Silver Peak Announces New SD-WAN Deployment Program for Partners

Silver Peak, the SD-WAN provider, launched a certified deployment program for channel partners.

As a result, select partners can deploy the Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect SD-WAN edge platform. Any Partner Edge program member can sell the platform, but the new program makes deployment possible.

The Certified Deployment Partner (CDP) program helps them demonstrate their expertise in initial design, deployment and post deployment.

Silver Peak’s Ken Marks

Ken Marks, Silver Peak’s vice president of North American channel sales, said customers demand skilled partners that can assist them in “WAN and security transformation initiatives.”

“This provides an unprecedented opportunity for our partners to bring new levels of business value to customers by attaining the training and certifications required to successfully drive SD-WAN deployments,” Marks said. “The CDP program is [built] to scale both the number of customers we can serve as well as the number of partners that we can enable to build high-growth profitable SD-WAN business practices. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Partners can earn six possible certifications, including sales professional, technical expert and deployment expert. They will undergo heavy training to get those certifications. Moreover, program members must start by working with a Silver Peak deployment engineer.

Partner Members

CDW, InterVision, Invite Networks, Teneo, WWT, Xalient and other select partners have obtained the certifications.

Jonathan Bruce, InterVision‘s senior director of strategic alliances, said the program helps InterVision deepen its consulting deployment and managed service practices. David Dean, Invite Networks‘ SD-WAN and telecom specialist, said his company can increase customers’ “total quality of life.”

“We pride ourselves in bringing a no-nonsense approach to customers with real solutions that go beyond maximizing performance and managing cost to delivering a return of appreciation that ultimately turns their IT teams into business heroes,” Dean said.

Silver Peak in 2018 launched an authorized deployment program, which made members an extension of the Silver Peak installation team.

HPE in July announced it would buy Silver Peak for $925 million. The deal, which closed Sept. 21, brings Silver Peak into the Aruba business unit.

Ken Marks, a former Splunk and Palo Alto executive, joined Silver Peak as channel chief in May.