2025 Partner Program Guide: 5-Star Networking Vendor Programs
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 networking vendors for 2025.
Making The (Channel) Connection
As IT systems become more distributed and data volumes explode (looking at you, AI), the need for networks that can rapidly and reliably move all that data has become more critical than ever.
That’s why network hardware and software systems are of major importance to the channel. And so are the vendors that provide them – and the partner programs they operate.
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 networking space, a category that includes providers of connectivity, network performance management, routers, switches, SD-WAN and wireless LANs products, among others. Details of every vendor’s partner program can be found at CRN.com.
Slide shows in the 5-Star Partner Program Guide series running this week 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.
AT&T
Program Name: AT&T Partner Solutions
Channel Chief: Sarita Sao, Senior Vice President, AT&T Wholesale and Ecosystem Partner Solutions
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
We have focused on executing our strategy to accelerate quality growth, simplify and enable partner success, and drive new routes to market. We have strengthened quality controls while creating operational efficiencies. Additionally, our channel has removed significant roadblocks, speeding up the quote-to-cash cycle and enabling partners to reach new customers.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=1
Auvik
Program Name: Auvik Partner Program
Channel Chief: Joe Barnes, Director, Worldwide Channels and Alliances
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Over the past year, Auvik: - Expanded its channel team by adding two new CAMs and a Channel Associate, - Launched Auvik on the Pax8 marketplace, - Expanded the Auvik offering embedded in the Connectwise Asio platform, - And increased its channel incentive budget.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=24
Avaya
Program Name: Avaya Edge
Channel Chief: Chris Dickson, Vice President, North America Channels
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Over the past year, Avaya focused on meeting customers where they are in their migration journey by continuing to offer foundational incentives for selling both on-prem and cloud solutions. The company also layered in significant rewards for contract renewals and growth, introduced advanced training, and implemented tools to simplify engagement.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=25
Cisco
Program Name: Cisco 360 Partner Program
Channel Chief: Rodney Clark, Senior Vice President, Partnerships and Small & Medium Business
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
The new Cisco 360 Partner Program focuses on partner value over transactions, aligning with Cisco's portfolios and partner contributions. It prioritizes customer outcomes and lifecycle value, fosters deeper relationships, drives recurring revenue, and empowers all partner types to thrive in today's evolving market. In time, Splunk Partnerverse will merge with Cisco 360.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=42
Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions
Program Name: Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Partner Program
Channel Chief: Matt Cook, Senior Vice President, Global Partner Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
In 2024 Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions launched a new partner program lane designed specifically for partners offering professional services. This new program connects selling partners with services partners to help expand their reach and capabilities to serve customers.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=84
Extreme Networks
Program Name: Extreme Partner Program
Channel Chief: Norman Rice, Chief Commercial Officer
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
In 2024, Extreme Networks launched the Diamond Elite tier to offer enhanced benefits for top partners and introduced a technical excellence badge to highlight technical competency. The company also doubled its investment in partner rewards and increased incentives for securing new logo deals, further strengthening the partner ecosystem.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=90
F5
Program Name: F5 Unity+ Partner Program
Channel Chief: Lisa Citron, Vice President of Global Partner Ecosystem
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
F5 enhanced its partner program by focusing on customer lifecycle and success outcomes, improving partner enablement through better training and resources, and amplifying messaging via initiatives like the Partner Connect Quarterly Update and Voice of Our Partner.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=91
Gigamon
Program Name: Catalyst Partner Program
Channel Chief: John Machonis, Senior Director, Americas Channel Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Building in additional major benefits for Platinum and Gold resellers in the form of channel margins.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=103
HPE Aruba Networking
Program Name: HPE Partner Ready for Networking: Solution Provider
Channel Chief: Jim Harold, Vice President, North America Channels, Networking
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Over the past year, HPE Aruba Networking enhanced partner collaboration with initiatives like SSE Competency, SASE support, Private 5G, W-Fi 7, and Aruba Central improvements. The company prioritized solution-oriented training, operational efficiencies, and back-end benefits, aligning with partners' evolving needs to deliver secure, edge-to-cloud solutions and drive growth, competitiveness, and customer success.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=112
Infoblox
Program Name: Infoblox Skilled to Secure Trusted Partner Program
Channel Chief: Chris Millerick, Vice President of Worldwide Partner Sales and Alliances
