Scale Computing, developers of hyperconverged solutions that combine servers, storage, and virtualization within a single system, announced today a new Alliance Program. The three-tiered Alliance Program provides software providers with the opportunity to join Scale Computing as it builds an ecosystem around HC³, the easiest, most affordable virtualization system specifically built for the midmarket. Through these partnerships, IT Managers using HC³ may purchase popular applications at discount as a part of their HC³ configuration.

By partnering with software providers on these offerings, Scale Computing continues to deliver on their promise of bringing easy to use and affordable products to small and midmarket IT departments. Additionally, Scale Computing VARs can expect to offer a high-value, comprehensive solution to their customers with a true single source solution for their virtualization needs.

“This program is all about bringing value to our joint customers and joint channel partners,” said Patrick Conte, EVP of Worldwide Field Operations for Scale Computing. “Our vision for the Alliance Program is to make access to critical software and those deployments as easy for the IT manager as it is for consumers downloading music from iTunes.”

Software providers joining Scale Computing’s Alliance Program can enter the program as a Strategic, Technology or Application Partner. Strategic Partners are companies whose technologies will either be integrated into HC³ or their product will ship as an embedded solution. Technology Partners will work with Scale Computing to offer a joint solution to the midmarket and will promote this offer and partnership together. In addition, Scale Computing will publish a “how-to” video, application notes and an application review to educate and inform customers and VARs using their product with Scale’s HC³. Application Partners will be listed on Scale’s website as being compatible with HC^3.

Current members of Scale Computing’s Alliance Program include Acronis, StorageCraft and Vision Solutions. All three software providers plan to announce exclusive offers for Scale Computing’s HC³ customers in the first quarter of 2013. Conversely, Scale will offer customers of those companies discounts on the purchase of Scale products.

“Acronis has a long established reputation for providing easy to use and cost effective data protection and storage optimization solutions for the virtualized SMB,” said Liz Pierce, Director of Global Business Development at Acronis. “We know that HC³ shares the same goal and this alliance offers customers a seamless and efficient solution to meet their virtualization needs.”

“We are excited to join with Scale as a Technology Alliance Partner,” said Curt James, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at StorageCraft. “With virtualization becoming more accessible and critical for businesses, HC³ is poised to take its fair share of this space. Our P2V tools give users a quick and easy method for migrating to the HC³ platform.”

Ideal for first-time virtualizers and small IT departments, a complete 3-node HC³ cluster capable of 15 – 30 virtual workloads starts at under $25,500 and includes all necessary servers, storage and virtualization, along with 24x7 premium support. To learn more about Scale Computing, visit www.scalecomputing.com or call 877-SCALE-59.

About Scale Computing

Scale Computing develops IT infrastructure products for small to medium-sized organizations based on its patented ICOS [Intelligent Clustered Operating System] technology. Since launching its initial scale-out storage solution in 2009, Scale has grown to over 1,100 deployments. Scale is currently expanding its footprint throughout the datacenter with what analysts are calling the industry’s first hyperconverged architecture, HC³. Scale’s HC³ seamlessly integrates storage, servers and virtualization into a scalable, turnkey infrastructure that’s as easy to manage as a single server. Designed specifically for IT generalists, HC³ is ideal for those who have not yet adopted virtualization due to cost and complexity, enabling them to run highly available applications. For additional info, visit www.scalecomputing.com.