2025 Partner Program Guide: 5-Star Storage 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 storage vendors for 2025.
Data is the lifeblood of IT systems – and for many businesses and organizations overall. That’s increasingly true today with the rapid proliferation of AI and generative AI systems that consume huge volumes of data.
So providing technology and services for storing, managing and protecting data, whether on-premises or in the cloud, is big business for the channel.
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 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 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.
Slideshows 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.
Cohesity
Program Name: Cohesity Partner Program
Channel Chief: Mike Walkey, Senior Vice President, Global Channels & Alliances
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Cohesity and Veritas joined forces to become the world's largest data protection software provider. The combined company also brings together one of the industry's largest partner ecosystems, covering cloud service providers, security players, VARs, system integrators, MSPs, technology ecosystem partners, distribution partners, and hardware OEMs.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=47
Commvault
Program Name: Commvault Partner Advantage Program
Channel Chief: Alan Atkinson, Chief Partner officer
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Material investment in our most strategic, high potential partners through simple, performance-based plans. Best-in-class rewards for new account acquisition and subsequent expansion resulting in significant margin opportunity for both partner entity and seller. Enhancements to deal registration including greater price protection for deals and partner of record on all renewals.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=48
Druva
Program Name: Druva Partner+ Program
Channel Chief: Mike Houghton, Senior Vice President, Global Partners and Alliances
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Introduced the company’s first Partner Advisory Board and Partner of the Year Awards, expanded partner certifications and training with added incentives, launched partner-led customer free trials, increased incentive rebates for higher volumes, and broadened rewards to include both sales and technical incentives.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=79
HYCU
Program Name: Global Partner Program
Channel Chief: Chris Nelson, Vice President, Global Sales and Business Development
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Since introducing R-Cloud, HYCU has rolled out a number of SaaS application, multi-cloud, and on-premises partner program support initiatives. The company now has more than 90 SaaS and cloud services integrations with a number of new partners because of the added support. And, HYCU has revamped its partner portal.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=114
Infinidat
Program Name: Infinidat Channel Partner Program
Channel Chief: Eric Herzog, CMO
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
In 2024, Infinidat enhanced its partner program by launching the InfiniBox G4 series, offering better performance, cyber storage resilience, and cost efficiency. Key updates include new software enhancements, smaller form-factor solutions for enterprise edge deployments, and a controller upgrade program. These changes support growth, profitability, and enterprise competitiveness for partners.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=119
NetApp
Program Name: NetApp Partner Sphere
Channel Chief: Jenni Flinders, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Partner Organization
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
For partners at the Prestige level, a new Partner Sphere demonstration and lab equipment benefit is available. Another new Partner Sphere benefit, Partner Services, provides all partners with the ability to build partner branded services. NetApp launched additional solution competencies in key areas, like NetApp AIPod with Lenovo for Nvidia OVX.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=150
Quantum Corp.
Program Name: Quantum Alliance
Channel Chief: Guillaume Crapart, Vice President, Global Channels
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Quantum launched a new partner portal designed to empower partners with a knowledge-driven ecosystem and effective tools to boost sales including automated lead generation tools, comprehensive analytics, and campaign-in-a-box programs. Additionally, the portal offers enhanced visibility with real-time dashboards, providing access to deal registrations, leads, sales tools, training, and events.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=175
RackTop Systems
Program Name: Racktop Channel Partner Program
Channel Chief: David Hughes, Director of Sales Engineering and Partnerships
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Racktop expanded its Channeling Cyberstorage LinkedIn group, enhanced its rebate program with generous discounts, revamped the partner portal's resource library to align with buyer journeys, and added a third-party research library to position partners as thought leaders in their markets.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=177
Seagate Technology
Program Name: Seagate Partner Program
Channel Chief: Joy R. Music, Director, Global Partner Program, Americas Channel Marketing
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Seagate has revised and evolved the Seagate Partner Program. The company invested in a new learning management system with updated training to help partners achieve competencies and elevate their knowledge to support customers. The program now includes more products and Lyve Cloud Services.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=192
Tintri by DDN
Program Name: Tintri Partner Program
Channel Chief: Justin Jimenez, Vice President, Channels
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
The most significant changes over the past year include adding more investment into the distribution portion of the channel to further enhance and leverage channel/partner relationships for demand gen, events and more.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=228
Veeam
Program Name: Veeam ProPartner Network
Channel Chief: Kevin Rooney, Vice President of Channel Sales, Americas
Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year:
Veeam updated its deal registration program, as well as added additional profitability protections for partners when opportunities went to non-standard pricing. Veeam launched a new incumbency program and reshaped its rebate programs for resellers and distributors to a consistent, global framework.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=233
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:
This year, Wasabi spent time improving its automation tools and partner portal, allowing the company to scale and support all of its partners globally. This has led to faster response times from the company’s sales team, increased marketing support, and better training resources.
Partner Program Details: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025-details?c=241
