Avnet launches pay-per-use cloud with Hitachi

Distributor Avnet Technology Solutions has launched a new white label cloud "ecosystem" in conjunction with Hitachi Data Systems.

"Availability Solutions, Perfekt and Gammer Group have already signed up and we have a few others coming up behind them," said Darren Adams, Avnet ANZ vice president and general manager.

"HDS and we ran enablement sessions with some partners in Brisbane and Sydney," Adams told CRN. "We had more than a dozen resellers attend."

[Photos: Avnet's sci-fi cruise]

The Hitachi Cloud Services Connection service is to be sold under the label Avnet Cloud Connect. The offering includes infrastructure-as-a-service (virtual server and storage, cloud storage, virtual desktop and backup), content-as-a-service and cloud service for Microsoft SharePoint and email.

"A complete utility-based, pay-per-use model – the self-service portal's chargeback function allows service providers to invoice customers for usage with a monthly billing cycle," said a statement from Hitachi.

Sam Houston, HDS ANZ's chief technologist for cloud solutions, emphasised that the data would be stored domestically: "The IaaS and SaaS will be hosted in Australian data centres."

HDS ANZ's director, Industry & Alliance Solutions, Phil Teague, told CRN that this "100 percent indirect wholesale cloud offering " is a "low risk, friendly and supportive" way for resellers to onboard their customers onto the cloud.

The statement from HDS said that the service rivals "the economics of the public cloud while offering enterprise-grade service level agreements".

The agreement builds on HDS's recent transformation into a channel-focused vendor.

"Hitachi is really putting their money where their mouth is," said Adams. "Ever since we signed on with HDS six to nine months ago, their increase in head count for partner management has really shown their thrust into channel."

Houston said that the Avnet deal "gives us breadth of reach" through the distie.

Globally Avnet reported revenues of $25.5 billion last year and has more than 18,000 employees. HDS has 6,300 staff members worldwide, and operates under its giant Tokyo-headquartered parent Hitachi.