NetApp Introduces Rapid Deployment Services+

NetApp announced Rapid Deployment Services+ (RDS+), a new suite of service offerings from NetApp Global Services that offers resellers and customers a new level of modularity and flexibility when deploying NetApp(R) FAS and V-Series systems. RDS+ builds upon the original Rapid Deployment Services offering by providing a high level of flexibility thanks to its base solution and optional add-on components. This combination better addresses varying customer deployment requirements while maintaining a streamlined sales process for resellers.

Customer benefits include:

• More flexibility: With the ability to choose from a variety of FAS and V-Series add-on components in addition to the production-ready base service, customers are able to tailor their storage system to meet their specific business needs.
• Faster time to deployment: Without the need for a statement of work (SOW), customers are able to have their new, tailored storage system up and running in as few as four days versus weeks or months.
• Higher quality and consistency of service delivery: With newly defined deliverables, customers will better understand their solution and how best to utilize it.

Reseller benefits include:

• Streamlined sales process: With NetApp’s new eGenerator desktop application, resellers are able to more quickly generate service briefs, creating a more efficient sales process for increased business.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction: With the ability to offer customized add-on components, resellers are better able to meet customer needs by providing a tailored storage system implementation.
• Improved service delivery: Resellers are able to provide consistent, predictable, and repeatable implementations for a better customer experience.

"RDS+ fills the gap between installation services and custom consulting," said Jay Mulford, senior director, Public Sector Services at NetApp. "Customers can pick the components they need and add them onto an already robust base service. In addition, customers may bolt together multiple RDS+ services to create a more comprehensive solution from top to bottom. They benefit from a tailored solution that meets their specific business requirements without having to go through the lengthy process of filling out an SOW. Our reseller partners benefit from a simpler, more efficient process of selling and delivering turnkey services to customers, along with shorter sales cycles and simplified quoting."

"We’ve already had great success with NetApp’s RDS as a VIP Certified Professional Service Partner," said Richard Williams, VP, Engineering Services, Advanced Systems Group. "With RDS+, we can offer a greater degree of customization and truly tailor our solutions to fit our customers’ needs. The sales process is easier, and deployment is faster, and customers understand what they’re getting up front because of the simplified quoting process. By adding on components to the base service, we can satisfy many more customers’ needs without having to deal with a lengthy statement of work process. This results in a more cost-effective solution for our customers and a more attractive entry point for purchasing a customized storage solution."

RDS+ is available today to NetApp customers. Contact your local NetApp sales representative or VIP Channel Partner representative.

Base services include site readiness verification, complete discovery and configuration services, workbook design and review, storage system configuration, and complete documentation. The FAS implementation base service includes one single-node storage controller or one active-active storage cluster per package. Add-on components include SAN, SnapMirror, MetroCluster, SnapVault, and Open Systems SnapVault. V-Series implementation includes a maximum of one array and standalone or clustered V-Series controller and the optional SAN add-on component.