Tech Data Joins VMware Ranks

Tech Data has entered the virtualization fray by signing VMware to its portfolio, becoming the vendor’s fifth U.S. distributor. Tech Data announced today that it will now offer the entire VMware portfolio to its customer base through its Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Division.    Pete Peterson told Channel Insider the conversation with VMware started in earnest […]

Written By: Sara Driscoll
Feb 18, 2008
Channel Insider content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Tech Data has entered the virtualization fray by signing VMware to its portfolio, becoming the vendor’s fifth U.S. distributor.

Tech Data announced today that it will now offer the entire VMware portfolio to its customer base through its Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Division.   

Pete Peterson told Channel Insider the conversation with VMware started in earnest 12 months ago, but the two firms wanted the timing to be right. “We wanted to make sure our AIS division was up and running and fully developing,” he added.

However, the distributor is joining Arrow, Avnet, Ingram Micro and LifeBoat in the vendor’s distribution line up, and Peterson said for the first six months there is a list of around 50 to 60 VARs that are in an exclusion zone from Tech Data. “This was a joint decision, as we intend to bring incremental business to VMware,” Peterson said.   

He added that with the expected growth of VMware, which grew revenues 88 percent year on year for 2007, there should be enough business for all five distributors. “We intend to focus our efforts on the midmarket and also target VARs that have not shown as much growth as they should, given the opportunity in the market,” he said.

The Channel is changing, bringing more opportunity than ever before. To find out where you fit in the new channel ecosystem, join us for The Channel Insider Virtual Tradeshow: Driving Growth and Driving Revenue. Click here to register now.

VMware has increasingly looked to move down the chain and target smaller midmarket businesses. The vendor recently revamped its VIP partner program, lowering the barrier to entry for smaller VARs. “There are only so many large enterprise customers out there. Virtualization technology is ideal for midmarket customers because it allows them to run multiple applications on just one physical server. This is where we will bring in new partners, ” Peterson said.

Tech Data has already trained 200 of its sales, field sales representatives, product managers and systems engineers to be certified VMware Sales Professionals (VSPs) or VMware Certified Professionals (VCPs). Peterson said the firm plans to double that number within the next 90 days.

Recommended for you...

Concentric AI Adds Integrations to Data Governance Platform

Concentric AI adds Wiz, Salesforce, and GitHub integrations to boost Semantic Intelligence platform’s AI-driven data governance and security capabilities.

Jordan Smith
Aug 15, 2025
Brivo Launching New Solution to Boost Security Suite

Brivo and Envoy partner to unify access control & visitor management, delivering scalable, compliant, and secure workplace experiences.

Jordan Smith
Aug 13, 2025
GitHub CEO Steps Down as Microsoft Tightens AI Integration

GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke to step down in 2025 as Microsoft moves platform into CoreAI, deepening its role in the company’s AI development strategy.

Allison Francis
Aug 13, 2025
Backblaze CEO on GTM Strategy & AI Demand on M&E Datasets

Backblaze CEO on record growth, AI and M&E wins, and how new products and partnerships are driving enterprise cloud storage adoption.

Jordan Smith
Aug 13, 2025
Channel Insider Logo

Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.