Rise Creates a Channel Partner Program for SMB Cloud-Based Services

Rise, a division of Fasthosts Internet Ltd., has expanded its channel-focused cloud computing offerings for SMBs. The expansion corresponded with the announcement of the company’s first U.S.-based channel partner, Titanium Ant.

Web hosting innovator Rise provides white label, infrastructure-as-a-service solutions to channel partners, enabling them to add complementary cloud-based services to their portfolios. Leveraging a Data Center-on-Demand philosophy, Rise enables partners to supply, manage, and operate virtual data centers for customers in a secure environment.

Partners can employ Rise’s hosted infrastructure services to provision a range of managed and unmanaged services, including e-mail, storage, back-up, e-commerce, and Web hosting. Rise plans to expand its service offerings later this year.

The Rise Channel Partner Program for VARs includes technical support, sales and marketing support, and accreditation. “SMBs regularly turn to IT, Web and telecommunications service providers when evaluating the right IT solutions for them,” says Rise marketing director Steve Holford. “The Rise model enables channel partners to offer a wide range of IT solutions that best fit their SMB customers’ needs, Holford said.

According to Holford, the Rise Channel Partner Program also provides channel pros with a way to “offer cloud computing infrastructure solutions directly to SMB businesses.” He adds, “We see a true opportunity and growing demand for cloud computing in the SMB market as these companies begin to understand the real value cloud solutions can have on their business.”

In conjunction with announcing its market expansion into North America, Rise announced its first U.S.-based channel partner, Titanium Ant, which offers a range of services for SMBs.

Titanium Ant president Marshall Van Beurden says Rise’s cloud infrastructure enables his company to expand its IT solutions offerings and enter the cloud computing market. “In the past year, there has been increased interest surrounding cloud computing among our customers and potential customers,” Van Beurden says. “Rise enables us to address this growing interest and to offer them the scalability, flexibility, and cost-effective benefits of cloud computing.”