F5 Networks, the global leader in application delivery networking (ADN), recently announced the launch of the GUARDIAN Professional Services Partner Programme. The programme expands F5’s UNITY Partner Programme, to provide additional benefits for partners with consulting and professional services capabilities in conjunction with authorisation tier requirements. 
The GUARDIAN Professional Services Partner Programme is a capability-based programme designed to recognise partner investments in the skills required for successful deployment of F5 technologies.
The programme helps partners drive deeper sales engagements, higher margins, and more strategic customer relationships. Benefits of the GUARDIAN Professional Services Programme are centred on education, sales enablement, and promotion to the market.
“The GUARDIAN Professional Services Programme demonstrates our continued commitment to channel partners who excel in implementing and optimising F5 solutions to deliver high value to customers,” says Dean Darwin, senior VP, Worldwide Partner Organisation at F5.
“With the programme, channel organisations with deep expertise in F5 solutions are recognised and rewarded for their skills and are in position to offer customers new consulting services, creating additional revenue opportunities and deepening customer engagement.”
The programme consists of four authorisation tiers: Installation Provider; Advanced Implementation Provider; Application Security Provider; and Optimisation Provider.
For each tier, the F5 partner must meet UNITY Programme tier requirements and have a required number of personnel certified at the appropriate level within the F5 Professional Certification Programme.
GUARDIAN partners have access to best practices, support in creating packaged offerings, on-request assistance from F5 Professional Services, early availability of F5 product technical training, and discounts on training and certification exams.
To ensure that the GUARDIAN Programme provides value to our partners, F5 conducted a year-long design and pilot phase to garner feedback and key insights from top F5 partners around the world.
To make certain it will continue to provide significant value to F5 partners and customers, the programme includes key performance indicators and governance specifications focused on driving excellent customer and partner satisfaction, as well as increased awareness for member organisations.