Modification: IBM Security Solutions Certification Requirements

Transcription

1 IBM PartnerWorld > News > IBM letters > IBM letters United States and Canada Modification: IBM Security Solutions Certification Requirements Announcement Letter Number August 24, 2010 Overview Effective August 24, 2010, IBM Global Technology Services and IBM Software Group are making the following changes: For IBM Business Partners authorized to sell IBM Security Solutions (formerly known as IBM Internet Security Systems), IBM Security Solutions certification requirements are waived for Business Partners also authorized to sell IBM Tivoli Security and Compliance products. IBM Security Solutions certifications are now included in the IBM Software Group Tivoli Security and Compliance Reseller Authorization Group certifications. Eligible Business Partners IBM Business Partner -- Solution Providers and Resellers who acquire products and/or services directly from IBM IBM Business Partner -- Solution Providers and Resellers who acquire products and/or services from a Distributor IBM Business Partner -- Distributors IBM Business Partner -- Systems Integrators IBM Business Partner --Services IBM Business Partner -- Collaborative Services Description For IBM Business Partners authorized to sell IBM Security Solutions (formerly known as IBM Internet Security Systems), IBM Security Solutions certification requirements

2 are waived for Business Partners also authorized to sell IBM Tivoli Security and Compliance products. Business Partners authorized to sell IBM Security Solutions products and IBM Tivoli Security and Compliance products are not required to attain any additional IBM Security Solutions certifications in order to sell IBM Security Solutions products. All Software Value Plus (SVP) requirements must be met to resell Tivoli Security and Compliance products. See the following link for details: ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/svp_authorized_portfolio_apply IBM Security Solutions certifications are now included in the IBM Software Group Tivoli Security and Compliance Reseller Authorization Group certifications. IBM Security Solutions certifications now qualify under the IBM Tivoli Security and Compliance Reseller Authorization Group. IBM Software Group Business Partners looking to receive authorization to resell Tivoli Security and Compliance products may now apply completed IBM Security Solutions certifications toward meeting their certification requirements as part of the Software Value Plus (SVP) and Software Value Incentive (SVI) programs. The addition of the IBM Security Solutions certifications to the Tivoli Security and Compliance Group allows IBM Business Partners that have made investments in IBM Security Solutions certifications to apply those toward obtaining authorization to resell the Tivoli Security and Compliance products. Although the IBM Security Solutions certifications have been added to the Tivoli Security and Compliance Group certification, the IBM Security Solutions product set does not yet qualify for the SVP program. The IBM Security Solutions certifications and PartnerWorld codes are listed below. IBM Security Solutions Certifications PartnerWorld Skill Code Technical IBM Internet Security Systems Technical V1 Exam: Sales IBM Internet Security Systems Sales Professional V1 Exam: M Learn about the IBM Security Solutions Certifications at the following PartnerWorld link: IBM Professional Certification exams are administered throughout North America by Prometric. Individuals may enroll for specific exams by calling Prometric at or online:

3 Availability Offerings referenced in this announcement are currently available. Administrative instructions Solution Providers and Resellers who acquire products or services from a Distributor should contact their Distributor for more information. Ordering information Information to become authorized to resell IBM Tivoli Security and Compliance products can be found on PartnerWorld: ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/svp_authorized_portfolio_apply Information to become authorized to resell IBM Security Solutions products can be found on PartnerWorld: Terms and conditions Solution Providers and Resellers who acquire products and services from an IBM Distributor should contact their Distributor for more information. The following certification requirements apply to all IBM Business Partners acquiring IBM Security Solutions directly from IBM: Minimum certification requirements by Business Partner relationship type. Business Partner Sales Certification Technical Certification Relationship Requirement Requirement Solution Provider 2 2 Reseller 2 2 Systems Integrator 1 1 Distributor 2 2 The following certification requirements apply to all IBM Business Partners acquiring IBM Security Solutions from a Distributor: Minimum certification requirements by Business Partner relationship type: Business Partner Sales Certification Technical Certification Relationship Requirement Requirement Solution Provider 1 1 Reseller 1 1 Certification Reporting

