NetApp fortifies channel leadership in APAC

Number of APAC partners equipped to sell NetApp AI solutions has increased three times, underscoring how NetApp’s channel strategy is boosting partners’ go-to-to-market strategies

NetApp’s Partner Sphere is its hallmark partner program designed to accelerate partners’ strategic growth and hone their competitive edge and differentiating factor. To ramp up partners’ proficiencies in addressing enterprises’ complex digital transformation needs, NetApp has refreshed its partner capabilities, offering a comprehensive set of 16 solution competencies that cover AI, cloud transformation, cyber resilience and data infrastructure modernization, aligned with business priorities in the region.

A 2025 5-Star Storage Vendor Program by CRN, the refreshed partner program is now designed to enhance the earning potential of partners by supporting multiple selling motions empowering them with the resources to reach new customers and expand their footprint. For example, partners have access to Partner Demo Gear that offers options to showcase NetApp solutions via customer proof of concept or lab environments.

The refreshed program also enabled partners to build their services capabilities with NetApp through the Services Certified tracks. This allows them t deliver consultative service design services and increase their services revenue by capitalizing on the growing IT services market in APAC.

Following the refreshed competencies and certifications in the program, NetApp reported that they have increased NetApp certified partners by almost three times to distribute and sell NetApp’s AI solutions than the year before.

According to Ganesan Arumugam, Senior Director, Channel Sales & Alliances of APAC at NetApp, APAC is a hotbed for innovation and to move fast, organizations here need the support of a robust and modernized infrastructure with built-in resilience that takes on a unified approach to data storage, to get the most out of their data and AI solutions.

“Our Partner Sphere Program helps our partners address this need and deliver reliable, scalable storage solutions to businesses in the region. Our partners are responding to the call and advancing into new markets and customer segments with our industry-leading portfolio, driving revenue growth and appreciable business outcomes,” said Arumugam.

For Ken Chua, Managing Director of PTC System and a NetApp partner in Singapore, as organizations and public sector agencies in the country scale AI across their operations, success depends on whether they can access data across the organization easily, whether it’s on premises, on the cloud, or at the edge.

“We’re proud to be a part of NetApp’s partner ecosystem, working closely together with them to help businesses build the secure, scalable foundation that they need to take advantage of AI workflows, GPUs, and tools wherever they live, and transform data into tangible outcomes and impact”, said Chua.

Taking a deeper look at the Partner Sphere program, it focuses on partner enablement and capability development, benefits and incentives to boost the partner ecosystem’s capabilities and impact.

Specifically, partner enablement and development now includes 16 solution competencies defined in areas like AI, cloud transformation, cyber resilience and data infrastructure modernization. With the explosion in AI, NetApp has recently refreshed the AI Solution Competencies to focus on the customer AI solution lifecycle.

To help partners scale and grow the business, NetApp is enabling partners to open new revenue streams with its Services Certified tracks, including the freedom to develop innovative services to deliver in-demand NetApp solutions, the ability to co-brand with NetApp Services Certified badging to drive market awareness, and the flexibility to build a complete portfolio with NetApp, Distributor, or partner-led services.

Lastly, NetApp is providing incentive-driven recognition through a progressive tiering system that provides increased benefits and support as partners move up the tiers, the program provides increased earning potential and incentives that help partners focus on capturing new logos and fosters co-investment while driving demand for NetApp solutions.