Torq has launched REV (Revenue Enablement Velocity), a new AI security operations center (SOC) partner program offering 100% services margin protection, deal protection and dedicated enablement resources for resellers, systems integrators and managed security service providers.
The program introduces three engagement models and a target of getting new partners ready to sell in as little as 10 days. It follows Torq’s report of 150% year-over-year channel revenue growth, as the company looks to help partners build services businesses around AI-driven security operations.
Torq REV introduces three partner engagement models
Torq’s current channel ecosystem includes partners such as Carahsoft, Cybersellex, GuidePoint Security, Infinigate, Merlin Cyber, Optiv, Saepio Solutions, RSM, UltraViolet Cyber, and World Wide Technologies.
The company’s original partner program was built around incentives designed to benefit partners rather than requiring partners to align exclusively with the vendor’s interests, Torq’s Head of Global Channels and Alliances, Sheldon Muir, told Channel Insider.
Torq REV enables partners to own the customer relationship, deliver the services, and capture the long-term value created by AI-driven Security Operations (SecOps).
Torq REV features three engagement paths for partners:
- Resell: For VARs, distributors, and resellers expanding into AI SOC.
- Resell + Services: For solution providers and GSIs delivering implementation and transformation services.
- MSSP/MDR: For MSSPs building next-generation AI SOC offerings with multi-tenant capabilities and consumption-aligned economics.
Torq Academy expands sales and services certifications
A central component of REV is Torq Academy, a learning management system that provides partners with training across presales and professional services delivery.
The Academy is free for partners, and its certification tracks are intended to prepare them to deliver services using the Torq platform.
Muir said he wants partners to think of the Academy like university education, with 100-, 200-, or 300-level courses. 100- and 200-level courses are about presales, with 300 about professional services delivery.
“They get in there, they go through the investments of those academy certifications, and then they come out blessed to deliver professional services, managed services, and so on,” Muir explained.
Torq has introduced sales and professional services certifications, both of which can qualify for continuing professional education (CPE) credits. The company has also hired an individual to focus specifically on channel enablement and building out the academy.
REV also brings together Torq’s reseller and services partners with the company’s technology alliance partners through sales engineering (SE) workshops. The goal is to help partners develop joint offerings and communicate how Torq works alongside other technologies.
“As part of Torq Academy, we have these things called SE-to-SE workshops, and it’s really working with the other half of Torq, which is our AMP Program, and our technology alliance partnerships – bringing REV and AMP together,” said Muir.
Muir cited identity and email security as examples of areas where Torq and partners could collaborate on joint offerings.
10-day onboarding target aims to accelerate partner sales
The Velocity component of REV focuses on helping partners move from signing an agreement to becoming educated, certified, and ready to pursue opportunities.
Torq aims to handle onboarding and legal processes efficiently while partners complete the necessary training.
Muir said they want to onboard partners and “teach them how to fish.” Once partners have completed the relevant certifications. Torq provides additional support to help them go to market. This includes dedicated channel enablement resources and marketing assistance for joint initiatives.
Revenue: Channel revenue growth and partner opportunities
The opportunity for continued growth is driven by educating partners so they can deliver high-value AI outcomes and expand their service capabilities.
“Many of these partners are very sharp; it’s very competitive for them,” said Muir. “A lot of the value that these guys bring is having a significant technical bench to deliver not only presales architecture, design discussions, and so on, but post-sales delivery, and even managed delivery.”
Muir explained that customers are increasingly discussing how to generate meaningful value from AI, creating an opportunity for partners to develop the expertise needed to deliver those outcomes.
“Torq’s been uniquely positioned there for quite some time because AI in the SOC is a really big deal. We’re seeing tremendous ROI with AI in the SOC,” said Muir. “Having partners really become educated so that they can drive their own outcomes with their clients – I think that’s what’s really going to create this velocity piece.”
REV’s support of several partner business models – ranging from traditional resellers to SIs to MSSPs – enables partners to choose the level of involvement that best suits their business, while Torq encourages them to consider expanding into post-sales services.
“If you want to be a reseller and stand alone, that’s great. Let’s go. If you want to add the professional services element over the managed services element, awesome, let’s go,” Muir said.
MSSPs and resellers pursue new AI SOC services revenue
Looking ahead, Muir described AI as one of the most disruptive developments he has encountered during his career. He said organizations and partners are still working to understand how to use AI to generate meaningful business results.
“I think that this AI thing has been as disruptive as anything, probably more disruptive than anything I’ve seen in my career,” said Muir. “I’ve been doing this for almost 40 years. AI has confused everybody, whether or not they’re vibe coding their own stuff, or they’re trying to deliver high-value results around AI, back to their board, or back to their CEO.”
Partners need to educate themselves on the capabilities of AI agents and determine how to incorporate them into their own services. Muir acknowledged that AI may automate some work traditionally performed by service providers, but argued that knowledgeable partners can adapt their offerings accordingly.
He also emphasized that customers may need partners to help identify potential AI applications, implement those capabilities, and establish security frameworks for AI agents.
“Partners that are savvy are going to really understand that, and they’re going to put their offerings and service around ROI, but there’s still going to be this notion of an outcome. A client’s not necessarily going to know what they want, and very often they’re going to want to work with these partners to say ‘hey, what’s the art of the possible? I want to do agentic. I want agents doing work for me, but what’s the art of the possible?’” said Muir.
Muir expects partners to continue developing their capabilities as the AI market evolves, with education and service development playing important roles in that process.
“I see the world starting to blend more and more where you take those classical resellers on one side, the classical GSIs on the other side, and they’re kind of getting squished into all doing resell,” Muir said. “They’re all doing pre- and post-service delivery. They’re all doing managed delivery. That’s the world I see, and I think AI is just going to accelerate that.”