MicroScope says: "Cloud Distribution adds storage to the mix"

Cloud Distribution is adding storage to its networking and security capabilities as the channel player responds to demand from resellers for the firm to deliver a wider solution.

The firm has also hired industry veterans Bruce Hockin and Grant Reddin, who resigned last month from the storage distributor channelfusion which was launched last year, to head the division and build relationships with next generation technology vendors in the storage and virtualisation areas.

Adam Davison, director for Cloud Distribution, said that it had been approached on numerous occasions by next generation storage vendors and although it had been very focused on WAN, LAN, mobile and security it had deemed it to be the right moment to enter the storage arena.

"A lot of the resellers we work with do storage and we will be taking new storage products to them and we will add more value to that storage base," he added that it could also be a chance for some fresh relationships to be struck, "There are other partners that might [come onboard] who are highly focused on that area and might not do security and networking."

The storage unit will be run out of the Green Park offices in Reading and be pitched to existing partners as an additional part of the stack that the distributor can offer.

Hockin said that he had already mapped out the emerging vendors in the market and believed there were in excess of 60 that were offering next generation technology that was shaking up the market.

"Some of doing flash, cloud, software defined and they have moved into the market in the last five years. We had a storage market that had become very stagnant...there is now so much new opportunities," he said.

He added that the sort of vendors that it wanted to bring on to its books would not only provide resellers with access to different technology but additional revenue streams.

http://www.microscope.co.uk/news/2240234118/Cloud-Distribution-adds-storage-to-the-mix

Channel Pro says: "Cloud Distribution launches storage business"

Bruce Hockin and Grant Reddin to head up Cloud Distribution Storage after quitting channelfusion

Cloud Distribution has announced a dedicated storage and virtualisation division to be headed up by distribution veterans Bruce Hockin and Grant Reddin.

Hockin and Reddin quit the distribution company they established last year, channelfusion, after a disagreement with the two other shareholders in the business.

Hockin tells Channel Pro: “There was a difference of opinion as to the direction [channelfusion] should go, so we felt it was untenable for us to remain in business so we resigned.”

The pair was then quickly picked up by Cloud Distribution, to lead its new spon-off storage division.

Says the former Avnet exec: “The first thing we’re going to do is talk to the existing Cloud Distribution partner set that may have been buying storage elsewhere. It’s new customers, new vendors, and a familiar strategy.”

Cloud Distribution Storage already has a line-up of vendors that includes Fusion ioControl Storage, Datacore, Maxta and Talon Storage.

Adam Davison, director at Cloud Distribution comments: “The storage market has undergone rapid evolution with technologies such as flash and cloud being real catalysts for change. IDC recently reported that the market for emerging storage technologies is absolutely booming. The emergence of software-defined storage, serverSAN and hybrid array technologies has revolutionised the market with many flash vendors witnessing an astonishing 400+ percent growth.

“At Cloud we see this as a great opportunity and we are delighted that Bruce and Grant are going to drive our storage business forward.” 

Davison says the firm expects to reveal new additions to its storage portfolio soon: “We have had a number storage players approach us over the last few years that have seen how we take new and exciting technologies to market and they wanted us to do that for them. We graciously declined as we weren’t in storage at the time, so we do have a number of ongoing conversations with storage vendors.”

“We’re constantly monitoring the market to find out what the next technology is. What those trends are in order to help resellers identify those trends and solve customer challenges,” adds Hockin.

To make room for the new technology stack, Cloud Distribution has merged its mobile enterprise and security into a new enterprise security unit.

http://www.channelpro.co.uk/news/8801/cloud-distribution-launches-storage-business

CRN says: "Hockin and Reddin to drive storage for Cloud Distribution"

Bullish VAD Cloud Distribution has enlisted storage channel luminaries Bruce Hockin and Grant Reddin to head up its new storage arm.

The duo have joined Cloud - which was recently crowned the UK's fourth fastest-growing private tech company - after resigning their posts at channelfusion, a storage VAD they set up last year after leaving Avnet.

Talking to CRN, Cloud Distribution director Adam Davison said his firm had harboured ambitions to break into storage for 18 months but had been waiting for the right time to pounce. Storage will now become Cloud Distribution's fifth ‘solution stack', alongside LAN & Wireless, WAN & Datacentre, Enterprise Mobility and Security.

"We wanted to make sure that when we jumped into the market, it didn't dilute the momentum in our existing business," Davison said.

"An opportunity came along with Grant and Bruce. We wanted to get into storage, they had resigned from their posts and we saw an opportunity to form a new division."

