2018 Partner Program Guide: 5-Star System/Data Center Technology Vendors

All Systems Go

Despite the rise of cloud computing, most businesses still base their IT operations around networks of servers, networking and storage hardware, infrastructure and management software, and PCs and mobile computers that connect to it all.

Solution providers who sell, install and maintain these systems for their customers often work with some of the biggest vendors in the IT industry, including Cisco, Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. But they also have the opportunity to work with smaller IT vendors, even startups, that offer IT products that compete with the established players or leading-edge technology that the big guys just don't have.

For solution providers, that means making decisions about which vendors to partner with. And what level of support, incentives and rewards vendors are offering through their partner program is a big part of those decisions. CRN's 2018 Partner Program Guide offers the information solution providers need to evaluate IT vendors they work with or are considering working with. The guide is based on detailed applications vendors submitted outlining all aspects of their partner programs.

As part of the Partner Program Guide, CRN designates some programs as 5-Star Partner Programs. Here we present the 5-Star designees in the system and data center technology space. This list covers vendors who supply hardware such as servers, networking, storage and hyper-converged systems. It includes vendors of data center software for systems and network management, data and information management, disaster recovery, virtualization, and software-defined networks and storage. Manufacturers of processors, personal computers and tablets are included, as are Infrastructure-as-a-Service providers.

Other slideshows in the Five-Star Partner Program Guide series running this week include companies that provide software, cloud, network/unified communications, storage, peripherals and security technology.

C-E | F-I | J-N | O-R | S-Z

Alaris, a Kodak Business

Program Name: Alaris Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Maia Mosillo

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=11

AlgoSec

Program Name: AlgoSec Channel Program

Year Program Established: 2003

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver Bronze

North American Channel Chief: Jim O'Gara

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=12

APC by Schneider Electric

Program Name: APC Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 1991

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Select, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Shannon Sbar

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=14

Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company

Program Name: Partner Ready for Networking

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Service Provider, Gold, Silver, Business

North American Channel Chief: Jim Harold

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=19

Aryaka Networks

Program Name: Aryaka Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Richard Farbman

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=20

Asigra Inc.

Program Name: Asigra Hybird Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2009

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Eran Farajun

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=21

AT&T

Program Name: AT&T Alliance Channel

Year Program Established: 1998

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Kevin Leonard

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=22

AT&T

Program Name: AT&T Partner Exchange

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: AT&T Partner Exchange – Platinum Elite, AT&T Partner Exchange – Platinum

North American Channel Chief: Randall Porter

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=23

Avaya

Program Name: Avaya Edge

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald

North American Channel Chief: Gary Levy

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=29

Barracuda Networks

Program Name: Barracuda Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2004

Partner Program Tiers: Premier, Preferred, Authorized, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Ezra Hookano

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=31

BlackBerry Ltd.

Program Name: BlackBerry Enterprise Partner Program For Solution Providers

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Jeff Bruce

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=34

BMC

Program Name: BMC Partner Advantage

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver

North American Channel Chief: Sanjay Gupta

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=37

bpm'online

Program Name: bpm'online Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2003

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Alex Donchuk

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=38

CA Technologies

Program Name: CA Advantage Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2008

Partner Program Tiers: Global, Focus, Premier, Advanced, Member

North American Channel Chief: Tony Jennings

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=44

Ciena Corporation

Program Name: BizConnect Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Platinum, Gold

North American Channel Chief: Linda Hutchinson

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=51

Cisco Systems

Program Name: Cisco Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 1996

Partner Program Tiers: Gold, Premier, Select, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Rick Snyder

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=52

Cisco Systems

Program Name: Cisco Cloud and Managed Services Program

Year Program Established: 1996

Partner Program Tiers: No Tiers

North American Channel Chief: Rick Snyder

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=56

Citrix Systems

Program Name: Citrix Partner Network

Year Program Established: 1989

Partner Program Tiers: Citrix Solution Advisor – Platinum, Citrix Solution Advisor – Gold, Citrix Solution Advisor – Silver

North American Channel Chief: Rafael Garzon

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=57

Cloudistics

Program Name: Accelerate

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Christopher Myhill

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=62

Commvault

Program Name: Global Partner Advantage Program manager (includes North American channel program)

Year Program Established: 2013

Partner Program Tiers: MarketBuilder, Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: David Fischer

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=65

Cradlepoint

Program Name: Cradlepoint Authorized Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2011

Partner Program Tiers: Elite

North American Channel Chief: Tony Puopolo

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=68

DataCore Software

Program Name: DataCore Premier Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2013

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Mike Coner

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=74

Datto Inc.

