Tech Data increases support for hyper converged, security and cloud

Tech Data's Advanced Solutions it operation is getting an investment boost to help it increase the professional services and solution capabilities it can offer.

The distributor is responding to the growing demand from partners for help with hyper convergence, network security and cloud. Having integrated its technical resources the channel player has also increased the number of technical experts that work in the Advanced Solutions business.

There are now pre-sales teams that work with SIs and MSPs and professional services and help desk teams that can support partners.

In addition the channel player is also looking at getting more partners trained through the Tech Data Academy. The classroom training covers skills required for certifications for vendors including Cisco, Citrix, IBM, Microsoft and NetApp.

“We are making strategic investments to add high-end consultants to our solutions practice and support our partners in winning higher-margin business," Andy Brown, technical services director for Tech Data Advanced Solutions UK.

"We are seeing increased demand for deployment and integration of hyper-converged solutions, in network security and cloud platforms," he added.

The plan is to make more investments in the distributor's Advanced Solutions operation over the rest of the year.

Some of the next areas which the channel will need even greater support with will include data and analytics, IoT and advanced cyber security.

Last week, Dell increased the rewards that were on offer for those partners that got behind hyper converged.

Stewart Wilson, UK&I sales director for converged platforms & solutions division at Dell, said that the momentum in the market was shifting towards hyper converged infrastructure with more customers opting for the option to consolidate infrastructure and reduce risk.

"This year is an important year for it and last year and the year before was about businesses getting confidence in this new architecture," he said.