While smaller companies can get away with open-source Docker solutions delivered with some advisory help from partners, Hohman said, larger enterprises face a more serious production struggle that necessitates the commercial product as they look to implement a continuous integration/continuous delivery pipeline.

"In bigger enterprises, folks understand the value of the commercial support and the value of the product itself," Hohman said.

The two-tier program is a sign of Docker's technological maturity and market adoption.

"If you only have a few partners, there's very little need to differentiate. But if you have the big boys talking to Docker as they are, like federal SIs and big global systems integrators, those guys are asking for differentiation," Hohman said.

But the new channel program doesn't only benefit those "big boys."

"For my company, we're betting our business on Docker, so these sorts of programs are critical for us because it's going to differentiate between people who are investing and not investing," he said.

In addition, the virtual portal the program introduces will be a boon for regional consulting partners like BoxBoat looking to keep their staffs trained and certified without spending exorbitantly on travel, according to Hohman.

Docker's Geary told CRN the partner base the program is looking to attract are "those that want to take that next step and implement an enterprise platform fully integrated and tested and supported by Docker."

While many more consulting partners are currently stitching together open-source Docker solutions and offering services on top, over time that model will find it difficult to keep pace with the rate of innovation.

"It's not hardened, tested, supported by Docker," Geary told CRN. "I think quickly customers will migrate to the enterprise platform, which is Docker Datacenter."