4 Designated sales mastery and technical certifications must be reported by candidate ID to IBM, as required by IBM Security Solutions. The Authorized Profile Administrator (APA) at each Business Partner firm is responsible for reporting certification achievement on behalf of firm employees into the IBM PartnerWorld Profiling System (PPS). Please refer to the following URL to report certification achievement: Employee Movement Business Partners must advise IBM within 30 days whenever certified employees leave the firm and the firm no longer meets the minimum certification requirements for IBM Security Solutions products and services. The Authorized Profile Administrator (APA) at each Business Partner firm must report Employee Movement to IBM through the IBM PartnerWorld Profiling System (PPS) in the Employee Profile Employee End Date Field. If a certified employee leaves and the Business Partner no longer meets the certification requirement, the following applies: a) If the Business Partner notifies IBM of the Employee Movement within the 30 day window, the Business Partner has three months from the employee's last work day to again meet the certification requirement to maintain approval for the affected IBM product. As soon as the departing employee is replaced, the APA at the firm must immediately report certification achievement into PPS prior to the three month grace period or risk losing IBM approval to sell the IBM ISS products and services. No additional time is added beyond the three month grace period. The firm may continue to acquire and market IBM products during the three-month period. Business Partner firms that have lost either approval to market IBM Security Solutions or approval for their IBM relationship for not meeting IBM Security Solutions exam requirements may reapply for approval to market the products or for approval for a new relationship of the same type as the lost one as soon as the required training is successfully completed. Firms reapplying for a new relationship of the same type as the lost one must meet all other selection criteria requirements at their time of reapplication. Details on reporting your employee s mastery test and certification achievement are available at the following URL: b) If the Business Partner fails to notify IBM of the Employee Movement within the 30 days of an employee's last workday, the Business Partner forfeits the three-month grace period, and IBM reserves the right to deauthorize or terminate, with notice, the Business Partner's agreement to sell IBM Security Solutions. Business Partners that are deauthorized or terminated for not meeting IBM Security Solutions certification requirements may reapply for a new relationship of the same type as the one lost as soon as the required certification is successfully completed. Firms reapplying for a new relationship of the same type as the lost one must meet all other selection criteria requirements at their time of reapplication.

5 Additional details on reporting Employee Movement are available at the following URL: Business Partners authorized to sell IBM Security Solutions products and IBM Tivoli Security and Compliance products Business Partners authorized to sell IBM Security Solutions products and IBM Tivoli Security and Compliance products are not required to attain any additional IBM Security Solutions certifications in order to sell IBM Security Solutions products. New Business Partners authorized to sell IBM Security Solutions New Business Partner firms must meet certification requirements within six months of their contract effective date as an IBM Business Partner in order to continue selling IBM Security Solutions. Business Partner compliance with certification requirements will be reviewed periodically and at each anniversary of the Business Partner's Agreement. Business Partners authorized to sell IBM Security Solutions prior to June 2, 2009 Business Partners authorized to sell IBM Security Solutions prior to establishment of the certification requirement on June 2, 2009, must attain the required certifications based on their relationship before October 1, Additional information IBM Security Solutions Certifications Business Partner Announcement Letter , dated June 2, 2009, contains the original introduction of IBM Security Solutions certification requirements and Business Partner Announcement Letter , dated March 12, 2010, extended the certification deadline for those Business Partners authorized prior to June 2, Instructions below will assist in completing and reporting the IBM Security Solutions Certifications: 1. IBM Security Solutions Certification Education: IBM Security Solutions Technical Certification education: IBM Security Solutions Sales Mastery Training education: When taking the on-line education, the 'additional' information links in the online training contains important information that will be covered on the tests. Want to take a practice test? Take the assessment (ie-practice) tests on Prometrics' Prime Web site: ibt.prometric.com/ibm You will need a Prime user id and password to take the online assessments. On

6 Prime, specify the product area as "Internet Security Systems," and then select either the M50 Sales Mastery or the 530 Technical test assessment. When taking an assessment online, you will be prompted to pay by credit card. 2. IBM Security Solutions Certification Testing The IBM Security Solutions Certifications are proctored tests and you can schedule certification tests at a Prometric location convenient for you: You will need a Prometrics user id and password to schedule taking the tests. When scheduling a test in the Prometric s center, you will be prompted to pay by credit card. 3. IBM Security Solutions Certification Reporting After successfully completing the IBM Security Solutions Certifications, you will need to report the certifications by updating your PartnerWorld profile. The following link provides information on reporting certifications in PartnerWorld: IBM PartnerWorld user id and password are required to access. Contact PartnerWorld Contact Services at or [email protected] if you need assistance. Learn about the IBM Security Solutions Certifications at the following PartnerWorld link: If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Business Partner Certification team at [email protected]. You may also contact your IBM Global Services Channel Sales Representative, Distributor, or visit the IBM Security Solutions contacts page on PartnerWorld for a list of IBM Security Solutions Channel Account Managers at: Trademarks (TM) Trade-mark owned by International Business Machines Corporation and is used under license by IBM Canada Ltd. Registered trade-mark of International Business Machines Corporation and is used under license by IBM Canada Ltd. (**) Company, product or service name may be a trade-mark or service mark of others.