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 storage vendors for 2026.
Data storage and management has become even more critical in recent years with the wave of AI systems, applications and agents being deployed—all of which require huge volumes of data to operate effectively.
Many solution providers and strategic service providers partner with IT vendors that provide products and services around data storage, backup and recovery. And that makes those IT companies’ partner programs critical to solution providers’ success.
The CRN 2026 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 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 storage space, a category that includes providers of cloud storage, network storage, software-defined storage, and data protection and management products.
Details of every vendor’s partner program can be found at CRN.com.
Slide shows in the 5-Star Partner Program Guide series include companies that provide products and services in eight technology categories: cloud, computing, data center, 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.
The text concerning the biggest changes to partner programs has been taken from each company’s PPG application and lightly edited.
Cohesity
Program Name: Cohesity Aspire Partner Program
Channel Chief: Mike Walkey, Senior Vice President, Global Channel
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
In 2025, Cohesity launched the Aspire Partner Program, a unified, modern framework designed to simplify engagement and accelerate partner success. Aspire supports all partner types including resell, manage, integrate, distribute, OEM hardware, embedded OEM, technology partners, and cloud marketplace and provides a centralized portal for resources, enablement, training, and incentives.
At the core of Aspire are three role-based go-to-market tracks: Resell, Manage, and Integrate, allowing partners to align to how they deliver customer value. Within each track, partners qualify for Premier, Preferred, or Associate levels, each offering differentiated benefits, incentives, and investment opportunities. Aspire introduces expanded sales and presales accreditations, technical certifications, and partner-delivered services to strengthen expertise and customer value. The program also delivers balanced front-end and back-end incentives through Cohesity’s stackable rebate structure: Opportunity-Specific Rebates for all partner levels to win competitive deals, and Performance Rebates that reward broader business growth.
To further boost engagement, Cohesity launched a global rewards SPIFF program, offering market-specific incentives that accelerate seller performance. Combined with a modern distribution framework and built-for-scale design, Aspire empowers partners to unlock profitability, drive new revenue streams, and deliver greater customer outcomes through a streamlined, integrated experience.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=38
Commvault
Program Name: Commvault Partner Advantage Program
Channel Chief: Michelle Graff, Senior Vice President, Global Partners & Channel Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
– Expanded investment vehicles in our most strategic, high potential partners including ARR-based plans for service provider partners and accelerators for over-achievement.
– Expanded best-in-class rewards for new account acquisition and subsequent expansion resulting in significant margin opportunity for both partner entity and seller to include service provider motion.
– Simplified MSP program for software and SaaS partners, focusing requirements on sales, competencies, marketing and business plans.
– Tailored specific partner program for Indian market to drive affinity towards born-in-the cloud SaaS partners.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=40
HYCU
Program Name: Global Partner Program
Channel Chief: Chris Nelson, Vice President, Global Sales and GTM
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
HYCU continues to build on the number of SaaS and cloud service integrations through partners as well as through our own engineers. With more than 90 integrations available on the HYCU Marketplace, in addition to bolstering the Marketplace, HYCU continues to advance its partner portal to provide partners with access to what they need to be successful.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=94
Infinidat
Program Name: Infinidat Channel Partner Program
Channel Chief: Steve Sullivan, Executive Vice President and CRO
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
In 2025, Infinidat enhanced its partner program by launching enhancements to our InfiniBox G4 family. Attributes of InfiniBox SSA G4 F24 all-flash family include:
-31 percent smaller physical configuration for a more efficient power profile, resulting in a greener, more sustainable IT solution,
-29 percent lower entry price point than the original small form-factor of the InfiniBox SSA G4,
-45 percent reduction in power per petabyte (PB), which means less power usage, less use of coolant chemicals, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,
-28 percent more capacity in the smaller footprint,
-up to 2X better bandwidth performance and over 32 percent better overall performance.
-and a full stack of InfiniSafe software’s comprehensive cyber storage security technology that comes at no charge with the InfiniBox G4 solution.
We have new Infuziast Certification courses, launched a new global ‘Find a Reseller’ webpage in which customers and prospects have been searching our partner database, launched a new Infinidat Partner Program webpage that provides an overview to our channel partners, TAP and GSI programs, and created new content to better serve our partners such as Infinidat FAQ, Infinidat A to Z, high-end enterprise market brief, etc. These changes support growth, profitability, and enterprise competitiveness for partners.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=96
NetApp
Program Name: NetApp Partner Sphere
Channel Chief: Kristine Wedum, Vice President, US Partner Organization
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
We expanded access to the entire NetApp portfolio via the Partner Evaluation Equipment and Zero-Cost demo equipment benefits. The Solution Competencies portfolio was updated to align with the four Intelligent data infrastructure focus areas, including the introduction of new AI Solution Competencies aligned to the customer lifecycle.
