As part of the annual Partner Program Guide, CRN designates some vendor channel programs as 5-Star Programs. Here are the 5-Star Programs among data center IT vendors for 2025.
Data centers remain the beating heart of the IT operations for many businesses, organizations and government agencies. Within those data centers are servers and other hardware, uninterruptable power supplies, and other products from leading IT vendors that continue to be a big part of channel sales.
The CRN 2025 Partner Program Guide offers the information solution providers need to evaluate the channel programs operated by the IT vendors they work with or are considering partnering with. The guide is based on detailed applications submitted by vendors – 250 this year – outlining all aspects of their partner programs.
As part of the Partner Program Guide, CRN designates some programs as 5-Star Partner Programs because they provide the most comprehensive lineups of incentives, resources, training, services and benefits.
Here we provide snapshots of the 5-Star designees in the data center space, a category that includes providers of servers, converged and hyperconverged infrastructure systems, infrastructure management and monitoring tools, and power protection and management systems. Details of every vendor’s partner program can be found at CRN.com.
Slideshows in the 5-Star Partner Program Guide series running this week include companies that provide products and services in nine technology categories: cloud, computing, data center, edge computing/IoT, MSP platforms, networking, security, software and storage. A separate list will highlight startup companies with 5-Star Partner Programs.
While many companies provide products and services that span multiple technologies, we’ve assigned each vendor to the slide show for the technology category in which they are most prominent.
Cyber Power Systems (USA)
Program Name: Cyber Power Channel Partner Alliance
Channel Chief: Peter Miesen, Senior Director, Channel Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
A significant addition Cyber Power is making is the addition of training modules to its partner portal. The company received feedback that partners wanted training modules covering the basics of selling power systems and selecting appropriate power solutions based on connected equipment. Cyber Power is in the process of delivering these training opportunities.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=62
Dell Technologies
Program Name: Dell Technologies Partner Program
Channel Chief: Denise Millard, Chief Partner Officer
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Dell delivered increased profit potential across acquisition incentives, Dell APEX subscription, client peripheral attach and services. The company invested in growth markets like AI, Edge and multi-cloud with new training competencies. Dell is also intensifying its collaboration through the Partner First Strategy for Storage and Client Partner of Record expansion.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=72
Eaton
Program Name: Eaton PowerAdvantage Partner Program
Channel Chief: Steve Loeb, VP, Marketing, D-IT Division
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Eaton revamped and relaunched its program in 2024 to help its channel partners grow their Eaton business by reclassifying the company’s levels and offering additional benefits.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=82
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Program Name: HPE Partner Ready
Channel Chief: Simon Ewington, Senior Vice President, HPE Worldwide Channel & Partner Ecosystem Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
1. Delivered new programs to ensure partners have the competencies, tools and incentives needed to accelerate their success. 2. Fostered stronger partner advocacy across HPE, resulting in greater sales engagement. 3. Unified and strengthened the company’s organization by merging the HPE Channel & Partner Ecosystem with the HPE Aruba Networking Channel.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=108
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Program Name: HPE Partner Ready Vantage
Channel Chief: Simon Ewington, Senior Vice President, HPE Worldwide Channel & Partner Ecosystem Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
HPE expanded the program globally to offer market-leading innovation, including AI, that partners can deliver to be profitable while supporting growth opportunities across all routes to market. In addition, the company listened to feedback and has made process improvements to make it easier for partners to do business with HPE.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=109
IBM
Program Name: IBM Partner Plus
Channel Chief: Kate Woolley, General Manager, IBM Ecosystem
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
IBM continued to grow its Partner Plus Program and introduced a dedicated ‘Service’ track to recognize the influence service partners have in driving adoption of IBM’s portfolio. The company introduced MSP-focused offerings and expanded partner earnings capabilities by including IBM Cloud platform, IBM LinuxONE and Software Support offerings into Partner Plus.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=115
Program Name: Lenovo 360
Channel Chief: Rob Cato, Vice President, North America Channel, ISO
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Reinstated sales targets to allow partners to increase earnings if they overperform.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=137
Nutanix
Program Name: Elevate Partner Program
Channel Chief: Dave Gwyn, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Channels
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Nutanix re-architected its Elevate Partner Program incentive structure and deal registration discounting and price advantage process to ensure that committed partners receive best-in-class profitability when they partner with Nutanix to drive real customer outcomes.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=158
Scale Computing
Program Name: Scale Computing Partner Community
Channel Chief: Scott Mann, Global Channel Chief & Vice President of International Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
To address Broadcom’s VMware acquisition, Scale Computing launched two key partner promotions: a 25 percent discount for partners switching customers from VMware and a new onboarding initiative offering a free hyperconverged edge-computing node, empowering partners with tools and support to drive success.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=189
Schneider Electric
Program Name: mySchneider IT Partner Program
Channel Chief: Gordon Lord, Vice President, U.S. Channels
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
The mySchneider IT Partner Program features a simplified structure and enables specializations to adapt to partners’ evolving business needs. The IT Solution Provider specialization offers updated sales tools, training, and access to Schneider Electric’s Rewards benefit. In 2024 the company added new trainings, including ‘Sustainability School’ for partners, as well as software.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=190
Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Program Name: Panel Builder Channel Strategy Demand Generation Leader
Channel Chief: Luis Daniel Campobello, Global Head – Panel Builder Channel
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Updated benefits and duties associated with each program tier, including new strategic channel priorities such as software, services and sustainability.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=191
