Brocade enables the Channel to deliver ethernet fabric technologies


New Specialisations and Educational Offerings Help Channel Partners Capitalise on Virtualisation and Cloud Opportunities

Brocade (Nasdaq: BRCD) today announced that it has introduced several significant enhancements to the Brocade® Alliance Partner Network (APN) program and Global Education offerings to help channel partners capitalise on Ethernet fabric-based technology opportunities. These partner investments include the introduction of the Virtualised Fabric Partner Specialisation and the new Brocade Certified Ethernet Fabric Engineer (BCEFE) Certification designed to support partners in the delivery of Ethernet fabric technologies, including the award winning Brocade VDX™ 6720 Data Center Switch.

The Virtualised Fabric Partner Specialisation is a technology-centric designation for partners who possess a deep understanding of design, implementation and maintenance of Ethernet fabric architectures. To receive this specialisation, partners must be an Elite partner within the APN program and satisfy a specific set of requirements, one of which is having BCEFE-certified personnel on staff. As with other Brocade specialisations, qualified partners are eligible for program benefits, ranging from pre-sales support and access to proof-of-concept labs, and can progressively apply multiple specialisations to their overall rebate to receive greater rewards. Elite-level reseller partners may also leverage these specialisations for participation in the Brocade Value Incentive Programs (VIPs), which are true pay-for-performance programs structured to reward and recognise partners who invest in expanding their personnel expertise and skill sets.

Recognising the distinct skill set required for the design and deployment of Ethernet fabric-based networks, Brocade has also developed the BCEFE Certification to directly address the needs of partners who want to distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive market. Partners who achieve the BCEFE Certification will receive training and education on a broad set of Ethernet fabric-related topics, including technology theory and concepts, Brocade VDX hardware and product features, installation, configuration, management and troubleshooting. Open to all Brocade partners and end-user customers, this new certification is an integral requirement for anyone looking to secure the Virtualised Fabric Partner Specialisation.

Brocade continues to invest in channel education initiatives on a global basis to deliver world-class training, certification and accreditation opportunities. To fully support partners as they progress towards acquiring a broad range of networking skills, Brocade has also restructured its Global Education offerings by adding a wide array of coursework options and dedicated learning tracks to help partners quickly enhance their skills in regard to convergence, virtualisation and cloud technologies. Brocade Global Education classes adhere to open standards-based principles, providing a level of flexibility and versatility not available from courses offered by other networking vendors.

“As part of our Brocade One™ strategy, we are continually enhancing the APN program with Quality in Partnership elements that provide partners with the necessary tools to help their customers make the transition towards highly virtualised, cloud-optimised network environments without the fear of vendor lock-in,” said Graham Schultz, Regional Director Australia and New Zealand at Brocade. “The addition of the new Virtualised Fabric Partner Specialisation and BCEFE Certification provides the educational background, practical know-how and technical validation that partners need to successfully deploy and manage Ethernet fabric-based solutions.”

The increased focus on private enterprise cloud environments as a critical component to business optimisation has also placed emphasis on the function of Application Delivery, which is used to effectively manage and maintain data traffic patterns. To drive greater levels of partner expertise in this area, Brocade has also added the Application Delivery Partner Specialisation for partners who have demonstrated proficiency associated with application load balancing and data traffic management technologies. Like the Virtualised Fabric Partner Specialisation, the new Application Delivery Partner Specialisation is available now.

The Brocade APN program includes four distinct partnership levels: Distributor, Elite, Premier and Select. All levels have been designed with specific requirements and benefits to help partners leverage and be rewarded for their networking product knowledge and solution support expertise. For more information on the Brocade APN program, please visit www.brocade.com/apn.

Additional Resources

Video –Barbara Spicek, Brocade’s VP of Worldwide Channels, on the new additions to the APN program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEPhjet52Zg

Press release - Brocade Introduces New Technology Specialisations to Alliance Partner Network Program (June 30, 2010): http://bit.ly/hkzdPX

About Brocade

Brocade (Nasdaq: BRCD) develops extraordinary networking solutions that enable today’s complex, data-intensive businesses to optimise information connectivity and maximise the business value of their data. For more information, visit www.brocade.com.

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