2023 Partner Program Guide: 5-Star Data Storage And Backup Vendor Programs

As part of the Partner Program Guide, CRN designates some vendor channel programs as 5-Star Programs. Here are the 5-Star Programs among data storage and backup technology vendors for 2023.

Channel Programs That Have Your Back

The CRN 2023 Partner Program Guide offers the information solution providers need to evaluate the channel programs operated by the IT vendors they work with or are considering partnering with. The guide is based on detailed applications submitted by vendors – more than 300 this year – outlining all aspects of their partner programs.

As part of the Partner Program Guide, CRN designates some programs as 5-Star Partner Programs because they provide the most comprehensive lineups of incentives, resources, training, services and benefits.

Here we provide snapshots of the 5-Star designees in the data storage and backup space. Details of every vendor’s partner program can be found here.

Slide shows in the 5-Star Partner Program Guide series running this week include companies that provide products and services in cloud platforms and infrastructure, devices and peripherals, data storage and backup, networking and unified communications, security, software, and systems and data center, in addition to 5-Star partner programs operated by distributors and emerging vendors. While many companies provide products and services that span multiple technologies, we’ve assigned each vendor to the slide show for the technology category in which they are most prominent.

Acronis

Program Name: Acronis #CyberFit Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2020

Channel Chief: Alex Ruslyakov, Acronis Channel Chief

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: [In 2022] there were no significant changes. In 2023, we are planning to simplify the level requirements and add more partner benefits.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=7

Arcserve

Program Name: Arcserve Partner Success Program

Year Program Established: 2009

Channel Chief: Denise Parker, EVP, Worldwide Sales

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Realizing that each stage of the business development journey is crucial and needs specific engagements, we decided to pivot our partner program along these lifecycle stages and align Arcserve resources to each stage. To that end, in 2022 we invested in SDRs and sales engineers and in enablement on demand.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=20

Axcient

Program Name: Axcient Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2018

Channel Chief: Tim Sheahen, SVP, Global Sales, Channel Chief

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Partners experienced unprecedented change and macroeconomic challenges in 2022. Axcient continues to tailor the program to meet the evolving needs of partners in this dynamic market. We have simplified the partner program, offering more enablement and lowered barriers to participation to enable more partners to take advantage of our benefits.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=31

Cohesity

Program Name: Cohesity Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Channel Chief: Dan Monahan, VP, Americas Channel Sales

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: We created incentives to reward partner sellers for registering opportunities with target net new accounts and for selling our File and Object solution. We also expanded our Professional Services (PS) Authorization to enable partners to deliver File and Object services, which includes comprehensive training and enablement benefits.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=57

Commvault

Program Name: Commvault Partner Advantage Program

Year Program Established: 2014

Channel Chief: Alan Atkinson, Chief Partner Officer

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: In 2022 we more than doubled incentive payouts to partner sellers (AEs and SEs) by enhancing our SaaS-focused Connect 2.0 promotion. We built stronger pipeline and optimized MDF through better tracking and measurement of ROI tied to partner spend. We also drove accelerated growth through an enhanced Growth Incentive rebate.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=59

DDN

Program Name: PartnerLink

Year Program Established: 2000

Channel Chief: Kimberly Moran-Blad, Head of Field and Channel Marketing

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: DDN grew its partner program in the federal government space, on-boarding new partners and doing increased joint marketing activities for federal customers. We increased marketing engagement with partners that are actively engaged in marketing and selling DDN products.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=77

Druva

Program Name: Druva Compass Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2019

Channel Chief: Robert Brower, SVP, Partners and Alliances

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Building on transformative MSP and distribution launches, Druva has aggressively expanded all routes giving choice to transact SaaS solutions across entire funnel (new, upsell, cross-sell, renewal and multi-year). Druva has revamped enablement on a single global platform. Druva continues to invest in global partner community with more enhancements coming up.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=83

Infinidat

Program Name: Infinidat Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2015

Channel Chief: Eric Herzog, Chief Marketing Officer

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Rolled out a significant enhancement to the global partner training program in 1H 2022 in the Americas and 2H 2022 for EMEA and Asia. Program extends and enhances Infinidat’s existing partner sales and partner technical resource training.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=123

NetApp

Program Name: NetApp Unified Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2002

