2012 Channel Champions: Backup & Recovery Software

"Symantec consistently looks for ways to enable our partners to increase revenue and differentiate from the competition," Eldh said, elated that solution providers rewarded the company's improved channel programs this year. "Our Channel Champion wins reflect our commitment to helping our partners deliver the best products across Symantec's portfolio," he said.

In the survey, Symantec's most decisive score occurred in scalability in the technical satisfaction rating. In support satisfaction, Symantec outscored its competitors both in postsales and presales support, and in evaluation and demo equipment policies. In fhe financial factors rating, Symantec took the baton this year from IBM/Tivoli in competitive pricing. Altogether, the company finished first in nine of the 14 criteria scored by VARs.

Victor Villegas, vice president of marketing and alliances at CMT, a Santa Clara, Calif.-based solution provider, said his company finished 2011 with $48 million in Symantec sales, up from $22 million the year before. "From a backup and recovery standpoint, Symantec by far has one of the best-of-breed product portfolios," Villegas said.

This month, Symantec launches Backup Exec 2012 and also a Small Business Edition that can install in less than 10 minutes, according to the company.