2018 Partner Programs Guide: 5-Star Networking And Unified Communications Vendors

Making A Connection With Partners

The network is the computer, as a major IT company's long-ago marketing slogan said. But with IT systems splintering into a mix of on-premise, private cloud and public cloud systems, making all those pieces of "the computer" work together is increasingly a challenge. That creates opportunities for solution providers with expertise in networking technologies – wired, wireless, WAN, LAN, software-defined and more – to tie it all together.

It also means solution providers have more need for technical, marketing, sales and financial assistance from IT vendors.

The 2018 Partner Programs Guide offers the information solution providers need to evaluate IT vendors they work with or are considering working with. The guide is based on detailed applications vendors submitted outlining all aspects of their partner programs.

As part of the Partner Programs Guide, CRN designates some programs as 5-Star Partner Programs. Here we present the 5-Star designees in the networking technology space.

Other slideshows in the Five-Star Partner Program Guide series running this week include companies that provide systems and data center, cloud, storage, peripherals and security technologies.

C-F | G-K | L-Q | R-S | T-Z

8x8, Inc.

Program Name: 8x8 Partner Program / Partner Integr8tion

Year Program Established: 2015

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Christopher Peters

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=1

Aerohive Networks

Program Name: Aerohive Advantage Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Associate

North American Channel Chief: Mike Allers

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=9

AlgoSec

Program Name: AlgoSec Channel Program

Year Program Established: 2003

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver Bronze

North American Channel Chief: Jim O'Gara

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=12

Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company

Program Name: Partner Ready for Networking

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Service Provider, Gold, Silver, Business

North American Channel Chief: Jim Harold

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=19

Aryaka Networks

Program Name: Aryaka Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Richard Farbman

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=20

AT&T

Program Name: AT&T Alliance Channel

Year Program Established: 1998

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Kevin Leonard

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=22

AT&T

Program Name: AT&T Partner Exchange

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: AT&T Partner Exchange – Platinum Elite, AT&T Partner Exchange – Platinum

North American Channel Chief: Randall Porter

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=23

Avaya

Program Name: Avaya Edge

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald

North American Channel Chief: Gary Levy

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=29

Barracuda Networks

Program Name: Barracuda Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2004

Partner Program Tiers: Premier, Preferred, Authorized, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Ezra Hookano

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=31

BMC

Program Name: BMC Partner Advantage

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver

North American Channel Chief: Sanjay Gupta

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=37

Cambium Networks

Program Name: ConnectedPartner

Year Program Established: 2011

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized, Approved

North American Channel Chief: Ron Ryan

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=45

Ciena Corporation

Program Name: BizConnect Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Platinum, Gold

North American Channel Chief: Linda Hutchinson

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=51

Cisco Systems

Program Name: Cisco Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 1996

Partner Program Tiers: Gold, Premier, Select, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Rick Snyder

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=52

Cisco Systems

Program Name: Cisco Cloud and Managed Services Program

Year Program Established: 1996

Partner Program Tiers: No Tiers

North American Channel Chief: Rick Snyder

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=56

Citrix Systems

Program Name: Citrix Partner Network

Year Program Established: 1989

Partner Program Tiers: Citrix Solution Advisor – Platinum, Citrix Solution Advisor – Gold, Citrix Solution Advisor – Silver

North American Channel Chief: Rafael Garzon

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=57

Cloudistics

Program Name: Accelerate

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Christopher Myhill

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=62

Comcast Business

Program Name: Comcast Business Solutions Provider Program

Year Program Established: 2011

Partner Program Tiers: Pinnacle Master Agent, Diamond Master Agent, Master Agent

North American Channel Chief: Craig Schlagbaum

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=64

Cradlepoint

Program Name: Cradlepoint Authorized Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2011

Partner Program Tiers: Elite

North American Channel Chief: Tony Puopolo

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=68

DataCore Software

Program Name: DataCore Premier Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2013

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Mike Coner

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=74

Datto Inc.

