Cisco and NetApp announced the launch of a global channel initiative to accelerate the market momentum of the popular FlexPod converged infrastructure solution. The FlexPod Premium Partner Framework will reward elite FlexPod channel partners for investing in sophisticated sales capabilities and services practices.
The companies also announced that more than 1,000 customers have deployed the FlexPod solution since it was launched in November 2010. The FlexPod series combines computing, networking and storage solutions from Cisco and NetApp into a flexible, scalable, shared infrastructure. Nearly 100 percent of FlexPod solutions are now sold through Cisco-NetApp channel partners.
Key Features:
- The objective of the FlexPod Premium Partner Framework is to recognize and reward partners who have invested in developing FlexPod solution competencies.
- Built on feedback from the global channel community, the framework is designed to deliver increased differentiation, streamline multi-vendor interactions, and enhance profitability.
- Benefits that help differentiate channel partners include :
- Use of unique branding that can be leveraged in marketing and communications
- Special listings in NetApp and Cisco partner locator tools
- Differentiated marketing and communications support
- Benefits to enable channel partners sales and technical solutions capabilities include :
- Access to a FlexPod help desk that assists post-sales engineers in the plan, design and implementation of a production FlexPod stack
- Priority access to lab resources for technical training, demonstrations, and proof-of-concept efforts
- Joint learning maps from Cisco and NetApp for sales, pre-sales and post-sales personnel
- Benefits to drive partner growth include :
- Access to Cisco Collaborative Professional Services and the FlexPod Technical Consulting Accelerator offers partners tools, templates, validated designs, leading practices, and business and technology methodologies, all designed to help partners enhance their FlexPod practices
- Enhanced focus and support for demand generation campaigns related to the FlexPod solution
- There are currently 22 FlexPod Premium Partners that have qualified for the initiative, including seven partners across North America and 15 in Europe.
- Cisco and NetApp have collaborated to produce more than 20 Cisco Validated Designs; supporting hypervisors from VMware, Red Hat, Microsoft and Citrix.
