Arrow Electronics’ ArrowSphere Cloud now includes IBM Storage Protect for Cloud for EMEA
Arrow Electronics has expanded its agreement with IBM to offer IBM Storage Protect for Cloud to its channel partners across Europe, the Middle East and Africa through the ArrowSphere Cloud platform, marking a significant deepening of their long-standing collaboration. The move, effective immediately, gives partners across the EMEA region access to IBM’s SaaS-based data protection platform, which they can bundle and deliver as part of broader multi-vendor solutions.
According to Mike Worby, head of strategic alliances of Arrow’s enterprise computing solutions business in EMEA, the extended agreement reflects Arrow’s strategy to enable partners to build, deliver and scale multi-vendor cloud solutions from a single platform. “This approach aligns with how customers want to buy and consume technology today, with a growing preference for flexible, integrated solutions delivered through a streamlined digital experience,” he said. Rose Renck, vice president and global managing director at IBM, added that working with Arrow allows IBM to expand the availability of Storage Protect for Cloud across EMEA, empowering channel partners to deliver robust data protection capabilities and a more flexible, modern digital experience.
Comprehensive data protection for SaaS workloads
IBM Storage Protect for Cloud is a comprehensive multi-workload data protection platform designed specifically to safeguard business-critical SaaS data. The solution offers automated backup and granular restore capabilities, enabling organisations to recover specific data points quickly. It is built to protect against data loss caused by cyber threats, human error or service disruption, supporting modern cloud environments while helping organisations maintain business continuity and meet growing security and compliance requirements such as GDPR and CPRA. The platform is delivered as a Software-as-a-Service offering, requiring no installation and minimal configuration.
Key features include multi-workload protection for popular SaaS applications such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and Salesforce. The solution also incorporates robust security measures including encryption, threat detection, centralised management and role-based access controls. IBM positions Storage Protect for Cloud as part of a broader data protection portfolio that includes the Guardium family of products for data security posture management (DSPM), which was enhanced through IBM’s acquisition of Polar Security in May 2023.
For channel partners, the availability of IBM Storage Protect for Cloud on ArrowSphere Cloud is designed to accelerate delivery and scalability. Partners can access, bundle and deliver the solution as part of integrated multi-vendor offerings, enabling them to move faster, scale more efficiently and build predictable, recurring revenue streams. The API-enabled nature of the solution allows it to integrate seamlessly within ArrowSphere Cloud, simplifying deployment and operations for partners while providing end customers with strengthened data resilience in cloud environments.
ArrowSphere Cloud: a single platform for multi-vendor solutions
ArrowSphere Cloud is the underlying platform that supports the design, delivery and lifecycle management of cloud and software solutions. It provides channel partners with a digital catalogue of cloud technologies and services from leading vendors, alongside tools for billing, provisioning and subscription management. The platform enables partners to build multi-vendor solutions, simplify operations and scale their cloud businesses across EMEA. First unveiled in 2012 as a cloud services aggregation and brokerage platform for the European solution provider community, ArrowSphere has evolved significantly, incorporating embedded AI capabilities. These AI tools allow partners to work more effectively with their data, identify new opportunities and streamline day-to-day processes across sales, operations and lifecycle management. Arrow has also introduced custom AI assistants that leverage partner and vendor data to improve efficiency and accelerate time-to-market.
The platform’s role in the expanded agreement reflects a broader industry shift towards digital-first procurement and delivery models, with global public cloud spending projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2027. Arrow itself is undergoing a strategic transformation from a pure distribution model to a technology solutions provider, focusing on value-added services, cloud and digital offerings. The company reported full-year 2025 sales of $30.9 billion, up 10% year-on-year, with fourth-quarter 2025 sales reaching $8.7 billion, a 20% increase. Nearly one-third of its Enterprise Computing Solutions billings now come from recurring revenue, and the company has been actively integrating AI across its operations. Arrow also received the ‘Distributor of the Year 2025’ award at the Check Point Software EMEA Partner Awards and four awards from Broadcom in 2025 for its performance in the security ecosystem.
The agreement is effective immediately, with IBM Storage Protect for Cloud now available to Arrow channel partners across EMEA through ArrowSphere Cloud.
