Dell Expands Partner Program with Cloud Certification
Dell, in an effort to give its partners a way to differentiate themselves on cloud, added a Cloud Services and Solutions Certification today.
The new PartnerDirect certification employs an interesting taxonomy that encompasses the different roles that partners play with the cloud. Called "pillars," the three different roles are Cloud Builder, Cloud Provider and Cloud Service Enabler.
The Cloud Builder pillar covers partners that offer services to design and develop a cloud infrastructure for customers. Cloud Provider partners operate a network operations center (NOC), which includes some Dell technologies but can also include other technologies. A Cloud Service Enabler is an aggregator and broker of cloud technologies and services.
What's refreshing and realistic about the certification is that Dell is acknowledging that partners will present customers with a full portfolio of technologies from many vendors and that customers still may want to see a certification from a major vendor to establish the partner's credibility.
The program is starting in North America and will be available worldwide. Certification benefits include preferred pricing, financing, co-marketing funds and account management.
Posted by Scott Bekker on March 29, 2012