Barracuda Networks Revamps Its Channel Program
Barracuda Networks added an improved discount structure, new tools and resources, and more lead opportunities to its channel program. The company also restructured the partner levels, including the addition of a new level, and added a new program for managed service provider (MSP) partners. The new partner levels—Premier, Preferred, Authorized and Registered—offer partners greater participation and provide adjusted revenue and training requirements at all levels.
Barracuda also expanded deal registration and protection to include more product models with higher discounts. Partners receive increased discounts for certain product families and an increased “not for resale” purchase limit to use in their own networks and for training.
The new MSP program, available to channel partners who qualify to provide managed services, expands partner support for Barracuda NG Firewall and Barracuda Backup. This provides new revenue-generation opportunities for channel partners who offer managed security and storage services. Additionally, partners have access to product training from Barracuda University.
Ingram Announces Preferred App Dev Network and Deal With Arcserve
Ingram Micro launched the Ingram Micro Preferred App Dev Network, a professional services offering designed to improve partner value and margins through custom application development. Available in North America, the program allows Ingram Micro channel partners to tap into a specialized services network supported by Ingram Micro Professional Services and Ingram Micro Link.
The network connects channel partners to vetted network providers with proven solutions development, integration and migration capabilities across a variety of technologies, solutions and platforms including cloud, big data and mobility.
In separate news, Ingram Micro signed a deal with Arcserve that gives the global IT distributor the exclusive rights to market, sell and support Arcserve’s data protection and recovery solutions, including the new Arcserve Unified Data Protection (UDP) and Arcserve UDP 7000 Appliance, to channel partners in the United States and Canada. In addition to supporting Arcserve’s partner program, which includes pre- and post-sales support, deal registration, marketing development funds, demo equipment and sales and engineering accreditations, Ingram Micro will leverage its Business Intelligence Center to identify growth opportunities for Arcserve and its channel partners.
Arrow News: Deal With Violin Memory and Partnership With Permabit
Arrow Electronics signed a North American distribution agreement with Violin Memory, a flash storage provider. The agreement will provide Arrow resellers with access to Violin’s Flash Storage Platform solutions, all-flash product portfolio and enterprise data services, while Violin Memory will tap Arrow’s sales support and technical expertise to continue its expansion into the all-flash array market in North America, the companies said.
Arrow’s specialists are expected to benefit from Violin’s newly launched global partner program, which provides targeted product support, services and tools. The companies signed a similar distribution agreement for Europe, the Middle East and Africa earlier this year.
In other news, Permabit Technology, a provider of data efficiency technology, has entered into an agreement with Arrow to distribute its SANblox data efficiency appliance combined with IBM storage technology. SANblox provides “plug-and-save” data reduction across a variety applications, including mixed virtual server, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and virtualized cloud environments. The pre-certified offering, consisting of SANblox and IBM storage, is expected to reduce installation challenges and enable faster deal closures.
BIO-key Signs Global Agreement With Avnet
Avnet has signed an application-specific licensing (ASL) agreement with BIO-key International, a provider of fingerprint biometric identification technologies and secure on-device or in-cloud mobile credentialing and identity verification solutions. The deal allows Avnet to integrate IBM middleware into BIO-key software.
The offerings will be sold in the Americas; the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region; and the Asia-Pacific.
“Avnet’s ASL Program is an IBM channel, administered by Avnet, which is aimed at increasing the revenues and profits from middleware usage for business partners who provide value-added solutions and services to their customers,” Mike DePasquale, chairman and CEO, BIO-key, said in a statement.
CompTIA Opens Nominations for 2015 ChannelChangers
CompTIA is now accepting nominations for the 2015 ChannelChangers awards program. The annual program recognizes the most promising future IT channel leaders who are already having a positive impact on the industry. The program is open to “Millennial” professionals, aged 23 to 29 as of August 2015, who have two years of experience in the IT industry. Nominees must be currently employed by a CompTIA Premier Member company. Nominations must be submitted by June 22.