NetApp Expands its Virtualization Specialization Program

NetApp, Inc. expanded its Virtualization Specialization Program to include Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V technology from Microsoft. Now NetApp resellers can get specialized training and accreditation to provide their customers greater value and expertise with Hyper-V and NetApp’s solutions.

Microsoft’s virtualization solutions based on Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V integrates with Microsoft’s System Center suite of management tools so that customers can achieve greater cost savings, IT efficiency, and optimized server hardware investments. Microsoft virtualization combined with NetApp storage solutions provides data center customers a complete virtual architecture to enhance infrastructure flexibility, lower costs, and simplify data management.

NetApp channel partners can take advantage of the growing adoption of Hyper-V and NetApp solutions and offer their customers expertise they may not be able to find elsewhere. In addition, Virtualization Specialized partners can improve sales and margins and become a highly sought-after resource for Hyper-V and NetApp solutions. The NetApp Virtualization Specialization Program complements the recently released Microsoft Virtualization Solutions Competency Program in helping partners develop their virtualization solution practices.

"Our partners are excited about the opportunity and are seeing increased deployments of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V," said Julie Parrish, vice president, Global Partner Sales, at NetApp. "We are meeting our partners’ specific request for training and expertise on Hyper-V. This program provides partners with the training and competency to bring together components from Microsoft and NetApp in a best-practice configuration."

"NetApp and Microsoft virtualization solutions are reshaping data center environments," said Zane Adam, senior director of Virtualization Strategy and Management at Microsoft. "As the 2009 Storage Solution of the year award illustrates, NetApp offers a compelling storage platform for customers. The NetApp Virtualization Specialization Program helps bring together technologies for resellers’ specialized practices. Together we’re equipping our partners to better deliver solutions that increase efficiency, reduce costs, and increase business agility for customers."

NetApp has a long-standing partnership with Microsoft delivering complete solutions that help reduce customers’ costs, maximize storage efficiency, improve data availability, and simplify data management of their virtual server environments. Microsoft customers running Hyper-V can reduce the amount of storage they need by up to 50% by using recommended NetApp technologies that are inherent in the company’s Data ONTAP operating system, including thin provisioning and deduplication.

NetApp resellers can participate in the NetApp Virtualization Specialization Program immediately. Benefits of the program include access to the customized Storage Efficiency Calculator and NetApp Lab on Demand, and priority enrollment for GetSuccessful workshops and NetApp regional events.