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Over the past year, Infoblox introduced the Elite Partner Rewards and Recognition program to incentivize alignment with cloud marketplaces. The company also significantly updated partner certification training to equip partners with the skills and knowledge needed to better serve customers and grow their businesses.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=120
Juniper Networks
Program Name: Juniper Partner Advantage (JPA) Program
Channel Chief: Gordon Mackintosh, Senior Vice President, Juniper Partner Organization & Commercial Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Investment in programs, tools, and training that support market trends and the unprecedented demand for AI-native solutions, all while enabling profitability through rewards, incentives, sales acceleration, and growth opportunities.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=129
Mako Networks
Program Name: Mako Networks Apex Partner Program
Channel Chief: Todd Vojta, Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Mako Networks has added additional internal headcount to support the program's expansion. The program has also established additional new distribution partners in North America and APAC regions, including BlueStar, ScanSource, Dynamic Supplies and Snappernet.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=144
Mitel
Program Name: Global Partner Program
Channel Chief: David Petts, Chief Sales Officer
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
In 2024, Mitel aligned partner performance in technical excellence and customer lifecycle management to financial incentives aligned with strategic objectives. Accomplishments in these areas were also recognized through specialized badging as a market differentiator for partners. Mitel also enhanced partner dashboards to allow better tracking against program metrics.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=147
Nextiva
Program Name: Nextiva Partner Program
Channel Chief: Scott Forbush, Channel Chief
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Over the past year, Nextiva strengthened channel leadership, enhanced marketing support with personalized plans and demand-generation tools, and invested in innovative, forward-thinking solutions tailored to meet customer needs. These efforts, combined with expanded training and deeper collaboration, empower partners to drive growth, differentiation, and measurable success in the market.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=154
Nile
Program Name: Nile Connect
Channel Chief: Vivek Khemani, VP Worldwide Channels
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Evolution of the partner program to add incremental partner engagement paths in a way that partners can deliver outcomes instead of everything just lumped in the resale tier and support for building expertise for each of those engagement paths.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=155
RingCentral
Program Name: RingCentral Reach
Channel Chief: Zane Long, Senior Vice President, Global Partner Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
In late 2023, RingCentral introduced RingCX and RingSense, meaning 2024 was the first full year partners had native, integrated RingCentral UC+CC+AI solutions to sell. As such, the program focused on enabling partners to position these innovations to meet new use cases and rewarding them for doing so.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=184
Riverbed
Program Name: Riverbed ONE
Channel Chief: Alex Thurber, Senior Vice President, Global Sales and Alliances
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Riverbed launched Riverbed ONE, a new program that drives growth and supports mutual customers with Riverbed's leading AI-powered Observability and Acceleration solutions. It's a simplified and focused program that works closely with invested partners to increase opportunities and profitability, expanding Riverbed's enterprise market and develop new business in the mid-market.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=185
Spectrum Partner Program
Program Name: Spectrum Partner Program
Channel Chief: Michelle Kadlacek, Vice President, Spectrum Partner Program
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Partners can sell connectivity to some residential communities and MDUs. Increased upfront commission and improved models when selling SMB/coax. More commission on managed services solutions. Business Internet starting speeds are now 400Mbps. Launched new products like Secure Dedicated Fiber Internet and offer 100 percent SLA on fiber services.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=209
T-Mobile for Business
Program Name: T-Mobile for Business Partner Program
Channel Chief: Paul Spencer, Channel Chief
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Our new Partner Plus subsidy program is the first of its kind, engaging our OEM program members to allow partners to offer their customers deep discounts on 5G connected laptops and fixed wireless solutions. Expanding and supporting the company’s MDF program. Developing and improving partner enablement tools.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=217
Verizon
Program Name: Verizon Partner Network
Channel Chief: Mark Tina, Verizon Business Channel Chief and Vice President of Indirect Partner Sales
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
With the launch of the Digital Agent partner model, Verizon expanded its program and simplified the digital experience, enabling partners to sell strategic wireless products and services with no deal registration, opportunity or lead required. The company also increased support capabilities for the Partner Experience Group to cover more partners.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=237
Versa Networks
Program Name: The Versa ACE Partner Program – Accelerate. Captivate. Engage.
Channel Chief: Hemen Mehta, Vice President, North American Channels
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Versa created and launched its new global Demand Center to enable partners to launch and generate pipelines. Revamped SASE tech curriculum and announced the quarterly SASE Series, focused on sales and marketing roles.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=239