Program Name: Datto Global Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Blue, Enterprise, Professional, Business

North American Channel Chief: Rob Rae

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=75

Dell Inc.

Program Name: Dell EMC Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Titanium, Platinum, Gold

North American Channel Chief: Gregg Ambulos

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=77

Digium Inc.

Program Name: Digium Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2007

Partner Program Tiers: Select, Registered, Service Provider, Affiliate, DMR

North American Channel Chief: Steve Harvey

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=85

Eaton

Program Name: PowerAdvantage Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2009

Partner Program Tiers: PowerAdvantage Certified Partner, PowerAdvantage Authorized Partner, PowerAdvantage Approved Partner

North American Channel Chief: Graciano Beyhaut

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=90

Extreme Networks

Program Name: Extreme Partner Network

Year Program Established: 1996

Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Gold Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Gordon Mackintosh

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=97

Flowmon Networks a.s.

Program Name: Flowmon Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Flowman Distributor, Flowmon Gold Partner, Flowmon Silver Partner, Flowmon Bronze Partner, Flowmon Registered Partner

North American Channel Chief: Adam Wright

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=103

GFI Software

Program Name: GFI Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Number of North American Partners: Gold, Silver, Bronze

North American Channel Chief: Thomas Witting

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=108

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Program Name: HPE Partner Ready

Year Program Established: 2002

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Business

North American Channel Chief: Terry Richardson

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=112

Hitachi Vantara

Program Name: Hitachi TrueNorth Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2003

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum/Platinum Elite, Gold, Silver

North American Channel Chief: Jay McGloin

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=113

Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions

Program Name: Honeywell Performance Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2015

Number of North American Partners: Platinum Elite, Platinum, Gold, Silver, DMAR/NBR, Associate Reseller

North American Channel Chief: Eric Rivas

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=114

HP Inc.

Program Name: HP Partner First

Year Program Established: 2015

Partner Program Tiers: Partner First Platinum, Partner First Gold, Partner First Silver

North American Channel Chief: Stephanie Dismore

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=115

IBM

Program Name: PartnerWorld

Year Program Established: 1999

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Dorothy Copeland

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=116

IFS

Program Name: IFS Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Parker Zanios

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=117

IGEL North America

Program Name: IGEL Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized, Reseller

North American Channel Chief: Brad Tompkins

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=118

iland

Program Name: iland Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Professional

North American Channel Chief: Koorosh Khashayar

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=120

Imperva

Program Name: Imperva PartnerSphere Channel Program

Year Program Established: 2008

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver

North American Channel Chief: Kirt Jorgenson

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=122

Intel Corp.

Program Name: Intel Technology Provider Program

Year Program Established: 1980

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Jason Kimrey

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=127

Ivanti

Program Name: Ivanti Partner Program

Year Program Established: 1985

Partner Program Tiers: National Sales Providers, Expert Solution Providers, Managed Service Providers, Distribution

North American Channel Chief: Reza Parsia

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=133

Juniper Networks

Program Name: Juniper Partner Advantage Program

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Select, Reseller (VAR), Distributors

North American Channel Chief: Brian Rosenberg

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=137

KEMP Technologies

Program Name: Partner at KEMP Program

Year Program Established: 2013

Partner Program Tiers: KEMP Center Partner, KEMP Authorized Partner, KEMP Lite Reseller

North American Channel Chief: Tim Quinn

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=140

Lenovo

Program Name: Lenovo Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2005

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Rob Cato

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=143

Lenovo Data Center Group

Program Name: Lenovo Data Center Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Stef Bockhop

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=144

Mellanox Technologies

Program Name: Mellanox PartnerFIRST Program

Year Program Established: 2008

Number of North American Partners: Elite, Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Darrin Neil Chen

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=151

Microsoft Corporation

Program Name: Microsoft Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2010

Partner Program Tiers: Gold Competency, Silver Competency, Action Pack Subscriber, Network Member

North American Channel Chief: David Willis

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=153

Mimecast

Program Name: Mimecast Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2018

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Certified, Business

North American Channel Chief: Shawn Pearson

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=154

NCR Corporation

Program Name: Interact

Year Program Established: 2010

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Advanced

North American Channel Chief: Kathryn Alexander

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=156

Nerdio

Program Name: Nerdio Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold

North American Channel Chief: Paul Guerin

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=159

NetApp

Program Name: NetApp Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2002

Partner Program Tiers: Star, Platinum, Gold

North American Channel Chief: Jeff McCullough

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=160

Nexsan

Program Name: Nexsan Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2001

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Gregg Pugmire

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=164

Omnitracs

Program Name: Omnitracs Partner Advantage

Year Program Established: 2013

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum Certified, Gold Certified, Silver Certified, Referral Partner Program

North American Channel Chief: Don Quatacker

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=169

Oracle Corporation

Program Name: Oracle PartnerNetwork Program

Year Program Established: 1999

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver

North American Channel Chief: Bill Swales

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=174

Panzura

Program Name: Panzura Freedom Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Steve Simpson

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=181

Pivot3

Program Name: Pivot3 Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Mark Maisano

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=186

Polycom Inc.

