Our AWS Partner Journey

Our AWS Partner Journey

Our AWS partner journey started at the end of 2018; since then, we have continuously improved our services and our relationship with AWS.

AWS recognized Heptabit as one of the best partners in the CEE region. Today, we can proudly say that we are one of the four biggest AWS partners in the CEE region.

Let's first talk about what APN is and what are the types of APN partners.

What is the AWS Partner Network (APN)?

The AWS Partner Network (APN) is the global partner program created by AWS; it gathers technology and consulting businesses that leverage Amazon Web Services to build solutions and services. The APN helps companies build, market, and sell their AWS offerings by providing valuable business, technical, and marketing support.

Types of APN Partners

APN Consulting Partners

AWS Consulting Partners are companies that help customers accelerate their journey to the cloud. These companies include system integrators, strategic consultancies, agencies, managed service providers (MSPs), and value-added resellers.

APN Technology Partners

APN Technology Partners provide hardware, connectivity services, or software solutions hosted on, or integrated with, the AWS Cloud.

Our AWS Journey

How We Started, and Why We Choose AWS?

Heptabit is a company with more than ten years of experience in providing high-end IT services. Since the beginning, we have been building our cloud solution called 'Hepta Cloud.' Hepta Cloud is built on top of VMware virtualization technology. It's a good solution for companies looking for a reliable cloud solution based in Croatia. All the hardware and data are kept in the datacenters in Croatia (Zagreb, Osijek).

For certain operations, our cloud solution is too small and not flexible enough; that's why we examined existing hyper-cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Without a doubt, AWS showed as the best global cloud solution.

AWS is the biggest hyper-cloud provider in the world. Compared to Google or Azure, AWS has the largest market share for over ten years in a row, and it has the most comprehensive network of worldwide data centers.

The Gartner magic quadrant clearly shows the dominant position of AWS compared to other cloud solutions.

AWS cloud includes more than 175 products and services, including computing, storage, networking, database, analytics, application services, deployment, management, mobile, developer tools, and tools for the Internet of Things.

After the initial analysis, we examined the current APN partners in the CEE region. Generally, AWS is not focused on having many partners; they appreciate a small number of highly focused, reliable, and high-quality partners. Based on our current knowledge, resources, and experience, we saw the opportunity to position ourselves as one of the leading AWS partners in this region. So, our journey began. At the end of 2018, we enrolled in APN as a consulting partner.

APN Tiers, Service Deliveries, and Solution Provider Program

Generally, consulting partners have three tiers (Select, Advanced, and Premiere), while Technology Partners have only two tiers (Select and Advanced). When a consulting partner first enrolls in APN, it needs to satisfy specific requirements before becoming a Select Partner.

We established strong relationships with AWS within our first year and continuously worked on satisfying Select tier criteria.

In June of 2019, we successfully met the criteria to become a Select Consulting Partner.

The picture shows APN Plaque we received as Select Consulting Partner.

In November of 2019, we became 'AWS Solution Provider.' The AWS Solution Provider Program is designed for systems integrators, managed service providers, value-added resellers, and public sector partners to resell AWS services to end customers as part of their solution.

In March of 2020, our Amazon Aurora MySQL-compatible edition Service was successfully accepted to the AWS Service Delivery Program. Services accepted to the AWS Service Delivery Program are audited by AWS. AWS checks the implementation procedures and overall service quality provided to the end customer. The services need to be delivered to rigorous AWS quality standards to be accepted into this program.

As a recognition of our hard work, in May of 2020, we became Amazon Advanced Consulting Partners. This achievement marked one of the most significant milestones for our company.

Win at AWS Migration Game Day in Budapest

On 12 of February, our three-person team was in Budapest at AWS Migration GameDay for Partners. Migration GameDay is a one-day interactive, team-based exercise about AWS migration created for AWS architects, administrators, and developers. Here, our team competed against six other teams from the region; they finished first with 26 170 points.

Next Steps

We will continue to build our AWS partnership; we are very focused on reaching the Premiere tier to differentiate ourselves even further. With the increase in tiers, we also receive additional benefits from AWS, such as inside knowledge into specialized services, marketing funds, and various sales opportunities. Our customers also benefit from our tier status because we provide services based on the high-quality standards set by AWS.

As an AWS advanced consulting partner, we can help you run a cost-effective and performance-efficient AWS cloud environment based on your specific needs.

If you want to know more about cloud migration, cloud technology in general, AWS cloud, or you want to try AWS services:

• visit our cloud migration service page;
• give us a call at +385 1 3141 562;
• contact our sales department at sales@sedmiodjel.com.

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