New CyberFit Partner Program to power channel growth

To say there’s been an unprecedented shift in how service providers and resellers are tasked with keeping their clients productive and protected during the past few years would be an understatement. The pivot to cloud-based solutions and services was already well underway, and then the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated that transformation.

We’ve seen that growth first-hand. Our cloud ecosystem has more than doubled since 2018 and last year saw its largest growth in the number of new partners, with a 30% increase in the number of active service provider partners.

While new client demands can mean new strains for our channel partners, Acronis wants to make things easier – and more profitable – for you. That’s why we’ve unveiled the new Acronis #CyberFit Partner Program as part of today’s #CyberFit Partner 2021 Kickoff event.

We’ve updated our prior partner program with new benefits, incentives, and resources designed to support our channel partners as they deliver the cloud-based cyber protection services their clients are looking for. Now, you can take advantage of performance-based benefits and new compensation options based on your expertise, commitment, and cyber protection portfolio growth.

Based on feedback from partners like you, the new program supports the go-to-market strategies that are built for today’s opportunities – helping you earn more using cloud-based solutions that are tailor-made for your clients’ protection challenges.

Reimagined as a unified program for service providers and resellers, the Acronis #CyberFit Partner Program now includes:

• Financial incentives that increase as partners advance within the program’s levels, including rebates and proposal-based market development funds (MDF).
• Marketing and sales assets, with additional marketing automation tools and renewal tools coming in March 2021.
• Account management assistance that scales with program level, with dedicated marketing support available to Platinum partners.
• Enhanced technical support to enable faster response times.
• Sales and technical training via the Acronis Academy, with courses available both live and online.

Serg “SB” Bell, Acronis’ Founder and CEO, explains why the company has enhanced its partner program: “Acronis makes the profitability of our partners a priority. Since the launch of Acronis Cyber Protect last year, we received overwhelmingly positive feedback from partners about the ability to scale their business and increase their IT professionals' productivity by orders of magnitude. The Acronis Cyber Platform enabled partners to automate, customize, and deliver cyber protection at a level that was not possible before. Now, with the introduction of the new #CyberFit Partner Program, which is focused on cloud business, partners have all the tools to steadily grow their business and introduce new cyber protection services to their customers."

Given the breadth of the enhanced #CyberFit Partner Program, industry observers have noted that Acronis is clearly providing the support that many in the IT channel are seeking.

“In today’s digital-focused world, it is critical for vendors to connect easily and efficiently with partners to optimize the user experience,” said Phil Goodwin, Research Director, IDC. “Acronis’ new #CyberFit Partner Program was designed to create this exact kind of relationship. By enhancing this offering over the past few years, Acronis has demonstrated its commitment to providing total marketing, technical, and financial support to its partners now and in the future with a dedication to cyber protection solutions.”

The enhancements we’ve introduced have been welcomed by several partners already.

“We are excited by the new Acronis partner program,” said Kuo Yoong, Cloud Program Manager, Synnex Australia. “This program incentivizes a stronger partnership between Synnex and Acronis partners to further grow Acronis cybersecurity solutions and protect reseller businesses in the evolving threat landscape.” 

UbiStor, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer Dan Hill had a similar reaction, saying, “Today, we are all relying on data like never before, and we are at ease knowing our customer’s data is safe and secure with Acronis’ effective and affordable solutions coupled with UbiStor’s 24/7/365 managed services. We are thrilled to be a part of the newly improved Partner Program and excited to take advantage of the new incentives to work closely with Acronis as a partner.”

From Germany, Thimo Groneberg, Managing Director at Busymouse said, “We’ve always been able to count on Acronis to understand our company needs. Acronis has now taken that to the next level with their new Partner Program. This program incentivizes a stronger partnership that leaves us safer and more protected from cybercrimes in today’s evolving threat landscape.”

While the new #CyberFit Partner Program announced today has made quite the buzz, we also provided partners with a preview of some other changes that are on the way – including a new Partner Portal that’s designed to make account management and communication with Acronis easier than ever. The new portal is scheduled to launch in March.

In addition, we provided channel partners with a look at the new licensing format that will enable them to easily expand their cyber protection offering in the coming year, creating new opportunities and generating additional revenue.

Acronis Channel Chief Alex Ruslyakov explains, “our partners’ success is our success. By increasing our sales, marketing, and technical support tools and training, we’re making it easier than ever for partners to protect and delight their customers with Acronis’ world-class cyber protection solutions. Acronis continues to invest in partner development and growth to our mutual benefit.