CLEARWATER, Fla., July 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tech Data Corporation (Nasdaq:TECD) today announced a U.S. distribution agreement with Cisco's Cloud Networking Group to provide Cisco Meraki's suite of cloud and managed services to Tech Data's channel of solution providers. Cisco's diverse cloud solutions are now available through Tech Data's Cisco Solutions Group within the company's Advanced Infrastructure Solutions (AIS) division. The new partnership is a strategic addition to the Cisco Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) portfolio, which includes Cisco Cloud Web Security, WebEx, and Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS).
"We are excited to incorporate Cisco Meraki into our Cisco Cloud Services portfolio," said Angela Beltz, vice president, Product Marketing, Cisco Solutions Group at Tech Data. "The Cisco Meraki product line allows solution providers to enter into new commercial markets and also enables seamless transition when developing a hybrid IT practice. Access to the Cisco Meraki portfolio combined with our award-winning enablement strategy will even further promote growth into new markets—ultimately providing more value to our solution providers and their end-user customers."
Operating the industry's largest-scale Cloud Networking Service, Cisco Meraki cloud service powers over tens of thousands of networks worldwide and connects millions of devices. Cisco Meraki offers a comprehensive cloud experience, having run its production service continuously for over seven years. Cisco Meraki offers a cloud-managed edge and branch networking portfolio, including a complete line of wireless, switching, security, WAN optimization, and mobile device management products. The Cisco Meraki Cloud Networking platform is trusted by thousands of IT professionals, from enterprises to hospitals, banks and retailers.
"The Cisco Cloud Networking Group technology is now offered as part of the Cisco Cloud-Managed Networking Portfolio and this solution is an excellent fit for organizations with distributed small sites and lean IT that are transitioning to Cloud technology," said Andrew Sage, vice president of Americas Distribution at Cisco. "Our partner-centric go-to-market cloud model is delivering value to partners and customers through strong alliances such as our agreement with Tech Data, which opens up new revenue opportunities for channel partners through a cloud delivery model."
As businesses move toward a hybrid IT model and evolve their architectures, the addition of Cisco Meraki has the potential to increase the services opportunity for our partners who require network assessments. To increase services opportunities, Tech Data recently introduced the SMARTattach Opportunity Portal, designed to help solution providers maximize recurring revenue and new attachment opportunities on service contract renewals of Cisco products. Offered exclusively to Tech Data authorized solution providers, the SMARTattach Opportunity Portal is also available as part of Momentum.
Tech Data will incorporate Cisco Meraki into its go-to-market and enablement strategy through Momentum, providing best-in-class services and support for partners at all levels. Partners can learn the foundations of Cisco Meraki through a one-on-one sales enablement training focused on how to identify new opportunities, the differentiators between on-premise Cisco Networking and Cisco Meraki, as well as other competitors in the market. Through Momentum, partners are provided marketing campaigns, lead generation, case studies, and playbooks to use as selling tools to successfully launch Cisco Meraki into their practice.
To learn more about Cisco cloud networking solutions, contact one of Tech Data's dedicated Cisco team members, call (800) 237-8931, ext. 77776, email ciscosales@techdata.com, or visit the Tech Data Cisco Manufacturer Store at www.techdata.com/cisco.
Earlier this year, Tech Data received two Cisco Partner Summit awards for Global Distributor of the Year and U.S. Distributor of the Year. Tech Data was recognized by Cisco for its channel innovations, unique enablement programs, business performance and profitable growth.
About Tech Data
Tech Data Corporation is one of the world's largest wholesale distributors of technology products, services and solutions. Its advanced logistics capabilities and value added services enable 115,000 resellers to efficiently and cost effectively support the diverse technology needs of end users in more than 100 countries. Tech Data generated $26.8 billion in net sales for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2014. It is ranked No. 111 on the Fortune 500® and one of Fortune's "World's Most Admired Companies." To learn more, visit www.techdata.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.