Software-defined storage vendor Datera’s data services platform now has Veeam Ready certification, which better integrates the products and makes them easier for channel partners and customers to solve business data storage and backup problems.

Datera‘s autonomous block software-defined storage (SDS) platform, will now enable Veeam customers to back up Tier 1 primary data in VMware environments running on Datera primary storage to another Datera cluster under the partnership, the company said.

Chris Cummings, Datera’s chief marketing officer, told Channel Futures that the Veeam Ready certification will help channel partners make more successful services pitches to customers who need reliable backup and disaster recovery within their storage systems.

Datera’s Chris Cummings

“Enterprises are looking for new ways to deliver the agility and automation their customers need for their enterprise clouds, but they also want the highest levels of data availability and protection,” said Cummings. “With this new designation, the channel can harness Datera’s autonomous data-management platform to deliver enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure and protect their data with Veeam’s proven protection capabilities.”

Datera customers have been asking for these kinds of tighter collaborations with Veeam services as they’ve actively been incorporating their existing virtualized applications into their enterprise cloud deployments, said Cummings.

“Channel partners similarly are looking to round out Datera deployments, which typically include software and hardware for primary data with a robust protection package. Now they have it.”

By bringing together both products for partners and customers, Datera and Veeam are providing a software foundation for Tier 1 workloads in enterprise clouds that require the highest levels of protection, explained Cummings.

“Both companies are committed to unifying the underlying hardware across multiple vendors, storage media types and generations, providing a holistic approach that helps customers address common infrastructure challenges and solidifies the channel’s position as a long-term trusted adviser.”

The new offering can be purchased from any HPE channel partner through SKUs on their HPE price lists, and HPE will provide enterprise-class support to ensure customer success, enabling partners to build an annuity stream of revenue as their customer’s data environment grows, said Cummings.

Eric Slack, an IT analyst with Evaluator Group, said that the collaboration between the two companies will be helpful for channel partners and customers.

Evaluator Group’s Eric Slack

“Veeam is ubiquitous,” said Slack. “This gives enterprises a scale-out repository for Veeam backups on site, which is made more useful because it supports block and object protocols. For partners this is an entrance into these organizations to show the Datera solution.”

The certification is particularly valuable for partners because of Veeam’s large ecosystem, plus the strength of Datera, said Slack.

“Channel partners should have it on their line cards,” he said.