"CommVault® Often a Microsoft Launch Partner"; Interview with CommVault Chief Evangelist Randy DeMeno, Part 2 of 3

In part 1 of this interview series, Randy discussed CommVault® Systems' previous relationship with Microsoft and new reseller relationship through Sun. In this installment, Randy examines some of the specific benefits that customers can expect from these relationships.

Q. When you speak to your customers, what do you think that they appreciate most about the CommVault Microsoft relationship? What is the most tangible benefit that you think they see?

Randy: I hope the first thing they appreciate is we're speaking the same language, one that enhances and embraces the Microsoft operating system and applications. After that, I hope they realize our development teams are in close communication which is a key reason why CommVault is so often a launch partner for major Microsoft releases - like Windows 2000, Server 2003, Server 2008, 64-bit computing, Exchange 2000, 2003 and Exchange Server 2007, SharePoint, and so forth. We get involved with their early adopters and often it is their early adopters who give us suggestions for our solutions.

Q. How do you think that the market will accept a Windows server platform OEM'ed by Sun from Microsoft?

Randy: Once a customer looks at the capabilities and price-for-performance of the 64-bit Sun hardware, I think they'll forget about the brand. Customers will see the power of the combined solution, examining the overall performance of the solution and the functionality. It's a great fit of computing power with Windows software capability. It's going to surprise some people.

On a lighter note, if I was a long-time customer, it might be fun just to ask a representative from Sun to have a Microsoft representative join them on a sales call or vice versa. It was fun to watch the surprise in the Sun and Microsoft sales teams as the launch of Sun's OEM of Windows Server began. Get out the cameras and try to catch a Sun rep with a Microsoft logoed shirt or a Microsoft technical specialist with a Sun logo.

Q. What are the tangible customer benefits that you anticipate from the OEM of both CommVault and Microsoft technology, by Sun?

Randy: For over a decade Sun has had an overwhelming positive worldwide reputation for products, support and service among the Fortune-5000, scientific and large government environments. Sun will help spread the news about the great CommVault features and capabilities in our software. One simple example is the 26-city North American CommVault/Microsoft/Sun seminar series we are in the middle of. CommVault has presented to Sun's Data Management Ambassador group in an effort to prepare them to evangelize the CommVault features. One unique surprise could be what CommVault and Sun are working on for TechEd 2008. Sun is in a unique position to deliver the "1 Stop Shop" combined solution anywhere in the world and through their vast resellers.

Customers should also realize that Sun is a technical company first and it was their evaluation of CommVault's product that accelerated their move to resell CommVault.

Q. What's on the horizon for Microsoft technology? What exciting new developments affecting data storage management can we anticipate for 2008?

Randy: CommVault can't be in a position to specifically talk about a partner's future products. However, if I were on the outside looking in I would keep my eye on a few key technology areas. First, I'd keep an eye on search. Searching for data, based on content, is the new "paradigm." Now that CommVault is embedding the FAST indexing engine - yet another piece of Microsoft technology - it will be interesting to see how that is going to play strategically in the future. I'd also pay attention to the Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 new releases from Microsoft this year.

Part 3 of this interview will appear over the next few weeks. In the meantime, you can contact Randy directly at rdemeno@commvault.com.