Cornastone Enterprise Systems, the black-owned and managed enterprise solutions and services company, has signed a value-added reseller (VAR) partnership agreement with Stratus Technologies to provide a largely untapped market with vastly improved system availability and uptime for the Windows platform.
Kena Setshogoe, business development executive at Cornastone, says the Stratus partnership underscores Cornastone`s ability to provide customers with end-to-end solutions for the data centre.
"The partnership is a key differentiator for us. Not only does it make Cornastone one of the few companies competing in this space, but it also give us the option to deliver a true five-nines solution to customers who cannot afford to have unplanned IT service outages in their business," he says.
"With the ftServer range in our solution portfolio, Cornastone is well positioned to provide Windows-based systems that offer operational simplicity, continuous availability and clear financial advantage to those customers requiring uninterrupted operations," he adds.
The Stratus ftServer family uses a unique architecture to provide unmatched Windows availability. Cornastone will sell, install and support the Stratus ftServer range of products.
Dick Sharod, country manager at Stratus Technologies South Africa, says the partnership with Cornastone is a strategic fit for Stratus as it will enable Stratus to tap into an extensive, unexploited customer base.
"One of the key attractions to partnering with Cornastone - an empowered and well run business - is that the company has an important government presence which presents numerous opportunities for additional business.
"In addition, Cornastone`s expertise in selling medium to high-end systems is important as it will allow Stratus to further expand its footprint into key market sectors," he concludes.
Cornastone has already concluded its first deal in the public sector space using Stratus Technologies` proven ftServer ultra-high availability platform.
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Cornastone is a black owned company founded by two IT professionals and entrepreneurs with an extensive track record of delivering business value to stakeholders. Lufuno Nevhutalu, a founder of Yashu Solutions (Pty) Limited, before merging Yashu Solutions business interests into Computer Configurations Holdings Limited in 1998, brings entrepreneurship and proven business leadership skills.
Hamilton Ratshefola, a former IBM and CCH executive director, has extensive business leadership and sales experience. Hamilton led the IBM Public Sector business from a R30 million business in 1995 to a R300 million business in 1999.
BMI-T Forge Ahead and Black IT Forum honoured both Hamilton and Lufuno as members of Top 20 Black IT Professionals in SA in 1999.
In 2001, Cornastone was HP VAR of the Year with over R80 million of sales in HP enterprise infrastructure. In 2002, Cornastone was voted the ICT Top Achiever Company of the Year 2002 with sales around R100 million.
Cornastone has assembled an array of highly skilled professionals at management and technical level, with outstanding track records in sales and solutions delivery.
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