Tech Data and IBM Enable Resellers to Profit in the Cloud
August 23, 2011
Tech Data Corporation (nasdaqgs:TECD) today announced the expansion of its TDCloud offering to include IBM Cloud hardware, software and services, giving resellers additional resources to transform their business and become profitable in the cloud. IBM helps resellers excel in cloud computing by providing secure and reliable Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (Paas), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solutions, which enable agile collaboration and simplify the deployment and technology needed to build and manage cloud environments.
"Tech Data has aligned with IBM to offer cloud solutions that enable resellers to implement a private cloud, as well as offer them the opportunity to sell IBM public cloud services such as Smart Cloud Enterprise and Managed Backup Cloud," said Chuck Bartlett, vice president and general manager of Advanced Infrastructure Solutions (AIS) at Tech Data. "Along with these IBM products and services, we provide the necessary training and technical support, as well as configuration and shipping services, on behalf of our resellers who are providing private clouds."…
As part of TDCloud, Tech Data offers the following IBM services:
— IBM Smart Business Cloud — Enterprise: provides users with quick access to a security-rich, enterprise-class virtual server environment on the IBM Cloud
— Smart Business Desktop on the IBM Cloud: provides security-rich access to information, simplifies IT complexity while reducing energy consumption
— IBM Information Protection Services — Managed Backup Cloud: offers a comprehensive range of on-site, off-site and hybrid information protection solutions for clients looking to achieve information resiliency and operational recovery across enterprise data assets
— IBM Managed Security Services: protects information assets, including hosted email and Web security, vulnerability management and security event and log management services
— Tivoli(R) Live Monitoring Services: provides proactive monitoring, alerts, performance and capacity reporting
"IBM’s Cloud differentiation focuses on customer choice," said Jack Santoni, director of NA Cloud Sales at IBM. "We offer private offerings in which cloud benefits can be gained through evolutionary steps, or in a single step through our public SmartCloud services. Underpinning this choice is a consistent architecture which enables our channel partners the ability to deliver solutions based on the service and amount of control clients require. Tech Data is well-positioned to find the right partners that IBM is looking for to offer these robust services and has the right people and processes in place to successfully drive these initiatives in the channel."
Tech Data also offers IBM software and appliances through this partnership, including:
— LotusLive: award-winning online collaboration tools, email and social networking services
— IBM Workload Deployer (previously CloudBurst): a self-service portal featuring service catalogs, prepackaged automation templates and cost recovery tools
— WebSphere Cast Iron: cloud integration enabling rapid connect of the hybrid world of public clouds, private clouds and on-premise applications.
"Our relationship with Tech Data is a key factor for our successful alignment with IBM and choosing them as our primary software partner," said Cheryl Kleiman, vice president of Sales for PointSource, LLC. "Tech Data’s IBM Software group has been instrumental in ensuring we’re utilizing all of IBM’s programs and tools, as well as introducing us to the key people that are going to help drive our business to the next level. I look forward to our continued partnership to drive PointSource to a new level of expertise."