Rackspace inks strategic partnership with AWS
Managed Cloud computing company, Rackspace, has made a strategic global partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), under which Rackspace will offer tools, expertise, application management, and operational support to customers on the AWS Cloud.
In addition, Rackspace has become an AWS authorised reseller, completed the audit to become a managed services partner, and is joining the AWS Partner Network at the Advanced Consulting Partner level.
The announcements were made at AWS’ re:Invent event in Las Vegas.
The core offering, Fanatical Support for AWS, plus three additional beta offerings – Managed Security for AWS, Compliance Assistance for AWS, and Managed Cloud for Adobe Experience Manager (which runs on AWS) aims to provide businesses with managed Cloud services, tools, and applications that allow customers to focus on their core business.
Rackspace will blend in automation, technology, and human expertise to deliver ongoing architecture, management, security services, and ongoing operations.
Rackspace A/NZ director and general manager, Angus Dorney, said the company launched this service because there’s a strong demand for it in the market.
“Some of our existing customers and some of our prospective or potential customers really like Rackspace Fanatical Support but they also like the AWS Cloud platform. There’s been a strong demand for us to bring the two together and expand the portfolio of platforms that Rackspace offers as part of our managed Cloud offering.
“We recently added Microsoft Azure to that mix and we’re excited to add AWS to the mix globally. Adding AWS into the umbrella is very important to us because it has the largest share of the market when it comes to the public Cloud,” he claimed.
Dorney mentioned channel relationships demand flexibility and choice in the underlying Cloud platforms that they use.
“Rackspace gives them that, along with support and services to maximise benefits that they can derive out of Cloud services that they’re using. We hope that this partnership gives our channel partners more choice around the platforms they can use, but also continue to experience the services around it.”
Rackspace Asia-Pacific managing director, Ajit Melarkode, said many businesses want to realise the power of the AWS Cloud and in doing so seek assistance from a trusted partner with a track record of managing business-critical Cloud environments.
In addition, Melarkode claimed many enterprises are on a multi-phased journey to the Cloud and benefit from migration services that speed deployment, as well as ongoing operating expertise that can adapt to a company’s evolving set of business and technology needs.
“Across Asia and A/NZ, the potential for Fanatical Support for AWS is enormous. The customers expected to sign up for the Q4 beta program as well as the AWS-certified teams within Rackspace are excited about this new offering.
“It is another demonstration of how we work with industry-leading technologies to make it easy for our customers to manage their IT, so they can concentrate on their core business,” he said.
AWS vice-president of worldwide partner ecosystem, Terry Wise, said the company is pleased to see Rackspace support AWS customers and achieve membership in the AWS Managed Service Program.
“A growing number of businesses who want the benefits of the AWS Cloud will find value in working with AWS Managed Service Partners like Rackspace. We have been impressed with Rackspace’s commitment to include beta customers in their AWS managed service offerings, along with certifying a large number of their technical staff,” he added.
Rackspace will be conducting education and training sessions for the channel around AWS’ solutions and according to Dorney, will be assessing the possibility of other partnerships within the Cloud marketplace globally.
“But AWS and Azure are two significant Cloud platforms that have global scale, so we’ll see a lot of growth and demand in these areas. Our focus now will be getting these offerings to be the standout offerings in their markets instead of adding as many different Cloud platforms as possible to our portfolio,” he added.
