F5 Launches GUARDIAN Professional Services Partner Program
New global program helps F5 channel partners with professional services capabilities increase revenue opportunities
F5 Networks, Inc., the global leader in Application Delivery Networking (ADN), recently announced the launch of the GUARDIAN Professional Services Partner Program. The program expands F5’s UNITY Partner Program, to provide additional benefits for partners with consulting and professional services capabilities in conjunction with authorisation tier requirements.
The GUARDIAN Professional Services Partner Program is a capability-based program designed to recognise partner investments in the skills required for successful deployment of F5® technologies. The program helps partners drive deeper sales engagements, higher margins, and more strategic customer relationships. Benefits of the GUARDIAN Professional Services Program are centered on education, sales enablement, and promotion to the market.
“The GUARDIAN Professional Services Program demonstrates our continued commitment to channel partners who excel in implementing and optimising F5 solutions to deliver high value to customers,” says Dean Darwin, SVP, Worldwide Partner Organisation at F5. “With the program, channel organisations with deep expertise in F5 solutions are recognised and rewarded for their skills and are in position to offer customers new consulting services, creating additional revenue opportunities and deepening customer engagement.”
The program consists of four authorisation tiers: Installation Provider, Advanced Implementation Provider, Application Security Provider, and Optimisation Provider. For each tier, the F5 partner must meet UNITY Program tier requirements and have a required number of personnel certified at the appropriate level within the F5 Professional Certification Program.
GUARDIAN® partners have access to best practices, support in creating packaged offerings, on-request assistance from F5® Professional Services, early availability of F5 product technical training, and discounts on training and certification exams.
To ensure that the GUARDIAN Program provides value to our partners, F5 conducted a year-long design and pilot phase to garner feedback and key insights from top F5 partners around the world. To make certain it will continue to provide significant value to F5 partners and customers, the program includes key performance indicators and governance specifications focused on driving excellent customer and partner satisfaction, as well as increased awareness for member organizations.
To participate in the GUARDIAN program, interested partners should contact their F5 Channel Account Manager or submit an inquiry to [email protected]. To learn more about the F5 UNITY partner program, visit http://www.f5.com/partners/.
