The new CompTIA Channel Standards program, available at no cost, was announced at the CompTIA annual member meeting of top IT industry executives.

“These standards will provide channel partners and channel companies with blueprints for best practices within the IT channel and undoubtedly lead to a stronger, healthier industry as a whole,” said Nancy Hammervik, Senior Vice President, Industry Relations, CompTIA.

“The introduction of CompTIA Channel Standards is a testimony to the larger role CompTIA and its members play in advancing the IT industry and inspiring minds around the world to do more, learn more and be more.”

Hammervik  said, as the next evolution of CompTIA’s well-regarded Trustmarks program, the CompTIA Channel Standards were developed in collaboration with IT professionals, industry thought leaders, and technology experts. They include an extensive library of principles and best practices for improving the relevance, quality and consistency of service delivery within the IT industry, and are designed to help businesses and IT professionals alike establish specific performance requirements for continual process improvement.

Moheb Moses, director, Channel Dynamics, and ANZ Community Director, CompTIA, said CompTIA exists to help channel companies achieve “high business performance”.  “Formalising these standards gives businesses in Australia and New Zealand a benchmark to assess their own performance, helping them continue to innovate. They also provide a reference for customers to ensure they are getting the best service.”

The first in a series of CompTIA Channel Standards is the IT Solution Provider Standard - available this month, the new IT Solution Provider Standard provides channel partners with a systematic guide to becoming a trusted IT advisor, outlining business practices for the core operational, management and delivery functions of an IT services firm. Included in the written documentation and training is a standards workbook providing an overview of best practices for each standard.

Moses said that throughout 2016, CompTIA will introduce additional Channel Standards focused on managed services, managed print services, cybersecurity and cloud computing.

CompTIA Channel Standards are available to CompTIA registered users, premier members and non-members at no cost.

“We’re making these important tools available to everyone as a guide for process improvement and differentiation,” Hammervik said.

“By taking an ‘open book’ approach, CompTIA is empowering the IT channel with the knowledge and ability to see an immediate and positive change in their business that will spread throughout the industry and extend to the customers they serve.”