Monday Morning Impact – February 15

Published On: February 15, 2016Categories: Buzz, Uncategorized

Avnet Expands its Cloud and Hybrid Data Center Capabilities through Alliances

Avnet has taken further steps in the area of off-premise and hybrid cloud by offering new solutions from CenturyLink and IO. These solutions suit a range of offsite data center and infrastructure co-location needs, including data center expansions, redundancy support and migrations, and will be available to partners through either a referral model or a resale model.

“Avnet makes it simpler than ever for partners to capitalize on the growing demand among customers for hybrid cloud environments,” said Tim FitzGerald, vice president of Avnet’s Cloud Solutions business in the Americas. “Our new co-location solutions combined with the strength of Avnet’s cloud and hybrid data center services will help partners quickly solve for common customer challenges in the cloud, including cost, performance and security.”

Additionally, partners can leverage Avnet’s IT services, including orchestration and automation, to create more complete offerings for cloud solutions.

Channel Impact
The entire distribution community is searching for new ways to add value in the cloud market, recognizing that, while the more traditional distribution services will always be necessary, the advent of cloud will shift dollars away from the earlier model. Efforts to help channel partners effectively engage the new market are typically popular.

Samsung Upgrades Partner Program

Samsung Electronics America, has added new marketing services, as well as a professional training system, to its channel partner program.

Highlights include marketing concierge services that leverage third-party platforms towards enhanced planning, execution and reporting of co-branded marketing campaigns. Benefits include ROI and pipeline reporting, social media marketing, and e-mail marketing using co-branded content.

The company also announced the Samsung Business Academy, a new training and certification program that uses online, off-line, teacher-led and self-guided learning resources for partner education on Samsung B2B products and solutions, including Samsung KNOX security, outdoor display and offerings in hospitality and healthcare. The academy will launch in the first half of 2016 and be integrated into the current web-based portal, with mobile support coming in the second half of the year.

Targeted verticals for channel partners include healthcare, hospitality, education, retail, financial services and federal government.

Channel Impact
While Samsung is well known for its consumer lines, augmentation of the channel program can go a long way towards enhancing the company’s footing in the B2B space.

ForeScout Names Tom Evans as Vice President of Channels

ForeScout Technologies Inc., a Campbell, Calif.-based security company, announced that Tom Evans has been appointed as vice president of channels for the Americas. He most recently served as senior director of channel sales and distribution at F5, where he was responsible for all Americas channel sales through distribution, including Latin America.

“Previously, I leveraged my direct sales and channel management experience to help build an award-winning program,” he said. “I am looking forward to bringing my experience to ForeScout and leading our team to be the most channel-friendly company on the block.”

ForeScout targets Global 2000 enterprises and government organizations with products that provide visibility and control of devices as they connect to the network, without requiring software agents or previous device knowledge. The company claims more than 2,000 customers in over 60 countries.

Channel Impact
Partners are always looking for new ways to differentiate themselves in the security space. Evans’ plans were not discussed, but the market opportunity is clearly present.

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