Program Name: Polycom Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2009

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized, Registered

North American Channel Chief: David Bankemper

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=190

Puppet

Program Name: Puppet Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2010

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Corporate

North American Channel Chief: John Schwan

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=195

Pure Storage

Program Name: P3 (Pure Partner Program)

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver

North American Channel Chief: Andy Martin

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=196

Quantum Corporation

Program Name: Quantum Alliance

Year Program Established: 2002

Partner Program Tiers: NOW Program, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Distributor

North American Channel Chief: Brandon Cass

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=200

Red Hat Inc.

Program Name: Red Hat Connect

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Premiere, Advanced Business, Ready

North American Channel Chief: D. Robert Martin

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=205

Ribbon Communications

Program Name: Advantage Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze

North American Channel Chief: Beth Frazier

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=208

Ribbon Communications

Program Name: Ribbon Partner Assure Program

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Gold Assure Partner, Silver Assure Partner, Bronze Assure Partner

North American Channel Chief: Beth Frazier

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=209

RiverBed Technology

Program Name: RiverBed Rise

Year Program Established: 2018

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: John Machonis

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=211

Ruckus Wireless

Program Name: Ruckus Ready Channel Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Elite Partners, Select Partners, Distribution Partners

North American Channel Chief: Raelyn Kritzer

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=213

Samsung Electronics America

Program Name: STEP – Samsung Team Of Empowered Partners

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Greg Taylor

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=217

Scale Computing

Program Name: Scale Partner Community

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Referral

North American Channel Chief: Scott Mann

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=219

Schneider Electric

Program Name: EcoXpert Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2010

Partner Program Tiers: Master EcoXpert, Certified EcoXpert

North American Channel Chief: James Mylett

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=220

Server Technology Inc., a brand of Legrand

Program Name: Power Rewards Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2002

Partner Program Tiers: Gold, Silver, Bronze

North American Channel Chief: Mike Johnston

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=225

ServiceKey

Program Name: Independent Service & Maintenance Organization

Year Program Established: 2004

Partner Program Tiers: No Tiers

North American Channel Chief: Danielle Lee

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=226

Silver Peak Systems Inc.

Program Name: Global SD-WAN Channel Program

Year Program Established: 2015

Partner Program Tiers: Summit, Ascent, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Derek Dal Ponte

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=230

Snow Software Inc.

Program Name: Snow Global Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized, Referral Only

North American Channel Chief: John Clark

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=233

SolarWinds MSP

Program Name: SolarWinds MSP Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Distributors, MSP Elite, MSP

North American Channel Chief: Frank Colletti

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=234

StorageCraft

Program Name: StorageCraft Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2009

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Lee Schor

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=242

Sungard Availability Services

Program Name: SugarCRM Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2008

Partner Program Tiers: Solution Partner Premier, Associate Partner Premier, Solution Partner Select

North American Channel Chief: Tim Cecconi

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=244

Tech Data

Program Name: TechSelect

Year Program Established: 1999

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Joe Quaglia

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=248

Tech Data

Program Name: Tech Data Practice Builder

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Joe Quaglia

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=249

Veeam Software

Program Name: Veeam ProPartner Program

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Kevin Rooney

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=261

Verizon

Program Name: Verizon Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2013

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Member

North American Channel Chief: Bill Hooper

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=263

Vertiv

Program Name: Vertiv Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2004

Partner Program Tiers: Diamond Platinum, Gold

North American Channel Chief: Bob Nahorski

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=264

Viavi Solutions

Program Name: Velocity Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2015

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Frank Griffith

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=265

Virtual Instruments

Program Name: The Virtual Instruments Partner Network (VPN)

Year Program Established: 2011

Partner Program Tiers: VIP Platinum, VIP Gold, VIP

North American Channel Chief: Paul Brodie

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=267

Zebra Technologies

Program Name: Zebra PartnerConnect

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Premier Solution Partner/Premier Business Partner, Solution Partner/Business Partner, Broadline Technology Reseller, ISV, Registered Reseller

North American Channel Chief: Tom Sheahen

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=276

Zerto

Program Name: Zerto Alliance Partner (ZAP) Program

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: ZAP Platinum, ZAP Gold, ZAP Silver, ZAP Registered

North American Channel Chief: Mariah West

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=278