in the company's evolution," said Knight. "Having spent years in the legacy security space, I recognize the immense value Portnox brings for enterprises by reducing attack surfaces, realizing secure access at scale, and redefining what's possible with zero trust. Our new program is built on the philosophy of 'hands-on enablement'—we aren't just giving partners a portal; we are providing the personal training, generous incentives, and technical support they need to deliver immediate value to their customers."

This approach directly addresses a common pain point for channel partners, who are often handed access to a resource portal and left to figure things out. Portnox's commitment includes dedicated channel support, structured onboarding, and collaborative go-to-market resources. This level of support is designed to shorten the learning curve and accelerate a partner's ability to generate revenue, fostering a more loyal and effective partner base. The program emphasizes customizable sales and technical enablement, ensuring that partners are not just certified, but are genuinely confident in deploying and managing the Portnox Cloud platform.

Securing the Frontier of Digital Transformation

The ultimate goal of the channel program is to make Portnox's passwordless and zero trust solutions more accessible to organizations on the front lines of digital change. The company's technology is built to solve a modern paradox: the need for speed and agility often conflicts with the need for robust security. Credentials and passwords remain the primary vulnerability exploited in the majority of data breaches, a risk that is magnified in distributed cloud and hybrid environments.

Portnox's platform, which combines cloud-native Network Access Control (NAC) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), tackles this problem by working to remove credentials entirely. This passwordless approach, coupled with continuous verification of every user and device, aligns with the core principle of zero trust: never trust, always verify. CEO Denny LeCompte framed the issue as a choice that businesses should not have to make.

"Organizations are facing a false tradeoff: move fast with digital transformation and accept credential-based risk, or slow down for security reasons," said LeCompte. "Portnox eliminates that tradeoff. With Kristen leading our channel strategy, we're empowering partners to become the team that enables strategic initiatives without compromise. Our partners deliver demonstrably more secure outcomes and measurably faster results with independently validated ROI. That's security you can prove, not just promise."

Redefining Partner Value in a Crowded Market

To attract and retain top-tier partners, the Portnox program has been engineered around clear and compelling value. Key features include competitive Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) streams and deal registration protection, ensuring partner-sourced opportunities are both profitable and secure. The program also equips partners with independently validated business outcomes and industry research, helping them elevate technical discussions into board-level conversations about measurable risk reduction and business enablement.

A significant differentiator for partners, particularly MSSPs, is the platform's 100% SaaS delivery model. This eliminates the need for on-premises hardware, drastically simplifying and accelerating deployment across multiple customer environments. For MSSPs who manage security for dozens or hundreds of clients, this cloud-native architecture allows for faster time-to-value, lower operational overhead, and a more scalable service offering.

By combining a technologically advanced, passwordless zero trust platform with a partner program built on a foundation of hands-on support and clear profitability, Portnox is making a calculated play to capture a larger share of the enterprise security market. The success of this global channel expansion will be a key factor in the company's growth trajectory as it helps organizations navigate the next phase of their digital evolution securely.