Computer Associates (CA) has appointed Smart Storage Technologies (SmartStor), a specialist data storage solutions company within the JSE-listed MB Technologies Group, as its only certified high-end, enterprise storage VAR in South Africa. According to Dion Gerrans, regional account manager, Tier 2 channel for Africa at CA, SmartStor was the only organisation to meet CA's stringent prerequisites in this sector. "We have been approached by a number of companies for this status, but they were rejected because of their lack of expertise and 'shotgun' approach to partnerships, where they try to obtain a VAR standing from as many companies as possible.
"SmartStor offers a wealth of knowledge, having combined expertise on a plethora of different systems and platforms. They also have a very aggressive approach to market, key to a company like CA, making for the closest fit for our high-end enterprise product."
Says Tony Life, executive director at SmartStor: "Our partnership with CA adds another dimension to our ability to offer total storage solutions. "CA also has strong global alliances with both XIOtech and ADIC, who work very closely with SmartStor," Life adds.
"The fact that CA is the world's second largest software supplier is important to SmartStor as we are proud to be associated with such a strong international player."
Gerrans maintains that, through their existing hardware customer base, the newly selected VAR can give exposure to sectors that CA has not yet reached. "CA is confident that SmartStor will be a highly capable partner, bringing value to our business," he says.
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