Virident (WD/HGST) Outlines Channel Partner Program

Virident Systems Inc. unveiled its statement of direction of a flash-optimized Virident Impact Program (VIP), making the company’s FlashMAX II hardware and FlashMAX Connect Software Suite available for purchase from qualified channel partners.

The program, which will consist of Member and Elite levels, will enable partners to grow their businesses and increase profitability, and will also help enable the flash platform transformation in the datacenter. By utilizing the capabilities of FlashMAX Connect, partners will be able to offer a flash solution with hardware, software and custom service offerings.

Virident is dedicated to extending its reach into the enterprise and sees the need for a channel-partner program. The company is investing in the channel and is committed to helping its partners through joint marketing efforts, co-branding, technology training, sales support and a loyalty program. In addition, Virident will be implementing a certification program, Virident Validated, later this year to accredit its partners’ knowledge of PCIe technology. The program and certification will be open to all channel members that have expertise with server-side flash storage, including local, regional and national resellers, VARs and MSPs.

Virident plans to sign specialized flash-optimized channel partners in the Americas and worldwide.

“Storage deployments are clearly moving to a model where flash storage supports active data, while spinning disks are increasingly focused on simple capacity; however, the adoption of this model is still not as fast as it could be,” said Kevin Rhone, director channel acceleration practice, Enterprise Strategy Group. “Virident can speed adoption of the new model because its FlashMAX Connect software suite can protect enterprises’ current infrastructure investments; this helps users to transition to flash and prepare for the future datacenter, while also allowing Virident and its partners to reach beyond just the flash market and into the larger storage market.”

Virident’s VIP channel program will be run by Dawn Marie Ruszel, who joined the company in June as the senior director of WW channels. Prior that, Ruszel she eight years at EMC Corporation, where she held several positions, including, most recently, running the national channel program and partner team.

During her tenure, she was a contributor to building the sales accreditation program and to on-boarding and enabling the channel community.

FlashMAX II devices range in capacity from 550GB to 2.2TB, fits any server and provides high capacity in a single low-profile card, enabling organizations to maximize the use of datacenter space, reduce datacenter sprawl and provide performance for applications. FlashMAX Connect is a software suite to deliver a shared server-side flash storage tier. The suite extends the functionality of server-side flash storage solutions to provide a flash-storage management layer.

“Virident is dedicated to building a world-class channel program and selling through partners,” said Ruszel. “We’re committed to protecting our partners’ profitability and will strive to keep our program simple to use. We’ll go to market with partners who have experience selling flash storage hardware and software and those who are looking to add server-side flash storage as a platform. The VIP is designed to provide partners with the tools and support they need to be successful.“