NetApp showers partners with cloudy gifts

Storage vendor offers the channel new training, services and 'solution kits' to help them cash in on cloud

NetApp has taken the wraps off a number of new partner offerings in a bid to help its channel better get to grips with cloud.

At its Insight technical conference in Las Vegas today, the storage vendor said partners have a crucial role in helping enterprises move towards the cloud - with less than a third of businesses considering themselves good at managing cloud infrastructure.

To this end, NetApp has launched a number of channel offerings, including Partner Specialisation programmes and "solution kits" to help partners set up NetApp products.

The Partner Specialisation programmes now available to partners will "increase partners' knowledge and capabilities" around NetApp's Data Fabric cloud products, the vendor said.

One of the specific programmes under the Partner Specialisation banner is Clustered Data Ontap Transition Services, which will help technically advanced NetApp partners migrate customers to the cloud. NetApp disties Arrow and Avnet will offer this training to their partners.

On top of this, a number of "solution kits" have been made available to partners.

"These new ‘solution kits' for specific workloads make it easy for partners to assist customers in piloting cloud projects," said NetApp. "Kits combine software, systems, and/or services to speed deployment and show the immediate benefits of hybrid cloud."

Some of the kits available focus on NetApp's FlexPod and disaster recovery products.

NetApp's vice president for worldwide channel, Bill Lipsin, said it is essential for partners to have the right skills and tools when it comes to cloud.

"Partners with cloud skills, cloud-ready solutions, and expertise in data-fabric architectures will be more successful reaching new buyers and strengthening existing relationships," he said. "NetApp supports our partners with services and solutions that help their customers realise the full potential of the hybrid cloud and make the best decisions for their business."