Specialist distributor Zycko has partnered with networked storage specialist Infortrend to help grow its European footprint.

Zycko will target its integrator base to push the vendor’s enterprise scalable virtualised architecture (ESVA) suite to verticals that are suffering from financial pressures, such as media and education.

David Galton-Fenzi, group sales director at Zycko, said: “Infortrend has managed to bundle a high level of functionality into a cost-effective package that will appeal to firms that need the same level of storage as an enterprise, but which do not have an enterprise-size budget.

“The secondary storage market has been very competitive, with players such as EqualLogic, Nexsan and Dot Hill, but also larger players such as HP and Hitachi coming down into the space,” said Galton-Fenzi.

“Infortrend has done very well in the space and has a good installed base already. We are just building on that.”

He added that Zycko’s main focus will initially be on the UK market, but the distributor plans to ‘cookie-cut’ the UK strategy and deliver it to other regions.

“We are seeing a big uptake from customers in the central block, such as Russia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, which are keen to invest in recognised brands,” he said.

Jon Ashley, sales and marketing director for Northern Europe at Infortrend, said: “Zycko has exactly the right mix of expertise, contacts and experience to help us grow our channel partner base in Europe.

“We are looking forward to working with them to bring our technology to new customers. Zycko has a strong reputation within the channel and is recognised by its resellers for the value it adds.”