NetApp Announces New Partner Program

NetApp has announced its intent to launch a new overarching channel program intended to help partners drive digital and cloud transformation through modern business models with highly specialized services, and capabilities. By consolidating and simplifying multiple programs into one that includes all partner types, business models and routes to market, the company hopes to enable partners to evolve their business more efficiently into the cloud.

The program offers training and support to help partners capture cloud market share and provides rewards for partners’ investments in competencies and services. An accelerated growth structure allows partners to contribute transformational value to joint customers.

The program’s tiers range from Approved, to Preferred, to Prestige, to Prestige Plus – recognizing partners based on value and competencies. Benefits and support will grow as partners ascend tiers, with the partners generating the most impact seeing the broadest and most customized benefits, including solution specific marketing campaigns and enablement, proposal-based market development funds, and preferred value-based incentives.

As part of these strategic changes NetApp will shift away from Specializations to identify partner capabilities and utilize Solution Competencies aligned to key NetApp focus areas – Cloud Solutions, Hybrid Cloud and AI & Analytics. These competencies will be included in the NetApp Partner Sphere program requirements. Partners will be able to begin earning associated competencies within each category, showcasing their ability to deliver customer success across the NetApp portfolio by the end of the calendar year.

Channel Impact^®
The new cloud-focused and services-led NetApp Partner Sphere is intended to deliver a flexible path to advancement and growth for all partner sales motions.