Dimension Data, Internet Solutions expand cloud services to SA

Dimension Data and Internet Solutions have introduced a comprehensive portfolio of cloud computing services across the South African region, offering companies a flexible and cost-efficient new way of procuring computing resources. The companies also announced the launch of its Managed Cloud Platform (MCP), a pre-integrated and fully-managed foundation for global cloud delivery, in Johannesburg.

Dimension Data's and Internet Solutions' cloud services allow companies in the region to easily and securely access on-demand computer processing power, memory and storage through a cloud computing model. The service accommodates companies looking to operate their own private clouds in addition to those that prefer to buy public cloud services.

The cloud offering simplifies planning, design, deployment and management of private, public and hybrid clouds, enabling organisations to increase business responsiveness and reduce complexity. Dimension Data's MCP and CloudControl cloud management system automate the provisioning, orchestration, administration and billing of cloud-based resources.

“Although the concept of private and public cloud computing is not new, the joint effort by Dimension Data and Internet Solutions presents a customisable set of solutions and a flexible approach to buying and consuming IT services for corporate clients across the Middle East and Africa region,” says Greg Hatfield, GM for Cloud Services at Dimension Data Middle East and Africa.

The benefits of the cloud computing offering to corporate IT users include lower capital expenditure, reduced IT infrastructure management costs, and the ability to roll out new applications and services faster. One of the biggest advantages of cloud computing for organisations is the fact that it allows them to launch to market quicker with new applications and services to respond faster to market needs.

“In the public cloud model, organisations consume cloud services that are securely hosted at an Internet Solutions data centre. The public cloud service enables organisations to reduce costs and operational complexity,” says Greg Montjoie, Executive for Cloud Services at Internet Solutions.

Dimension Data's private cloud offering provides cloud infrastructure as a dedicated service either at the client's data centre or hosted at Internet Solutions. This service includes the cloud infrastructure, implementation, cloud orchestration and automation technology, and ongoing management by Dimension Data.

With Dimension Data's CloudControl cloud management system, clients can manage public and private cloud services through a Web-based self-service interface and API, making it simple for them to control and configure their computing resources.

Dimension Data and Internet Solutions are also making private and public cloud services available to service providers wanting to resell these offerings under their own brand. The billing and administration tools are designed to make it easy for service providers to bill clients for cloud services.

Dimension Data and Internet Solutions are well positioned to jointly offer cloud services as part of a turnkey IT solution that includes communications services, data centre products and services, and cloud as a single managed service. This enables companies to comfortably outsource the risk and complexity of IT to a single solutions provider.

Note to editors

In June 2011, Dimension Data announced the formation of a Cloud Solutions Business Unit to accelerate its cloud strategy and the acquisition of OpSource, an enterprise cloud and managed hosting provider. In December 2011, Dimension Data announced the completion of its acquisition of BlueFire, a managed and cloud IT and telecommunications services company.