Avnet Technology Services bags Big Blue cloud status

February 29, 2012 Off By David
Object Storage
Grazed from ChannelEMEA.  Author: Stuart Wilson.

VAD outfit Avnet Technology Solutions (ATS) has picked up IBM cloud builder certification status. ATS reckons that this further illustrates its commitment to the cloud computing market. This latest certification strengthens ATS’ cloud proposition, cloudready, and showcases its ability to provide cloud solutions incorporating IBM software and hardware across Europe.

Silvia Massetti, business partner organisation cloud leader at IBM Europe, said: “In addition to revenue and client reference criteria, Avnet was required to meet skill and certification requirements for cloud computing, IBM hardware and software in terms of sales and technical abilities in at least two IBM brands.”…

“Avnet exceeded these criteria and with this new IBM cloud builders certification will be able to help its business partners gain enhanced benefits and take advantage of rapidly growing cloud opportunities. This certification supports Avnet’s proactive approach to education and technical training and its capacity to build complex solutions based on IBM cloud technology and data centre reference architecture,” Massetti added.

The Avnet cloudready practice prepares business partners to gain the specialised knowledge and skills needed to quickly build and grow a profitable cloud computing business through enablement programmes, professional services and targeted cloud solution offerings.

Stephen Ennis, services business development director at ATS EMEA, said: “The cloudready practice encompasses a series of workshops, assessment services, briefings, universities and playbooks designed to help business partners architect cloud solutions based on the best technology services and solutions.”

“This IBM certification endorses Avnet’s and IBM’s desire to help business partners quickly and successfully develop specialisation and take advantage of rapidly expanding markets while reducing the associated risks and costs,” he added.

Cloudready is one of Avnet’s four technology practices in EMEA that use the distributor’s solutionspath methodology, an approach that features dedicated technology teams to help business partners target specialised, high-growth markets. The other three solutionspath practices available in EMEA are storage and data management; datacentre optimisation and virtualisation, plus unified communications and collaboration and mobility.