While much of the security world was buzzing about cloud security at last week’s RSA Conference, a number of vendors are looking more discreetly at opportunities in securing existing and future data center infrastructures. The latest is StillSecure, a provider of managed services.

StillSecure, a specialist in network monitoring and security response services, is taking the wraps off a new program to extend its managed security services capacity to solution providers. The idea is relatively simple in that StillSecure provides the 24/7/365 monitoring and management of data center security, while the partner maintains the customer relationship.

Managed security services resold through the channel is nothing new, even in data centers. But StillSecure targeting the data center is actually part of a growing trend. The world is racing to talk about cloud computing - public clouds, private clouds, hybrid clouds, fluffy clouds, pretty clouds, etc. - but there’s a whole install base of gear that’s already running in backrooms, racks and closets.

In the press release announcing the new program, StillSecure quotes one partners already working with them on tackling data center security through managed services.

"StillSecure's data center partner program allows us to seamlessly integrate network security into our core service offering, creating larger deal sizes, opportunities for add-on sales, and the ability to delivery flexible, customizable security solutions to our customers," said Richard Mendoza, VP of Business Development at Colo4Dallas. "By partnering with StillSecure, we were able to quickly roll out security services without having to incur the overheard normally associated with becoming a managed security service provider."

Speed to market is an advantage here, but hardly unique. Many security services providers and master MSPs offer this value proposition. But StillSecure is announcing this initiative as many midmarket and small enterprises are grappling with the ultimate 2010 challenge: growing their businesses without adding new fixed costs.

The top priority for businesses this year, according to several recent studies, is optimizing businesses for growth. This doesn’t mean cost cutting. In fact, cost cutting is quickly becoming a dirty expression in sales calls. It’s about doing more with what’s available and already paid for. It’s a tricky proposition, since flat budgets and higher expectations often prove more challenging than downsizing operations.

The presumption that the world is going to rapidly migrate to the cloud is a fallacy concocted by marketers and writers (myself included). The truth is businesses are going to ride as much value out of their existing infrastructure as possible. It’s the reason why HP recently launched a small business data center support program and Brocade is looking to layer its switches into heterogeneous infrastructure.

The true value of a data center managed service is about containing costs and freeing budget for new investments. Solution provider tapping into this opportunity could reap tremendous benefit by being the facilitator of growth.