2018 Partner Programs Guide: 5-Star Networking And Unified Communications Vendors
Making A Connection With Partners
The network is the computer, as a major IT company's long-ago marketing slogan said. But with IT systems splintering into a mix of on-premise, private cloud and public cloud systems, making all those pieces of "the computer" work together is increasingly a challenge. That creates opportunities for solution providers with expertise in networking technologies – wired, wireless, WAN, LAN, software-defined and more – to tie it all together.
It also means solution providers have more need for technical, marketing, sales and financial assistance from IT vendors.
The 2018 Partner Programs 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 Programs Guide, CRN designates some programs as 5-Star Partner Programs. Here we present the 5-Star designees in the networking technology space.
Other slideshows in the Five-Star Partner Program Guide series running this week include companies that provide systems and data center, cloud, storage, peripherals and security technologies.
8x8, Inc.
Program Name: 8x8 Partner Program / Partner Integr8tion
Year Program Established: 2015
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Christopher Peters
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=1
Aerohive Networks
Program Name: Aerohive Advantage Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2006
Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Associate
North American Channel Chief: Mike Allers
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=9
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
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
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
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
Cambium Networks
Program Name: ConnectedPartner
Year Program Established: 2011
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized, Approved
North American Channel Chief: Ron Ryan
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=45
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
Comcast Business
Program Name: Comcast Business Solutions Provider Program
Year Program Established: 2011
Partner Program Tiers: Pinnacle Master Agent, Diamond Master Agent, Master Agent
North American Channel Chief: Craig Schlagbaum
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=64
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
Fortinet
Program Name: Fortinet Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2000
Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified
North American Channel Chief: Jon Bove
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=105
Fuze
Program Name: Fuze Global Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2016
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver/Referral
North American Channel Chief: Jim Sullivan
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=106
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
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
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
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
Intermedia.net, Inc.
Program Name: Intermedia Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2006
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Registered
North American Channel Chief: Eric Martorano
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=130
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
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
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
NetMotion Software
Program Name: NetMotion PartnerConnect
Year Program Established: 2015
Partner Program Tiers: N/A
North American Channel Chief: Jason Turner
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=161
Opengear
Program Name: Opengear Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2015
Partner Program Tiers: Premier Partners, Partners
North American Channel Chief: Bryan Keepers
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=173
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
Palo Alto Networks
Program Name: NextWave Channel Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2011
Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver
North American Channel Chief: Karl Soderlund
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=177
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
Revolabs Inc. (Part of Yamaha UC Department)
Program Name: CORE Reseller Program
Year Program Established: 2012
Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified
North American Channel Chief: Mike Fitch
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=207
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
RingCentral
Program Name: RingCentral Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2010
Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified
North American Channel Chief: Zane Long
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=210
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
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
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
Sharp Electronics Corporation
Program Name: Sharp Alliance Plus
Year Program Established: 2010
Partner Program Tiers: Pro AV Certified Reseller program
North American Channel Chief: John Sheehan
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=227
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
SOTI Inc.
Program Name: SOTI Altitude Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2005
Partner Program Tiers: Elite Advisor, Expert, Professional, Associate, Registered
North American Channel Chief: Sonya Verheyden
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=237
Star2Star Communications
Program Name: Star2Star Channel Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2006
Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified
North American Channel Chief: Michelle Accardi
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=241
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
Tripp Lite
Program Name: Tripp Lite Partner Program & Premier Partner Program
Year Program Established: 1998
Partner Program Tiers: Premier Partner, Tripp Lite Partner Program, Channel Partners Group
North American Channel Chief: Shane Kilfoil
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=255
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
VMware
Program Name: VMware Partner Network
Year Program Established: 2003
Partner Program Tiers: Premier, Enterprise, Professional
North American Channel Chief: Frank Rauch
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=268
WatchGuard Technologies
Program Name: WatchGuardONE
Year Program Established: 2015
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered Reseller
North American Channel Chief: Coletta Vigh
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=270