Magirus, a leading European IT solutions provider, today announced that it is the first distributor to make the recently-announced EMC VSPEX Proven Infrastructure available to the channel in EMEA. EMC VSPEX, which, unlike most current integrated stacks, comprises a flexible, open template or ‘framework' of validated computing, network, storage and data management technologies. The configuration offered by Magirus includes technologies from VMware, Cisco, EMC and Brocade. To support the launch, Magirus has created two new EMC channel-enablement programs: ‘Magirus Partnering for Profit' and ‘Magirus Ready to Fly.' These respective programs will help existing EMC Velocity business resellers as well as those new to EMC with cloud deployments.

Aimed at Magirus business resellers working with small and mid-market organizations, the company will offer a single point for the supply of EMC VSPEX at its M-Site data centre assembly facility in Strasbourg, France. Magirus will offer 14 VSPEX configurations comprising: Cisco and Brocade compute and networking; VMware virtualization; and EMC VNX and VNXe unified storage solutions. These pre-tested and validated infrastructures provide a cost-effective, flexible data center framework to help business resellers speed up private cloud deployments for their customers. Furthermore, Magirus can support business resellers to integrate these components within existing data centre environments where often there may be different infrastructure from other vendors, for example HP or IBM.

Christian Magirus, executive vice president & COO at Magirus, commented, "When you buy a car, you expect to drive it off the forecourt immediately. We are doing exactly the same with EMC VSPEX by simplifying the migration to cloud and helping business resellers reap the benefits for their customers straight away."

Channel Enablement

Magirus has created two new channel-enablement programs to help business resellers maximize return on investment from the deployment of EMC VSPEX solutions. Using EMC's training program, Magirus has trained more than 80 of its data center sales, pre-sales and technical consultants on EMC VSPEX solutions across EMEA. Now these consultants are ready to support business resellers on market development, sales and deployment of these best-of-breed data center technologies. The two programs are:

‘Magirus Partnering for Profit' which has been developed for existing EMC Velocity resellers to reach the rigorous standards required for ‘Premier Partner' status. It offers greater marketing support and revenue generation opportunities. Key to its success is a Magirus mentor to help business resellers develop strategic plans and ongoing support to achieve further data center/cloud computing business. Also, the program includes: specialist technical data centre training; assisting resellers to train one EMC technology architect and one implementation engineer; and direct marketing campaigns and sales promotional days for lead generation.

‘Magirus Ready to Fly' has been designed for business resellers new to EMC who require support to reach EMC Velocity Affiliate Status. It includes sales and technical training on the components of the solution through to identifying the suitability of different solutions for different deployment situations.

Depending on experience, Magirus may support business resellers to become EMC Velocity-certified within as little as six months.

Both programs have been developed to help resellers open up new revenue opportunities with best-of-breed, integrated data center technologies that reduce the time and cost of pre-sales activity. Also, they provide business resellers with the support to develop their own data center services and therefore deepen the relationship with their customers and broaden the sale with recurring revenue opportunities. For example, business resellers can create and brand their own Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) based on the Magirus/Colt platform.

Philippe Fossé, vice president of EMEA Channels, EMC Corporation, said, "Virtual infrastructure and private cloud computing are fast growing markets that are transforming both business and IT. As such, it is important that channel resellers have the right tools to address this demand. We are very pleased that Magirus is building programs around EMC VSPEX - doing so will accelerate the customer's journey to the cloud through its efficient and flexible architecture." He added, "Through its channel-enablement programs, Magirus is helping its own business resellers to develop new data-center services that will speed up time to market and increase longer-term revenue opportunities."

Raymond Sleiman, solutions director at DL Groupe, a Magirus business reseller in Switzerland, commented, "One of the biggest issues for us and our customers with cloud deployments is knowledge. With Magirus, we have a one-stop shop for the compute, storage and server elements plus we can learn from their experience in the data center and with their own vBundles over the last two years. As a result, we are very excited about the opportunities with VSPEX."

In support of both programs, Magirus has launched a new EMC VSPEX microsite at www.storage-attack.com. This contains information on EMC VSPEX for the channel including the latest information and common workloads from Magirus on the different solutions to help business resellers match them to different customer deployments. Business resellers requiring further information on Magirus EMC VSPEX solutions and the new channel-enablement programs can register interest at www.storage-attack.com or contact their local Magirus representative.