NetApp recently highlighted the growing influence of Partner Sphere, its flagship partner framework built to accelerate strategic growth and sharpen partners’ competitive advantage and differentiation. To elevate partners’ capabilities in handling the complex digital transformation demands of enterprises, NetApp has updated its program with 16 comprehensive solution competencies spanning AI, cloud modernization, cyber resilience and data infrastructure transformation, closely aligned with regional business priorities.
The program’s incentives and benefits were crafted to lift partners’ earning potential by supporting diverse sales motions and equipping them with resources to reach new customers and expand market presence. One example is the availability of Partner Demo Gear, which allows partners to showcase NetApp technologies in proof of concept or lab environments. Partners can also strengthen their services portfolio through Services Certified tracks, enabling them to deliver consultative design services and grow services revenue as they tap into APAC’s expanding IT services market, projected to reach US$325.41 billion by 2025.
Following the refresh of competencies and certifications within Partner Sphere, the number of partners certified to offer NetApp’s AI solutions has nearly tripled year on year. Acknowledging its commitment to empowering its partner ecosystem, NetApp earned the 2025 Customers’ Choice recognition on Gartner® Peer Insights™ as well as a 2025 5 Star Storage Vendor Program designation from CRN, The Channel Co.
APAC continues to be a hub of rapid innovation, and organizations require resilient, modern infrastructure with unified data storage to maximize the value of data and AI. “Our Partner Sphere Program equips partners to answer this demand with scalable, reliable storage solutions for businesses across the region. Our partners are stepping up, entering new markets and customer segments with our industry leading portfolio, and driving strong revenue and measurable outcomes,” said Ganesan Arumugam, Senior Director, Channel Sales and Alliances, APAC at NetApp.
“Malaysia’s AI Nation 2030 vision represents a shared path toward creating a trusted regional hub for digital innovation anchored in strong data governance. Alongside our partners, we’re helping Malaysian organizations pursue their AI goals with an intelligent data platform that blends storage and security seamlessly. By pairing global technology with local expertise, we support the nation’s move toward becoming an AI ready, data driven economy that empowers the rakyat, strengthens industries and advances the promise of Malaysia’s AI Nation 2030 agenda,” said Henry Kho, Area Vice President and General Manager for ASEAN, Greater China and South Korea at NetApp.
The Partner Sphere program emphasizes enablement, capability development, incentives and benefits to uplift the partner ecosystem:
- Partner enablement and development: Sixteen solution competencies across AI, cloud transformation, cyber resilience and data infrastructure modernization, with updated AI Solution Competencies focused on the full customer AI lifecycle.
- Services-ready enablement for scale: Services Certified tracks that unlock new revenue streams, give partners the freedom to develop differentiated services, offer co branding potential through NetApp Services Certified badging and create flexibility to build a full portfolio through NetApp, distributors or partner led services.
- Incentive driven recognition: A progressive tiering structure that expands rewards and support as partners advance, boosting earning potential while encouraging the pursuit of new customers and reinforcing demand for NetApp solutions.
“AI is reshaping every stage of the manufacturing process, and the right infrastructure is essential to enable it. Through our collaboration with NetApp and its exceptional partner program, our teams are now better equipped to help Malaysia’s manufacturing sector build data storage systems that can handle the toughest workloads, unlocking productivity and profitability gains,” said Kevin Chong Sin Woo, Director of Systems, CTC Global Sdn Bhd.