Prowess Tackles Virtualization, Windows 7 Migration

The VAR Guy is always on the lookout for ways VARs can differentiate themselves, be it by services, specializations or anything that gives them that edge — especially with newer technologies. Blending virtualization, Windows 7 migration and value-added services is one example, and The VAR Guy has found a company that offers just that. Read on to find out about Prowess Corp.

Prowess is about eight years old but only in the past three or four years has the company really focused on software and grown its flagship SmartDeploy, said Prowess CEO Aaron Suzuki. The company’s technology takes a virtualized approach to migration and disk backup: Instead of using sector-based cloning of drives, Prowess uses a file-based backup that eliminates file redundancies and also shrinks the backup size considerably — as much as 80 percent smaller on average, Suzuki said. That image is also hardware-independent when used in conjunction with a driver pack, courtesy of Prowess. Prowess keeps a huge library of drivers on file for common computer configurations.

Keeping such a large library is an “ongoing challenge,” admitted Suzuki, but added it’s been quite successful and has really set Prowess apart from its competitors.

With Windows 7 migration, “we’re able to take an existing XP environment and migrate that to a VM [using client software SmartMigrate],” Suzuki said. “Then [we] lay Windows 7 down around that to retain the old environments.” In other words, Prowess essentially performs a Windows 7 transplant. It’s recommended that customers use a VMware workstation if they’re not deploying to disk, but SmartDeploy supports a variety of VM image formats, all compatible through a few mouse clicks of an onscreen wizard.

The VAR Guy so far is impressed with the technology, which is becoming increasingly popular in the education and healthcare verticals as well as other public sector groups, noted both Suzuki and channel director David Brow. Prowess is actively recruiting channel partners to address those markets and essentially any vertical where virtualization and migration are becoming hot-button issues.

“We’re looking to add dozens of partners in 2011, [but] it takes some education and investment from partners,” Suzuki said. “We’re focused mostly on large account resellers … [and] we’re trying to attack next in breadth of partners across North America.” Prowess also works with distributor LifeBoat.

VARs can sell the technology based on its ability to save both time and money on storage costs and deployment turnovers, Suzuki said, and Prowess enables increased margins through a deal registration program. Plus, partners can always make the extra lucre through services — a fact The VAR Guy has mentioned a few hundred times with a few hundred technologies.

SmartDeploy starts at $1,995 per technician with a year of support at the time of purchase. Additional features and services start around $2,295. And since growth is a priority, Prowess plans to also pursue a services-oriented or subscription/SaaS-based model in the long term, as well as modifications to the product to help it play better in the SMB market. “We’re looking at the 25 to 50 seaters,” Suzuki said.

The VAR Guy will be certain to keep Prowess in his sights as the company evolves.

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