Hockin (pictured above) said he and Reddin (pictured below) had taken the difficult decision to walk away from channelfusion due to a difference over strategy with its two other shareholders.

"We had a difference of opinion as to which direction to go in and decided to resign our positions in the company," he said.

"There is a huge, huge opportunity in storage and we see collaborating with Cloud Distribution as a fantastic way to get a better part of that. They have a really strong set up and as storage is net-new for them we will help diversify their go-to-market."

One other former channelfusion employee will join the new team.

Cloud Distribution Storage will initially work with vendors Talon Storage, Fusion ioControl Storage, Datacore and Maxta, the latter three of which Hockin and Reddin worked with at channelfusion. These vendors approached Cloud after learning of Hockin and Reddin's plans, Davison stressed.

More storage vendors will be added, Davison added.

"Over the last 18 months, we've been approached by a number of storage vendors and at that point it wasn't appropriate to work with them," he said. "Now we have a dedicated team, those vendors that have approached us are on our list of people to communicate with."

The new team will immediately be able to draw on Cloud's services, including its partner enablement tools, Davison added.

"From a product and services perspective we are ready to go," he said.

CRN phoned channelfusion's switchboard for comment but our calls went unreturned.

http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/news/2379480/hockin-and-reddin-to-drive-storage-for-cloud-distribution

Cloud Distribution launches new storage business!

New division will distribute next generation storage, virtualisation and services to resellers

Reading, UK, 5th November 2014 – Security and networking next-generation value added distributor (VAD) Cloud Distribution today announced the formation of a dedicated storage division and the availability of its new storage and virtualisation solution stack.  Cloud Distribution Storage will be headed up by industry veterans, Bruce Hockin and Grant Reddin, and will be marketed via Cloud Distribution as an additional stack to its existing portfolio.  The new division will be based in Cloud’s head offices in Green Park, which means the team can leverage all of Cloud’s services, including its partner enablement tools.

Bruce Hockin and Grant Reddin, who together have over thirty five years of channel distribution expertise, have been appointed to run the new division. The focus will be on delivering a dedicated storage and virtualisation solution stack and services comprising high performance next generation storage technologies within the virtualisation and big data space.  Cloud Distribution Storage boasts an enviable line up of disruptive and next-generation storage vendors including Fusion ioControl Storage, Datacore, Maxta and Talon Storage.

Bruce Hockin, Director for Cloud Distribution Storage comments: “We see this as a great opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing and highly disruptive distribution business. I’ve been particularly impressed with Cloud’s rapid growth, the calibre of the team and its partner enablement programmes.”

The new solution stack is available immediately for partners to take advantage of this new line up of disruptive storage technologies.  The division, which includes two dedicated sales and one pre-sales staff, will focus on growing and supporting storage vendors and partners which means the rest of the team can continue to build on the rapid growth experienced to date in Cloud’s security and networking portfolio.

“Cloud Distribution is well-recognised for bringing disruptive and emerging technologies into the UK. The launch of its new Storage and Virtualisation division not only reinforces this strategy and approach but it also demonstrates to us that Cloud is committed to the long term growth of its vendor relationships.  Over the past couple of years, I’ve been particularly impressed with how quickly the team at Cloud have grasped the strategic importance and benefits of our RemoteFAST™ solution,” said Andrew Mullen, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Talon.

Adam Davison, Director for Cloud Distribution comments: “The storage market has undergone rapid evolution with technologies such as flash and cloud being real catalysts for change. IDC recently reported that the market for emerging storage technologies is absolutely booming.   The emergence of software-defined storage, serverSAN and hybrid array technologies has revolutionised the market with many flash vendors witnessing an astonishing 400%+ growth.  At Cloud we see this as a great opportunity and we are delighted that Bruce and Grant are going to drive our storage business forward.” 

-END-

About Cloud Distribution

Cloud Distribution is a value-added distributor of disruptive next-generation security and networking solutions that VARs can take to market quickly and easily. It currently distributes A10 Networks, Aerohive, Cisco Meraki, Cloud4Wi, Exinda, Lacoon, Lastline, Maas360, Peplink, Talon, Watchdox and Watchful. Its portfolio of disruptive security and networking solutions helps resellers to differentiate themselves from the competition and create new markets to sell in.  The company was founded in 2009 by senior executives with a wealth of experience in the security, networking and optimisation space. Its philosophy is to take innovative, cutting-edge vendors into the UK market by recruiting and working together with skilled, reputable, market making partners.  For further information please visit www.cloud-distribution.com or follow us on Twitter @cloudtweeters.

http://www.sourcewire.com/news/84965/cloud-distribution-launches-new-storage-business#.VFnohfmsWCo