Source: NetApp, Inc.

NetApp Accelerates Cloud Deployments Through Partner Ecosystem

New Incentives, Training, and Resources Help Partners Capitalize on Cloud Transition; Microsoft Recognizes NetApp With 2013 Server Platform Partner of the Year Award

SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 8, 2013) - Today at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) announced that it is investing up to $15 million in new ecosystem sales collaboration and continued technology integration with Microsoft Corp. to accelerate the adoption of enterprise cloud deployments.

The NetApp Partner Program complements existing offerings in the Microsoft Cloud OS Accelerate program, which provides funds to help customers offset the services cost of deploying Microsoft private and hybrid cloud solutions, accelerates deals, and drives competitive wins. The NetApp Partner Program includes a range of offerings, such as sales enablement, training, and incentives for NetApp reselling partners who are assisting customers with their cloud transition. Through the combination of NetApp® storage, data management, and converged infrastructure solutions with Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V and System Center 2012, customers can reduce costs, increase agility, and improve efficiency.

Reselling partners can offer NetApp and Microsoft solutions that are ready to integrate and drive business value immediately with validated NetApp and Microsoft designs that combine NetApp storage efficiency with System Center management capabilities. 

"A core element of Microsoft's Cloud OS strategy is to share with customers the technical advances that Microsoft has developed through its own experiences in running many large internet scale services, and help them get cloud benefits including increased resiliency, simplified management, reduced cost and faster delivery of services to the business," said Takeshi Numoto, corporate vice president, Server and Tools Marketing, Microsoft. "We are excited to welcome NetApp to the Cloud OS Accelerate Program and work with them to deliver these benefits to our joint customers and partners."

NetApp also proudly announced today that it won the 2013 Microsoft Server Platform Partner of the Year Award. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.

Awards were presented in multiple categories, with winners chosen from more than 3,000 entrants from 106 countries worldwide. NetApp was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services in the server platform category. 

The Server Platform Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that excels in delivered solutions, enabling customers to increase the reliability and flexibility of their server infrastructures, save time and reduce costs, and provide a server platform for a dynamic and efficiently managed data center.

"Achieving cloud velocity is a business imperative, and NetApp and Microsoft continue to align technology strategy and execution to help customers with this transition," said Thomas Stanley, vice president, Global Partner Sales & Alliances, NetApp. "This latest award recognition is further proof of our long-standing history of success, and we look forward to continuing the collaboration in the years to come."

Today's award is the latest of several awards that NetApp has received from Microsoft, including Private Cloud Partner of the Year in 2012 and Storage Partner of the Year in 2009.

In June, NetApp announced the latest version of its flagship storage operating system -- clustered Data ONTAP®. The new software gives organizations and cloud service providers the ability to rapidly and cost effectively deliver new services and capacity with maximum application uptime and enhanced virtual environments. Clustered Data ONTAP 8.2 features built-in support for SMB 3.0 and ODX, delivering superior management, scalability, and agility with Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V. NetApp's continuing integration with Microsoft-based solutions, including clustered Data ONTAP, gives customers access to nondisruptive operations, seamless scalability, and proven efficiency.

NetApp will attend the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, July 7-11, 2013, in Houston, Texas. Julie Parrish, NetApp senior vice president and chief marketing officer, will deliver the keynote at the WPC Women in Technology Luncheon on July 10. 

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About NetApp
NetApp creates innovative storage and data management solutions that deliver outstanding cost efficiency and accelerate business breakthroughs. Our commitment to living our core values and consistently being recognized as a great place to work around the world are fundamental to our long-term growth and success, as well as the success of our pathway partners and customers. Discover our passion for helping companies around the world go further, faster at www.netapp.com.

NetApp, the NetApp logo, Go further, faster, and Data ONTAP are trademarks or registered trademarks of NetApp, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be treated as such.

Contact Information:

Press Contact:

Alex Goldsmith
NetApp PR
(408) 822-7291
xdl-uspr@netapp.com