Nimble Storage Signs Avnet Technology Solutions as Value-Added Solutions Distributor in the U.S. and Canada

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 3, 2013) - Nimble Storage, the leading provider of flash-optimized hybrid storage solutions, today announced a distribution agreement with Avnet Technology Solutions, the global IT solutions distribution leader and operating group of Avnet, Inc., that enables Avnet to sell Nimble's portfolio of hybrid storage arrays. Through the distribution agreement, Nimble Storage now offers its converged infrastructure solutions, SmartStack, through Avnet to its solution provider partner community in the U.S. and Canada. Nimble is exploring opportunities in other regions with Avnet due to Avnet's broad global capabilities that support IT solutions and services.

Nimble Storage's flash-optimized hybrid storage arrays are designed to solve the industry's most pressing storage issues: reining in storage complexity, increasing performance/capacity efficiency and implementing affordable backup and recovery. The solution is designed to help organizations maximize uptime and availability of their critical applications. To provide optimal performance and the highest level of interoperability, Nimble Storage has developed SmartStack -- pre-validated reference architectures with market leaders such as VMware, Cisco, Citrix, Microsoft, and CommVault. Pre-validated reference architectures minimize the challenges associated with deploying application, server, hypervisor, networking, and storage components as an integrated solution. The newly signed distribution agreement with Avnet provides solution providers with the flexibility to purchase Nimble's SmartStack from one vendor.

Solution providers will also be able to draw upon the expertise of Avnet's dedicated Nimble solutions team, which is part of Avnet's new supplier business acceleration group. The group provides solutions sales, field sales, technical, and product marketing support to ensure that suppliers, like Nimble Storage, have quick and easy access to the resources they need to accelerate their success in the channel. In addition, overall business and sales efforts for Avnet's new supplier business acceleration team are provided by a technology and solutions development group that offers pre-sales technical support and evaluates new converged solutions.

Avnet will work closely with Nimble to provide its solution provider community with training and demand creation programs to market and sell Nimble's flash-optimized hybrid storage solutions.

New processes that will benefit the solution provider community include:

• Expanded quote and configuration support for resellers purchasing Nimble products
• A dedicated sales team focused on onboarding, enabling and supporting both existing partners selling Nimble solutions and those looking to add a modern hybrid storage product or converged infrastructure solutions to their portfolio of product offerings
• Continued ease of doing business through simplified purchasing and credit line
• Configuration services and testing validation for SmartStack solutions

Supporting Quotes

"This distribution agreement with Avnet is a clear indicator of Nimble's commitment to being a channel-centric company. We are striving to provide our partner ecosystem with the flexibility needed to meet end user demands, and the go-to-market programs and training required to drive increased profitability from selling and deploying Nimble storage solutions. The SmartStack solution eliminates much of the guesswork involved in planning and sizing, procuring, provisioning and operations. Providing the opportunity to purchase these solutions from a one-stop-shop will be a huge value-add to our solution providers."
- Kristin Carnes, Director of Channel Sales, Nimble Storage

"Adding Nimble Storage solutions to our portfolio for Connected and Secured Solutions is a great benefit to our solution provider partners. The ability to simplify the procurement process for resellers, along with additional financing options, increased sales support, and service level agreements, is key to the way we support the channel. Our solution-based distribution model provides Nimble partners and their customers with an opportunity to improve business performance with innovative storage solutions."
 - Scott Look, VP/ GM for Connected and Secured Solutions, Avnet Technology Solutions

Supporting Resources:

• Nimble Storage Website
• Case Studies and Videos
• Follow Nimble Storage on Twitter: @NimbleStorage
• Join the Nimble Storage Group on LinkedIn
• Visit Nimble Storage on Facebook

About Nimble Storage
Nimble Storage believes enterprises should not have to compromise on performance, capacity, ease of use, or price. Nimble has developed the first hybrid storage architecture engineered from the ground up to seamlessly integrate flash and high-capacity drives. Our customers enjoy fast application performance, enhanced backup and disaster recovery, and stress-free operations -- all while lowering their TCO. Nimble Storage solutions are available through a global network of world-class channel partners. For more information, visit www.nimblestorage.com and follow us on Twitter: @nimblestorage.

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