Program Name: Datto Global Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Blue, Enterprise, Professional, Business

North American Channel Chief: Rob Rae

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=75

Dell Inc.

Program Name: Dell EMC Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Titanium, Platinum, Gold

North American Channel Chief: Gregg Ambulos

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=77

Digium Inc.

Program Name: Digium Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2007

Partner Program Tiers: Select, Registered, Service Provider, Affiliate, DMR

North American Channel Chief: Steve Harvey

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=85

Eaton

Program Name: PowerAdvantage Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2009

Partner Program Tiers: PowerAdvantage Certified Partner, PowerAdvantage Authorized Partner, PowerAdvantage Approved Partner

North American Channel Chief: Graciano Beyhaut

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=90

Extreme Networks

Program Name: Extreme Partner Network

Year Program Established: 1996

Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Gold Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Gordon Mackintosh

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=97

Flowmon Networks a.s.

Program Name: Flowmon Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Flowman Distributor, Flowmon Gold Partner, Flowmon Silver Partner, Flowmon Bronze Partner, Flowmon Registered Partner

North American Channel Chief: Adam Wright

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=103

Fortinet

Program Name: Fortinet Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2000

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Jon Bove

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=105

Fuze

Program Name: Fuze Global Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2016

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver/Referral

North American Channel Chief: Jim Sullivan

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=106

GFI Software

Program Name: GFI Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Number of North American Partners: Gold, Silver, Bronze

North American Channel Chief: Thomas Witting

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=108

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Program Name: HPE Partner Ready

Year Program Established: 2002

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Business

North American Channel Chief: Terry Richardson

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=112

Hitachi Vantara

Program Name: Hitachi TrueNorth Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2003

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum/Platinum Elite, Gold, Silver

North American Channel Chief: Jay McGloin

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=113

IBM

Program Name: PartnerWorld

Year Program Established: 1999

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Dorothy Copeland

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=116

iland

Program Name: iland Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Professional

North American Channel Chief: Koorosh Khashayar

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=120

Intel Corp.

Program Name: Intel Technology Provider Program

Year Program Established: 1980

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Jason Kimrey

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=127

Intermedia.net, Inc.

Program Name: Intermedia Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Eric Martorano

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=130

Ivanti

Program Name: Ivanti Partner Program

Year Program Established: 1985

Partner Program Tiers: National Sales Providers, Expert Solution Providers, Managed Service Providers, Distribution

North American Channel Chief: Reza Parsia

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=133

Juniper Networks

Program Name: Juniper Partner Advantage Program

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Select, Reseller (VAR), Distributors

North American Channel Chief: Brian Rosenberg

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=137

Lenovo Data Center Group

Program Name: Lenovo Data Center Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Stef Bockhop

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=144

Mellanox Technologies

Program Name: Mellanox PartnerFIRST Program

Year Program Established: 2008

Number of North American Partners: Elite, Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Darrin Neil Chen

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=151

Microsoft Corporation

Program Name: Microsoft Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2010

Partner Program Tiers: Gold Competency, Silver Competency, Action Pack Subscriber, Network Member

North American Channel Chief: David Willis

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=153

NCR Corporation

Program Name: Interact

Year Program Established: 2010

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Advanced

North American Channel Chief: Kathryn Alexander

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=156

NetMotion Software

Program Name: NetMotion PartnerConnect

Year Program Established: 2015

Partner Program Tiers: N/A

North American Channel Chief: Jason Turner

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=161

Opengear

Program Name: Opengear Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2015

Partner Program Tiers: Premier Partners, Partners

North American Channel Chief: Bryan Keepers

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=173

Oracle Corporation

Program Name: Oracle PartnerNetwork Program

Year Program Established: 1999

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver

North American Channel Chief: Bill Swales

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=174

Palo Alto Networks

Program Name: NextWave Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2011

Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver

North American Channel Chief: Karl Soderlund

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=177

Polycom Inc.

