Monday Morning Impact – March 2
By Ken Presti, Senior Consultant, Channel Impact
F5 Launches New Channel Training Program
F5 Networks has kicked off “Guardian Fast Start,” a new global channel training program focused primarily on technical enablement to support implementations that include the full range of the Seattle-based company’s products and services.
“Customers are moving beyond basic application delivery services and are taking a more advanced approach, leveraging integrated application delivery and security services to deliver their mission-critical applications both on premises and in the cloud,” said Jim Ritchings, senior vice president of worldwide channels and alliances at F5. “To support this shift, our partners need deeper technical proficiency and consulting capabilities.”
Product lines supported by the initiative include BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager, Global Traffic Manager, Application Security Manager, Access Policy Manager, and Advanced Firewall Manager.
The post-sales technical development roadmap is focused on four key elements: training on F5 products and solutions, technical certification, professional shadowing, and delivery. The company also provides incentives to increase the short-term return on investment for the time spent in training.
The Guardian Fast Start Program is available globally to all Gold and Platinum Unity program partners.
Channel Impact:
As the information technology landscape becomes increasingly complex, given an environment that includes the cloud, managed services, on premises equipment, and hybrid configurations, the need for increased channel training becomes self-evident.
Lenovo Strengthens Windows Server 2003 End-of-Support Migration Program
Although Lenovo has been making headlines for other reasons lately, the company has also announced enhancements to its Windows Server 2003 End-of-Support Program for North American channel partners.
The program provides discounts on a variety of ThinkServer configurations, as well as incremental rebates on many TopSeller configurations and System x configurations. Lenovo will also offer special financing with no payments for up to 90 days, and demo units for evaluation. Technical white papers and various sales tools, and also reseller-customizable marketing collateral are also included.
“Working with Microsoft, Lenovo’s unique approach to Windows Server 2003 migration enables our channel partners to provide their value add services to their customers,” said Chris Frey, vice president of Lenovo’s North America commercial and channel business. “These services include detailed assessments, migration and integration.”
Channel Impact:
Whenever major migration initiatives are underway, it becomes increasingly important to develop programs designed to help channel partners understand the ramifications, and delivers smooth deployment and related services to their customers. This move represents Lenovo’s understanding that end-of-support for Windows Server 2003 represents a major opportunity for the company’s partners.
MaintenanceNet, Inc. Adds Two Channel Veterans to its Executive Ranks
MaintenanceNet, Inc., a Carlsbad, Calif.-based provider of service revenue generation solutions, announced the hirings of Justin Crotty, who will serve as vice president of global sales, and Steven Merten, who has been named vice president of professional services.
A 20-year IT channel veteran, Crotty joins MaintenanceNet following more than four years with NetEnrich, Inc., exiting the company as its general manager and senior vice president. Prior to that, he held senior management roles at Ingram Micro, where he led the Services Division and Ingram Micro Seismic, and helped pioneer North America’s first IT managed and cloud services distribution model.
Merten’s experience spans the healthcare and technology industries, where he has served in an executive capacity with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte & Touche, Avnet Technology Solutions and, most recently, Infor, which delivers enterprise applications and services.
“It’s a big win for MaintenanceNet and our customers to have these exceptional executives join our team,” said Shayne Skaff, MaintenanceNet’s president and cofounder. “Their leadership will be instrumental to our ongoing success as we enter our second decade of business, expand our global operations and identify new ways to drive revenue growth for our customers.”
In 2014, MaintenanceNet reported a record year, reaching more than $3 billion in service contracts now under management worldwide while launching the company’s new ServiceExchange Service Revenue Generation Platform. In addition, the cloud-based software and data intelligence innovator reported year-over-year revenue growth of 50 percent in 2014 as it expanded its reach to serve more than 300 distributors and 23,000 resellers globally.
Channel Impact:
Both executives bring extensive services and channel-related experience to the table at a time when this company is poised to take its next steps in this rapidly-evolving market space.
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