10 IT Vendor Partnerships That Might Surprise You

thumbnail 10 IT Vendor Partnerships That Might Surprise You

Vendor partnerships Oracle and Hewlett-Packard For all the vitriol exchanged between senior executives of these two companies, the fact remains that billions of dollars worth of Oracle software runs on HP servers sold every day through the channel. SAP and IBM SAP has developed a HANA in-memory computing platform that threatens to make IBM DB2 […]

Written By: Michael Vizard
Sep 24, 2014
Channel Insider content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Vendor partnerships

1 - Oracle and Hewlett-PackardOracle and Hewlett-Packard

For all the vitriol exchanged between senior executives of these two companies, the fact remains that billions of dollars worth of Oracle software runs on HP servers sold every day through the channel.

2 - SAP and IBMSAP and IBM

SAP has developed a HANA in-memory computing platform that threatens to make IBM DB2 obsolete. And, yet, IBM not only now offers HANA on x86 and Power servers; it’s also one of the largest resellers of SAP applications.

3 - Cisco and NetAppCisco and NetApp

Cisco has almost as much NetApp storage attached to Cisco Unified Computing Systems (UCS) as it does storage from EMC, even though Cisco has a joint venture with EMC.

4 - Microsoft and SalesforceMicrosoft and Salesforce

Microsoft partnered with Salesforce, even though Microsoft has a fairly extensive CRM portfolio of its own. The partnership includes initiatives that will link Windows, Office and Azure-backed cloud services to Salesforce’s popular CRM platform.

5 - Microsoft and CitrixMicrosoft and Citrix

Microsoft has never been a big fan of desktop virtualization on servers as an alternative to running Windows locally. But, sometimes, IT organizations insist, and when they do, Microsoft often turns to Citrix and rarely to market leader VMware.

6 - VMware and DockerVMware and Docker

File this under hedging a bet. Docker has gained a lot momentum for containers that create a much lighter-weight alternative to virtual machines. Now VMware finds itself partnering with Docker to manage containers. The best way to deliver containers is through a virtual machine, VMware executives maintain.

7 - VMware and Red HatVMware and Red Hat

Red Hat is a huge proponent of using open-source OpenStack software as an alternative to proprietary cloud management software. Now, VMware supports both proprietary and OpenStack software.

8 - Sprint and GoogleSprint and Google

Apple is clearly the hottest thing going when it comes to mobile computing in the enterprise. But Sprint in the enterprise is leading with Google Apps.

9 - Fortinet and Palo Alto NetworksFortinet and Palo Alto Networks

File this under circling the wagons. Providers of competing next-generation firewalls, the two security vendors founded an industry consortium, the Cyber Treat Alliance. Other would-be rivals have joined the alliance.

10 - Oracle and AirWatchOracle and AirWatch

Oracle bought Bitzer to gain access to enterprise mobility management (EMM) software, and then turned around to embrace AirWatch, a unit of VMware that provides EMM as a service. In the hot mobile market, relationships are fluid.

thumbnail Michael Vizard

Michael Vizard is a seasoned IT journalist, with nearly 30 years of experience writing and editing about enterprise IT issues. He is a writer for publications including Programmableweb, IT Business Edge, CIOinsight, Channel Insider and UBM Tech. He formerly was editorial director for Ziff-Davis Enterprise, where he launched the company’s custom content division, and has also served as editor in chief for CRN and InfoWorld. He also has held editorial positions at PC Week, Computerworld and Digital Review.

Recommended for you...

Video: How Scale Computing and Velasea Power 6,000+ Surveillance Cameras at Resorts World Las Vegas

Discover how Scale Computing and Velasea are transforming physical security with hyperconverged infrastructure powering 6,000+ cameras at Resorts World Las Vegas.

Katie Bavoso
Jul 25, 2025
Video: How Simply NUC and Scale Computing Are Powering the Edge with Future-Proofed Hardware

Discover how Simply NUC and Scale Computing are powering innovation at the edge with future-ready hardware and virtualization software.

Katie Bavoso
Jul 23, 2025
Video: Breaking Down the new ThinkEdge SE100 from Lenovo and Scale Computing

Discover how Lenovo and Scale Computing are partnering to deliver hyperconverged, AI-ready edge solutions that drive innovation across retail, manufacturing, education and more.

Katie Bavoso
Jul 22, 2025
Video: Q2 2025 Channel Insights and Trends with the Channel Insider Editorial Team

A fast-paced editorial recap of Q2 2025 in the IT channel covering leadership shakeups at Kaseya, layoffs at Intel, federal obstacles pausing major acquisitions, AI adoption slowdowns, quantum security threats, evolving partner programs, and global economic tensions.

Katie Bavoso
Jul 17, 2025
Channel Insider Logo

Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.