(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Storage and data management solution provider NetApp (www.netapp.com) has made key enhancements to its NetApp Partner Program, integrating service providers as part of the broader NetApp partner ecosystem, giving them more ways to differentiate their services, speed time to market, and grow revenues.
According to NetApp’s Wednesday announcement, service providers who join the NetApp Partner Program will be able to build their cloud service offerings on NetApp’s efficient storage and data management solutions, which promise low-cost and predictable service levels. Service providers also gain access to a wide range of unique tools and programs delivered by NetApp, including technical, training, and service benefits, as well as marketing and sales support.
Unlike some other storage vendors, NetApp does not compete with service providers by delivering its own proprietary cloud services; NetApp’s success necessitates the success of its partners.
“NetApp’s unique approach to working with its partner community is proof that they are committed to helping us accelerate our own business,” said Stacy Hayes, strategic alliances vice president of Terremark (www.terremark.com), a managed services, cloud computing, colocation and web hosting provider, as well as a NetApp service provider partner. “As a member of the NetApp Partner Program, we now have access to a variety of tools and support that not only help us differentiate our services and improve time to market but also allow us to more effectively address our customers’ cloud service needs.”
Service provider partners joining the NetApp Partner Program have access to the NetApp selling ecosystem, extending their sales reach, according to Robert Fuller, vice president of Worldwide Channel Sales for Web host and NetApp service provider partner Rackspace (www.rackspace.com).
Believing that a considerable portion of the market will adopt hosted or hybrid storage delivery models over the next five years, NetApp hopes to meet that demand by partnering with proven, hosting and cloud service providers like Rackspace, which, itself, inked a distribution agreement earlier this week with Ingram Micro, validating Rackspace’s cloud computing services and furthering its commitment to its partners.
“The NetApp Partner Program opens up sales channels for us that previously did not exist,” he stated. “The collaborative sales model is truly unique, and strengthens our relationship not only with NetApp but also with NetApp VARs, allowing us to work together to secure new cloud customers and help our joint customers make a smooth and successful transition to the cloud.”
According to Rackspace, its cloud capabilities fill a gap for NetApp’s off-premise and hybrid offerings. Through its partnership with NetApp, Rackspace and joint channel partners are able to collaborate to build the best storage and cloud computing solutions possible for our customers.
