ePlus Renews Its Advanced Data Center Storage Networking Specialization From Cisco

ePlus inc. announced that ePlus Technology inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, has achieved the renewal of its Advanced Data Center Storage Networking Specialization from Cisco. This specialization recognizes ePlus as having fulfilled the training requirements and program prerequisites to sell, deploy and support comprehensive Cisco data center storage networking solutions, including the Cisco MDS Family of directors and fabric switches.

"We’re pleased to be recognized by Cisco again with the renewal of our Data Center Storage Networking Advanced Specialization," said Jerry McIntosh, vice president of communication/security solutions for ePlus Technology. "This designation enhances our ability to help customers build highly-available, scalable storage infrastructures that address business continuity and data security initiatives — two critical factors in remaining competitive in today’s market."

"As a Cisco Data Center Storage Networking Specialized Partner, ePlus’ investment in the training and equipment required to provide integrated, collaborative and adaptive storage networking solutions ranks them among the industry’s most-qualified," said John Growdon, director of marketing for worldwide channels at Cisco.

The Cisco Advanced Data Center Storage Networking Specialization is designed to help partners — whether small to medium-sized businesses or enterprise-scale organizations — meet a wide range of customer needs. The Advanced Data Center Storage Networking Specialization curriculum focuses on enabling Cisco partners to build cost-effective storage area networks in support of creating better resource management, improved business continuance and enhanced data security. These resale channel partners are specialists in building storage solutions based on industry-leading Cisco data center storage networking products. These include Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Directors and Fabric Switches, MDS 9000 IP Storage Services Modules, MDS 9000 Caching Services Modules, MDS 9000 Advanced Services Modules, MDS 9000 Fibre Channel Switching Modules, MDS 9000 Port Analyzer Adapters, MDS 9100 and 9200 Multilayer Fabric Switches, MDS 9500 Series Multilayer Directors and MDS 9500 Series Supervisor Modules.

The Cisco Resale Channel Program provides partners with the training required to build sales, technical and Cisco Lifecycle Services skills, and then validates their skills through a third-party audit. Cisco resale partner certifications — Select, Premier, Silver and Gold — represent an increasing breadth of skills across key technologies and a partner’s ability to deliver integrated networking solutions. Cisco resale partner specializations — SMB, Express, Advanced and Master — reflect an increasing depth of sales, technical and service expertise in particular technologies. Achieving Cisco Advanced Data Center Storage Networking Specialization also provides ePlus access to comprehensive sales, technical, and lifecycle services training and support available from Cisco.

In addition to Cisco Master Specializations in Security and Unified Communications, ePlus holds Cisco Advanced Specializations in Routing and Switching, Data Center Storage Networking, and Data Center Networking Infrastructure as well as Cisco Authorized Technology Provider (ATP) designations in Network Hosted Storage and Video Surveillance.