IBM unveils datacentre specialisation

Big Blue tempts VARs to invest in new programme in return for up to $100,000 in business development funds

IBM is hoping to help its partners cash in on datacentre opportunities with the launch of a new specialisation.

Big Blue has developed the programme with guidance from its Business Partner councils. Partners taking part in the programme will benefit from technical, sales and marketing training, as well as up to $100,000 in business development funds.

The programme will focus on three key areas: virtualisation and consolidation, energy efficiency and business resiliency. Participating resellers can achieve Specialty and Specialty Elite certifications depending on their level of investment.

Rich Hume, IBM's general manager of global Business Partners, said: "The new Enterprise Data Center Specialty, part of IBM's company-wide new enterprise datacentre strategy, underscores our ongoing commitment to deliver programmes that help our partners expand their business and profitability. No other vendor has an offering for its partners as complete. This offering includes assessment tools that helps them identify and deliver these solutions in a consistent way. "

CIBER Enterprise Solutions is an IBM Business Partner and Eric Borcherding, vice president of the company's technology solutions practice, added: "IBM's new Enterprise Data Center Specialty programme will help define how businesses, solution providers and IBM will shape the future of the technology industry.

"This new programme further demonstrates IBM's commitment to provide a higher level of skills and cooperation with its partners to generate success. At CIBER, we believe this program will enable us to work directly with our clients to develop a comprehensive strategy to effectively reduce power/cooling, improve security and resiliency, reduce IT costs and build a flexible foundation for the future."