Block gets Cisco UCS thumbs-up

London-based Cisco partner becomes ninth VAR to get accredited on vendor's server technology

Jonathan Pickering: We will offer the marker something different when it comes to UCS

Block Solutions is swimming with some of the Cisco channel's biggest fish, after becoming the ninth partner to get accredited on the vendor's unified computing system (UCS) kit.

The London VAR has been given the thumbs up to join the UCS Authorised Technology Provider (ATP) programme. Block managing director Jonathan Pickering claimed UCS is a "great technology, which can offer significant cost reduction in the datacentre while increasing application performance".

"Meeting the requirements to be invited onto the Cisco UCS ATP programme is a key milestone for Block and we are delighted with the achievement," he added. "It was a natural step for us to take, having developed such a strong technical reputation."

Integrators Logicalis, 2e2 and Dimension Data are already on the UCS ATP programme, as is BT and corporate resale giant Computacenter. Gold partner ANS Group also has the UCS badge, as does Indian services behemoth Tata Consultancy Services. MTI Europe became the latest VAR to gain its UCS spurs, having been accredited last month.

Pickering said: "We know our unique engagement approach, agility and technical expertise are valued by our customers, and as such we believe we will offer the market something different when it comes to UCS.

"There is a lot of press around this technology at the moment, so it will be interesting to see how things develop over the next 12 months. We will be in good company with the other partners on the programme, and we have a clear strategy around the UCS offering.”

Technical director Marc Chang claimed the accreditation would help illustrate Block's technical credentials to end users, proving the firm is "a safe pair of hands".

"We are uniquely positioned among our Cisco peers in terms of the breadth of expertise we can offer our customers," he added. "This deal is fantastic news and the culmination of a significant effort from the team in meeting the UCS accreditation requirements."