Channel Chief: Jenni Flinders, SVP, Worldwide Partner Organization

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: We have launched NetApp Solution Competencies, a key element of the forthcoming NetApp Partner Sphere program. Solution competencies are aligned to key NetApp focus areas and have been created to enable partners to differentiate their business and to help them take advantage of all the benefits of our partner program.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=170

Pure Storage

Program Name: Pure Storage Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2012

Channel Chief: Wendy Stusrud, VP, Global Partner Sales

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: We released a series of new updates and benefits, including benefits for partners whether they are reselling or offering managed services, as-a-service solutions, or cloud native architecture; new benefits for Elite partners (incentives, discounts, marketing resources); a new Service Specialization Program enabling partner-branded professional/support services; and simplification of partner requirements.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=208

Quantum Corp.

Program Name: Quantum Alliance

Year Program Established: 2002

Channel Chief: James Mundle, Global Channel Chief

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Quantum deployed an MSP SaaS model for our CatDV Asset Management solution and added integrations into the Hyperscalers for consumption-based business models. We launched a cloud-based solution with the addition of our StorNext on AWS Marketplace offering. We increased incentives for targeted products delivering enhanced customer value with software subscriptions.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=211

RackTop Systems

Program Name: RackTop Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2018

Channel Chief: Frank Russell, Director of Channel

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: The RackTop Partner Portal underwent a major upgrade in 2022. We added self-paced online certifications, new relevant and useful collateral for our partners, simplified the deal registration process and offered some very lucrative incentives. It was a huge overhaul, and we plan to continue to add to it through 2023.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=214

StorMagic

Program Name: StorMagic Channel Program

Year Program Established: 2015

Channel Chief: Brian Grainger, President of StorMagic Inc. and Chief Revenue Officer of StorMagic Ltd.

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: In 2022 StorMagic launched subscription services for some product lines and will continue to expand subscription offerings across all products in 2023. Last year partner marketing offerings included pre-built “campaigns in a box” for partners. StorMagic doubled down on its video surveillance efforts company-wide to fuel growth in that market.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=262

Tintri by DDN

Program Name: Tintri Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2018

Channel Chief: Justin Jimenez, VP, Channels

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: N/A

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=280

Unitrends, a Kaseya company

Program Name: Unitrends Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2016

Channel Chief: Adam Larrabee, VP, New Sales & Channel Management

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: In 2022 we continued to expand the Unitrends Partner Program to incorporate partners from our sister company, Spanning, offering more backup solutions from a single vendor. Additionally, we added products to the Unitrends Xtra program, providing Unitrends resellers with access, consistent discounts and enablement programs for the Kaseya IT Complete portfolio.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=286

Unitrends, a Kaseya company

Program Name: Unitrends Xtra Program

Year Program Established: 2020

Channel Chief: Adam Larrabee, VP, New Sales & Channel Management

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Unitrends Xtra was launched in late 2020, so 2022 was about communicating and onboarding partners into the expanded program. The program director led internal teams as well as countless online enablement and introduction workshops to inform, train and onboard resellers into selling the full IT Complete portfolio.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=287

Veeam Software

Program Name: Veeam ProPartner Program for Veeam Value-Added Resellers

Year Program Established: 2006

Channel Chief: Larissa Crandall, VP, Global Channel and Alliances

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: We increased our focus on technical enablement this year, based on feedback from our sellers. Our technical sellers particularly liked taking advantage of our Hands-On lab program this year. We also ensured that our incentives focus on the technical sellers as well and will even more so in 2023.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=288

Veritas Technologies

Program Name: Veritas Partner Force

Year Program Established: 2015

Channel Chief: Mike Walkey, SVP, Global Channels and Alliances

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: We’ve increased our partner services capability by training partners at the same skill level as Veritas employees. We’ve delivered profitable programs and promotions to help drive the transition to subscription and net new logo acquisition. We’ve added more channel technical pre-sales resources to drive the engagement in all regions.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=291

Wasabi Technologies

Program Name: Wasabi Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2018

Channel Chief: Marty Falaro, EVP and COO

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: In 2022, Wasabi launched a dedicated OEM program for those partners that want to offer their customers a complete, turnkey solution. By integrating Wasabi hot cloud storage into their existing intellectual property, partners bring a simplified, well-rounded solution to their customers and add more dollars to their revenue stream.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=301