Tier financial requirements were modernized to focus on the partner journey. At the highest tier, new global zones were implemented to simplify the structure. At the mid-tier, financial requirements were minimized to increase partner focus on building capabilities that would grow business with NetApp.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=120
Quantum
Program Name: Quantum Alliance
Channel Chief: Guillaume Crapart, Vice President, Global Channels
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Over the past year, we’ve made impactful updates to our partner channel program to drive greater success and profitability. We introduced new, more generous SPIFs and promotions to boost earning potential and reward partner performance.
To support growth and enablement, we integrated robust training modules directly into the Quantum Alliance (QA) Partner Portal, streamlining access to key resources. Our new Campaign-in-a-Box (CIAB) marketing tools offer turnkey solutions that help partners effectively promote and sell Quantum’s end-to-end offerings.
We’ve also deepened engagement through our CEO Town Hall series and in-person Elevate events, creating more opportunities for direct dialogue and collaboration. Additionally, Executive Briefing Center (EBC) meetings now provide strategic alignment and personalized insights, strengthening relationships and driving shared success.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=146
RackTop Systems
Program Name: RackTop Systems Channel Partner Program
Channel Chief: Dave Hughes, Director of Sales Engineering
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
We updated existing collateral with new technical details and developed additional assets focused on federal opportunities. We enhanced the rebate program by introducing more competitive discounts. We also hosted monthly, customer-facing training sessions led by RackTop’s customer account manager to give partners a deeper understanding of how BrickStor software works. Additionally, we redesigned the partner portal user interface to align with the evolving RackTop and BrickStor brand.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=147
Scality
Program Name: Scality Cloud & Service Provider Program
Channel Chief: Eric Leblanc, Channel Chief & ARTESCA GM
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
We launched the Scality Cloud and Service Provider program to make partners able to launch pay-as-you-go pricing models. As a result, partners can deliver BAAS with their own centralized infrastructure and on-prem-managed services.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=156
Seagate Technology
Program Name: Seagate Partner Program
Channel Chief: Joy R Music, Director
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
The new Seagate Partner Program is designed to simplify engagement and empower partners to grow with Seagate. The program introduces a unified structure for Enterprise, Systems, and Lyve products, making onboarding faster and simpler.
Partners progress through three tiers: Partner, Emerald, and Diamond, with clear benefits and recognition at each level. Deal registration is available across key products, and the updated partner portal offers an intuitive interface with tools, dashboards, enablement resources, and training.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=158
TruNAS
Program Name: TruePartner Channel Program
Channel Chief: Brett Davis, Executive Vice President, CRO
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Additional Incentives for new customer deal registrations, additional incentives and margin protection for registering and closing larger deals.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=194
Veeam Software
Program Name: Veeam ProPartner Network
Channel Chief: Kevin Rooney, Vice President, Americas Channel
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
In 2025, Veeam introduced several significant enhancements to its partner program. Key among these was the launch of multiple new Veeam Data Cloud (VDC) workloads, along with the addition of VDC for Service Providers, broadening our cloud offerings and partner opportunities.
Veeam also advanced its commitment to global alignment by revamping the Aggregator program, ensuring a more consistent and streamlined experience across regions. Additionally, Veeam enhanced partner incentives with the Turbocharge deal registration program, which rewards partners for driving net new opportunities and focuses on increased profitability for key solutions within the Veeam portfolio.
These changes demonstrate Veeam’s ongoing dedication to empowering partners and supporting mutual growth.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=198
Wasabi Technologies
Program Name: Wasabi Partner Network
Channel Chief: Jon Howes, Senior Vice President of Global Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
In 2025, we have focused on increasing the training materials that are available to our partners and have launched a total of six additional certification options in our self-service partner portal. This includes our first technical certification and two certifications translated into Japanese.
We also launched our first tiered Value-Added Distribution program, which allows us to recognize our global distribution partners who are going above and beyond in their partnership with Wasabi. The program also identifies two ways for distributors to sell Wasabi and brings them the tools they need to onboard quickly and identify a path to greater margin possibilities.
Finally, we launched our Systems Integrator (SI) Program, which allows SIs to access Wasabi’s game-changing storage and management tools to integrate into their AI, physical security, and cyber resilience solutions.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2026-details?c=203
