What Loophold Security Distribution does

Loophold Security Distribution, operating legally as Galix Consulting (Pty) Ltd., is a South Africa-headquartered value-added distributor (VAD) of network and information security products founded in 1998 and serving customers across the African continent from its Bryanston, Gauteng headquarters. The company distributes solutions from six curated technology partners — Arcserve, Barracuda Networks, Celestix Networks, Rackmount.IT, SonicWall, and Wasabi — through a channel model targeting value-added resellers (VARs), managed service providers (MSPs), and managed security service providers (MSSPs) rather than selling directly to end customers. Its stated differentiation rests on partner enablement (pre-sales, post-sales, and technical support) and certification training, including the only SonicWall Authorized Training Partner (ATP) status on the African continent running SNSA, SNSP, and SMAA certification courses alongside the Arcserve Academy.

The product portfolio is structured around integrated security and data resilience. Arcserve contributes the Unified Data Resilience Platform (ShadowXafe, ShadowProtect, SaaS Backup, Cloud Services DRaaS); SonicWall delivers the network security stack including NSv virtual firewalls, Capture ATP sandboxing, RTDMI real-time deep memory inspection, Cloud Secure Edge (ZTNA), and the SonicSentry Managed XDR offering exclusive to MSSPs; Barracuda provides AI-powered email and content security; Celestix supplies secure mobile access and authentication; Rackmount.IT converts desktop appliances to rack-mount form factors; and Wasabi contributes hot cloud storage at pricing positioned 80% below Amazon S3, with AiR intelligent media storage, Cloud NAS, Surveillance Cloud, and Reserved Capacity tiers. Underlying integrations such as Arcserve with Sophos Intercept X for deep-learning malware detection and Wasabi AiR's NLP/computer vision pipelines sit within vendor technology rather than Loophold's own stack.

Revenue is generated through three streams: value-added distribution margins on technology partner product resales, recurring subscription revenue through the SonicWall MSSP, Wasabi MSP, Arcserve MSP, and Barracuda MSP programmes (with flexible monthly billing models), and professional services from technical certification training and product evaluation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated via channel partners. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional or venture investment; Managing Director Martin Tassev is named as the legal representative, and the executive team also includes Ian Parker as Executive Manager Partnerships and Technology, indicating founder-led governance with operational leadership over the partner ecosystem.

Name

Loophold Security Distribution

Legal name

Galix Consulting (Pty) Ltd.

Website

https://loophold.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Loophold Security Distribution is a South Africa-based value-added distributor of network and information security products from six technology partners (Arcserve, Barracuda, Celestix, Rackmount.IT, SonicWall, Wasabi), serving VARs, MSPs, and MSSPs across the African continent via channel enablement, certification training, and managed-service programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gauteng

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Value Added Distribution: LOOPHOLD operates as a value-added distributor of network security and information security products. They purchase products from technology partners (Arcserve, Barracuda, Celestix, Rackmount.IT, SonicWall, Wasabi) and resell/distribute them through channel partners, MSPs and MSSPs across the African continent.
2. Managed Services Revenue: Through their MSP and MSSP programmes (particularly SonicWall's MSSP programme), LOOPHOLD enables partners to offer subscription-based managed security services, generating recurring revenue through flexible monthly billing models.
3. Professional Services and Training: LOOPHOLD provides training services including SonicWall Technical Certification courses (SMAA, SNSA7, SNSP7), technology partner product training, and sales training. They also offer product evaluation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Loophold Security Distribution (legal name Galix Consulting (Pty) Ltd.) is a South Africa-based Value Added Distributor (VAD) of network and information security products serving the African continent. The company distributes and resells products from six technology partners — Arcserve, Barracuda Networks, Celestix Networks, Rackmount.IT, SonicWall, and Wasabi — through a channel of resellers, MSPs, and MSSPs, while providing pre-sales, post-sales, technical support, certification training, and product evaluation services.

