The IT industry is undergoing some major shifts. Businesses are adopting cloud-computing models while their employees are embracing mobile devices with a passion. Trends like "big data" and social networking offer opportunities and challenges for vendors and solution providers alike. So what has your IT vendor done for you lately?

The 2013 Partner Program Guide offers solution providers the information they need to evaluate IT vendors they already work with or are considering working with. The guide is based on detailed applications vendors submitted outlining all aspects of their partner programs.

On this year's list, there are a handful of emerging vendors that are giving the big league players a run for their money. Here we present the emerging vendors worthy of a five-star designation.