AWS and VMWare rolling out integrated partner program

At the AWS Re:Invent conference, AWS announced ways it's making its already fast-growing partner ecosystem more robust. Just over a month after announcing its key strategic partnership with VMware, Amazon Web Services on Tuesday announced that the two companies will be rolling out an integrated partner program in 2017. The announcement came during the keynote address of the Global Partner Summit at the AWS Re:Invent conference in Las Vegas, where several other enhancements to the partner program were announced. Terry Wise, director of the Amazon Web Services worldwide partner ecosystem, announced AWS is launching a new public sector public program. Calling it an extension of AWS' work in the public sector, Wise said there will be more go-to-market funding and that it is extending the program to partners in the nonprofit and educational institutions as well. More than 400 partners already qualify, including software companies like Okta and consulting partners like Booze Allen Hamilton. AWS also announced a service called the Partner Solutions Finder, to help connect customers with AWS partners with specific competencies, such as migration, big data or IoT, or partners with a specific focus such as on Amazon's Aurora or Lambda. "Once a customer finds the solution they're looking for, they simply click connect and they'll connect with you," explained Mike Clayville, vice president for AWS worldwide marketing. He called it a great "facilitator" of business that will help AWS and its partners deliver better business value together. Meanwhile, AWS announced the launch of its IoT competency, as well as a financial services competency. Additionally, the company the Amazon API Gateway now integrates with the AWS Marketplace.