Program Name: Polycom Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2009

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized, Registered

North American Channel Chief: David Bankemper

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=190

Revolabs Inc. (Part of Yamaha UC Department)

Program Name: CORE Reseller Program

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Mike Fitch

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=207

Ribbon Communications

Program Name: Advantage Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2012

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze

North American Channel Chief: Beth Frazier

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=208

Ribbon Communications

Program Name: Ribbon Partner Assure Program

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Gold Assure Partner, Silver Assure Partner, Bronze Assure Partner

North American Channel Chief: Beth Frazier

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=209

RingCentral

Program Name: RingCentral Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2010

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Zane Long

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=210

RiverBed Technology

Program Name: RiverBed Rise

Year Program Established: 2018

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: John Machonis

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=211

Ruckus Wireless

Program Name: Ruckus Ready Channel Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Elite Partners, Select Partners, Distribution Partners

North American Channel Chief: Raelyn Kritzer

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=213

Samsung Electronics America

Program Name: STEP – Samsung Team Of Empowered Partners

Year Program Established: 2014

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Greg Taylor

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=217

Schneider Electric

Program Name: EcoXpert Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2010

Partner Program Tiers: Master EcoXpert, Certified EcoXpert

North American Channel Chief: James Mylett

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=220

ServiceKey

Program Name: Independent Service & Maintenance Organization

Year Program Established: 2004

Partner Program Tiers: No Tiers

North American Channel Chief: Danielle Lee

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=226

Sharp Electronics Corporation

Program Name: Sharp Alliance Plus

Year Program Established: 2010

Partner Program Tiers: Pro AV Certified Reseller program

North American Channel Chief: John Sheehan

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=227

Silver Peak Systems Inc.

Program Name: Global SD-WAN Channel Program

Year Program Established: 2015

Partner Program Tiers: Summit, Ascent, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Derek Dal Ponte

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=230

SOTI Inc.

Program Name: SOTI Altitude Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2005

Partner Program Tiers: Elite Advisor, Expert, Professional, Associate, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Sonya Verheyden

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=237

Star2Star Communications

Program Name: Star2Star Channel Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Michelle Accardi

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=241

Sungard Availability Services

Program Name: SugarCRM Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2008

Partner Program Tiers: Solution Partner Premier, Associate Partner Premier, Solution Partner Select

North American Channel Chief: Tim Cecconi

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=244

Tech Data

Program Name: TechSelect

Year Program Established: 1999

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Joe Quaglia

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=248

Tech Data

Program Name: Tech Data Practice Builder

Year Program Established: 2017

Partner Program Tiers: Not Specified

North American Channel Chief: Joe Quaglia

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=249

Tripp Lite

Program Name: Tripp Lite Partner Program & Premier Partner Program

Year Program Established: 1998

Partner Program Tiers: Premier Partner, Tripp Lite Partner Program, Channel Partners Group

North American Channel Chief: Shane Kilfoil

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=255

Veeam Software

Program Name: Veeam ProPartner Program

Year Program Established: 2006

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered

North American Channel Chief: Kevin Rooney

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=261

Verizon

Program Name: Verizon Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2013

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Member

North American Channel Chief: Bill Hooper

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=263

Vertiv

Program Name: Vertiv Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2004

Partner Program Tiers: Diamond Platinum, Gold

North American Channel Chief: Bob Nahorski

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=264

Viavi Solutions

Program Name: Velocity Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2015

Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Authorized

North American Channel Chief: Frank Griffith

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=265

VMware

Program Name: VMware Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2003

Partner Program Tiers: Premier, Enterprise, Professional

North American Channel Chief: Frank Rauch

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=268

WatchGuard Technologies

Program Name: WatchGuardONE

Year Program Established: 2015

Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered Reseller

North American Channel Chief: Coletta Vigh

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2018-details.htm?c=270