November 2009 - Dell Channel Blog

Dell and Symantec today announced a new program aimed at helping their channel partners more effectively develop their systems management businesses.  The DMC Partner Enablement Program, based on the benefits from the Dell Management Console (DMC) powered by Symantec, provides partners with a new set of opportunities to generate customer leads and drive new product and services revenue in systems management. 

The DMC unifies the management of key business processes and tasks under a simple, integrated architecture and provides a centralized view of a customer’s enterprise-wide IT assets.  It is a flexible console that can scale from basic hardware management to more advanced functionality, enabling channel partners to build solutions that grow with their customers. Because the solution is heterogeneous and can manage an entire IT environment, channel partners have the opportunity to build on the platform, adding in their own services and intellectual property.

The new DMC Partner Enablement program provides Dell and Symantec partners worldwide with fully-integrated training resources, tools and programs to help them incorporate their own services with the Dell Management Console to create differentiated solutions and drive new product and service revenue. 

The program also provides unique business development support and activities to help channel partners generate and qualify new customers leads with the goal of growing new business.

To participate in the program, partners must be a member of either the Dell or the Symantec partner programs and must take the DMC online course. Qualifying partners receive training, qualified customer leads and assistance in deploying solutions, and also qualify for market development funds.. 

The program, which launched in early October in North America (U.S. and Canada), launched in 11 countries in Western Europe and 39 countries in Asia in late October.  To date, almost 1,000 users have registered for the program in the U.S.

“Dell is excited to work with Symantec on the DMC Partner Enablement Program. Our partners have asked for a comprehensive but modular systems management solution to help manage their customer’s data centers while providing cross-sell and up-sell opportunities to grow their own business” said Paul Shaffer, Director of Global Channel Marketing & Programs, Dell Inc.  “Dell and Symantec have worked to create a unique program that is easy for our channel base to participate in.  Our intent is to help educate and empower our channel community to help solve customer IT problems and provide them with high margin service revenue streams.”

“Symantec is focused on helping our channel partners find ways to differentiate themselves and grow their businesses in today’s competitive IT marketplace,” said Toni Adams, vice president, channel and alliances marketing, Symantec Corp. “With this program, Dell and Symantec are providing our joint channel partners with training and tools designed to help them develop differentiated product and services offerings that will increase their revenue and help them maintain relevance with their customers.”

Dell and Symantec partners can learn more about the variety of revenue generation opportunities to grow their business by visiting http://dmc.dellpartnerdirect.net and registering to join the program. 

It seems everyone is asking about the new Dell Latitude Z, especially channel partners.  Here are a couple videos that will give you a closer look.

I saw this article in Dell Power Solutions Magazine, and had to cut and paste it here.  What we keep telling Channel Partners is that the opportunity doesn't just end with Windows 7.  An implementation of a new OS gets you viability into the enterprise, and can lead to remote backup, Exchange migration/upgrade, security, storage or even data center refresh engagements.  Look for more articles here to take this idea further.

Desktop operating systems are geared toward making life easy for end users—and the Microsoft® Windows® 7 OS is no exception. Ten key features of Windows 7 Enterprise work in conjunction with the Microsoft Windows Server® 2008 R2 OS to advance enterprise efficiency:

1. DirectAccess connectivity: DirectAccess enables mobile users to access enterprise resources simply and securely when out of the office, without the extra step of initiating a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

2. BranchCache™ local caching: BranchCache caches content from remote file and Web servers at local branch offices, helping to reduce wide area network (WAN) traffic, boost network application responsiveness, and increase efficiency for end users.

3. AppLocker™ application control: For enterprises that demand the highest levels of compliance, administrators can leverage AppLocker to dictate which applications are allowed to run on desktop and mobile client systems.

4. BitLocker™ security: BitLocker enables IT administrators and end users to right-click on a drive to enable BitLocker protection, while the BitLocker To Go™ feature offers protection for removable storage devices.

5. RemoteApp™ access: RemoteApp enables end users to access programs without actually installing them on the remote computer, which can also help save administration time and reduce maintenance costs.

6. Multilingual support: Windows 7 Enterprise language packs can support several dozen languages from a single master image.

7. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI): Designed to improve end-user productivity while also simplifying desktop administration and security for IT staff, VDI supports desktop functionality using virtual machines hosted on servers.

8. Image management: Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) enables administrators to build and service OS images using a single consolidated tool set.

9. Power management: A variety of power management features are designed to increase platform and processor efficiencies and help IT strategists improve the bottom line.

10. Windows PowerShell™ command-line shell: Windows PowerShell can help increase management control and enhance IT productivity through an interactive shell, scripting functions, and graphical interface applications.

In these ways, Windows 7 Enterprise can help significantly boost client security and productivity while simplifying end-to-end IT management and control. For large enterprises intent on advancing business efficiency while reducing total cost of ownership, the question is not whether to migrate to Windows 7—but when.

Integrated Bank Technology, a company specializing in providing core processing and imaging software applications for financial institutions, has joined Dell's PartnerDirect program as a Certified Dell Partner. Read about it in TMCNet or  Reuters