Product overview

LOOPHOLD Security Distribution is a South Africa-based value-added distributor serving the African continent, offering a curated portfolio of network and information security products from six technology partners: Arcserve, Barracuda Networks, Celestix Networks, Rackmount.IT, SonicWall, and Wasabi. The product portfolio centers on a unified data resilience platform (Arcserve) for backup, replication, and disaster recovery; network security solutions (SonicWall NSv firewalls, Capture ATP, Cloud Secure Edge, and SonicSentry Managed XDR); cloud storage services (Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage, Cloud NAS, AiR, and Surveillance Cloud); email and content security (Barracuda); and secure mobile access (Celestix). These products are delivered alongside managed service provider programmes, technical certification training (SonicWall SNSA/SNSP/SMAA, Arcserve Academy), and product evaluation services. The company positions itself as a channel enabler focused on partner equipping, training, and enablement rather than operating a direct product business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arcserve Unified Data Resilience Platform Comprehensive data protection platform delivering backup, replication, and disaster recovery capabilities for hybrid data centers, protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments including Microsoft 365, Azure AD, Dynamics 365, Salesforce, and Google Workspace. Distributed to channel partners and MSPs/MSSPs across Africa.
• Barracuda Email Protection AI-powered email protection solution defending against phishing, business email compromise (BEC), account hijacking, and advanced email threats for African organizations via Loophold's channel.
• Barracuda Content Security and Application Delivery Comprehensive content security, data protection, and application delivery solutions combining premises-based gateways, virtual appliances, and cloud services, distributed to African channel partners.
• Celestix Secure Mobile Access Solutions Secure mobile access, cloud security, and authentication solutions enabling organizations to leverage technologies with reliability, performance, and ease-of-use. Distributed to African channel partners.
• Rackmount.IT Hardware Conversion Kits Rack mount conversion kits that convert desktop appliances into rack mountable units, including custom colored kits for projects, distributed to African resellers and integrators.
• SonicWall Network Security Solutions SonicWall network security portfolio including NSv virtual firewall running SonicOS 7, Capture ATP advanced threat protection with sandboxing, Capture Client endpoint security, Network Security Manager (NSM), SonicSentry Managed XDR, and Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) zero trust network access. Distributed to African channel partners, MSPs, and MSSPs.
• SonicWall MSSP Programme Managed security service provider programme with flexible subscription-based pricing, monthly billing, exclusive pricing options, and branded solutions enabling MSPs and MSSPs to deliver comprehensive security services. Launched in South Africa in October 2024.
• Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage Single-tier universal hot cloud storage priced 80% less than Amazon S3 with no egress or API charges. Includes Cloud NAS, Wasabi AiR intelligent media storage with AI-powered metadata auto-tagging, Reserved Capacity Storage (1/3/5 year terms), and Surveillance Cloud bundle. Launched in South Africa via Loophold in April 2025.
• Wasabi MSP Programme Managed service provider programme with multi-tenant account control, single pane of glass management via Account Control Manager, and flexible MSP billing and provisioning model for Wasabi cloud storage services in Africa.
• SonicWall Technical Certification Training Certification training covering SonicOS 7 firewall configuration, unified threat management, secure access, network optimization, and threat prevention. SNSA is a 2-day instructor-led course, SNSP requires SNSA prerequisite. Delivered by Loophold as the only SonicWall Authorized Training Partner in Africa.
• Arcserve Academy Training Training and certification programme with self-paced eLearning courses and instructor-led training for configuring and managing Arcserve data protection products, including sales-focused modules.
• LOOPHOLD Security Training Courses Generic security courses covering network and information security fundamentals, including QuickCourse Introduction to Information Security and technology partner product/sales training delivered by Loophold.
• Product Evaluation Services Product evaluation services enabling partners and customers to assess and select appropriate security solutions from Loophold's technology partner portfolio, supplemented by pre-sales and post-sales technical support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global managed services market projected to grow from $279 billion in 2022 to $835 billion by 2032 (12% CAGR)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ArcservecoreTechnology or IntegrationArcserve provides unmatched data management and protection solutions for hybrid data centres. They offer unified data resilience including Arcserve ShadowXafe, ShadowProtect, Cloud Direct Backup as a Service (BaaS), and Cloud Hybrid DRaaS. LOOPHOLD distributes Arcserve MSP solutions throughout Africa.
• Barracuda NetworkscoreTechnology or IntegrationBarracuda Networks combines premises-based gateways, virtual appliances, cloud services, and support to deliver comprehensive content security, data protection and application delivery solutions. LOOPHOLD distributes Barracuda products including Email Protection.
• Celestix Networks InccoreTechnology or IntegrationCelestix engineers cutting edge InfoSec solutions including secure mobile access, cloud security, and authentication solutions designed for reliability, performance and ease-of-use.
• Rackmount.ITcoreTechnology or IntegrationRackmount.IT converts desktop appliances into rack mountable appliances. They provide custom made kits in any color on project basis.
• SonicWallcoreTechnology or IntegrationSonicWall offers comprehensive Network Security, Secure Mobile Access, Web and E-Mail Security, Secure Wireless, and Management solutions. LOOPHOLD is the only SonicWall Authorized Training Partner (ATP) in Africa and launched SonicWall's MSSP programme in South Africa and beyond.
• WasabicoreTechnology or IntegrationWasabi offers hot cloud storage at 80% less cost than AWS S3 with no egress or API charges. Products include CloudNAS, Surveillance Cloud, AiR (Intelligent Media Storage), and Reserved Capacity Storage. LOOPHOLD distributes Wasabi throughout Africa.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Westcon-Comstor: Global value-added distributor specializing in security, networking, and collaboration technologies with strong presence across Africa. Most directly comparable to Loophold in model (channel-led VAD across multiple Tier-1 security vendors) and in African go-to-market.
• Exclusive Networks: Cybersecurity-focused value-added distributor with deep vendor relationships and channel enablement at global scale. Comparable to Loophold in pure-play security focus, training/certification programmes, and partner-led GTM.
• Westcon-Comstor Southern Africa: Southern African operations arm of Westcon-Comstor, distributing SonicWall and other Tier-1 security brands directly to channel partners. Directly competes with Loophold on shared SonicWall franchise and African channel relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Ingram Micro: Largest global IT distributor carrying broad security, infrastructure, and cloud catalogues. Comparable to Loophold via its African operations and security vendor partnerships, though it competes from a vastly broader portfolio rather than curated security.
• Arrow ECS (Arrow Electronics): Global value-added distributor for enterprise and mid-market security, cloud, and analytics solutions with extensive training services. Comparable in security distribution plus channel enablement model.
• ALSO Group: European-headquartered IT distributor with strong presence in security, networking, and cloud categories including pan-African reach via local partners. Comparable broad-line IT distribution model with security focus.

Regional players

• Tarsus Distribution: South Africa-based IT value-added distributor serving resellers across multiple technology categories. Comparable regional footprint, channel-led distribution model, and enterprise security vendor relationships.
• Axiz (Pty) Ltd: South African value-added ICT distributor covering enterprise hardware, software, and security. Comparable regional distribution model serving resellers across the African continent.
• Rectron: South Africa-based IT distribution company serving channel partners with software, hardware, and security solutions. Comparable regional VAD model with similar channel enablement focus.
• First Distribution: African value-added distributor for server, storage, networking, and security products serving resellers across sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable VAD model and African channel-led GTM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LoopholdDistribution
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/loophold
• Xx.com/loophold

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Loophold Security Distribution