Industry leader Internet Solutions has launched its highly reliable and cost-effective managed hosting service, based on Microsoft technologies, offering customers the opportunity to reduce their IT spend, while at the same time removing customer responsibility of managing their servers. Within the first month of its launch, three top South African blue chip companies have signed up for the service.
The managed hosting service eliminates the client`s need to manage the day-to-day operations of their hosted servers. Managed hosting services make use of best practices as set out by the internationally-based Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). These standards are applied when installing the servers as well as managing them and ensuring maximum uptime and reliability from your IT systems.
Managed hosting services also removes the client`s responsibility of having to install patches and upgrades, which ensures that the software on the server is always running optimally with reduced security risks. Through this continuous monitoring, Internet Solutions ensures that any potential problems are managed and rectified in the pursuit to maintain consistent uptime for clients.
Products that Internet Solutions proactively monitors on a daily basis include:
Microsoft Windows Server Operating Systems: This is a multipurpose network operating system for businesses of all sizes. It allows users to run business applications reliably and securely; share files and printers easily; and build Web applications and connect to the Internet.
Microsoft Internet Information Services: As a Web server, Internet Information Services (IIS) provides integrated, reliable, scalable, secure and manageable capabilities over an intranet, the Internet, or an extranet. IIS is a tool for creating a strong communications platform of dynamic network applications.
Microsoft SQL Server: SQL Server, a database management server, provides innovative capabilities that increase employee effectiveness, and integrate heterogeneous IT ecosystems. SQL Server provides the enterprise data management platform that enable organisations to adapt quickly in a fast-changing environment. SQL Server supports the rapid development of enterprise-class business applications. Benchmarked for scalability, speed and performance, SQL Server is a fully enterprise-class database product, providing core support for Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Internet queries.
"The advantages of the managed hosting service are numerous. Internet Solutions uses management processes that extend the monitoring into the actual applications, thus providing performance and capacity measures for the applications running on the leased server," says Greg Payne, General Manager of IS hosting.
The product took a year to develop. "We wanted to ensure that we had the right processes and change management in place." says Payne. To ensure that the product would comply with world standards, IS contracted international consultants, who conducted a thorough audit of the people, processes and technical abilities of the company. Best practice results were achieved by IS, thus confirming that the product can indeed compete internationally.
"We are excited about the benefits that this service will provide customers. Internet Solutions continues to demonstrate its dedication and commitment to delivering innovative and dependable Internet solutions and services. This service marks a significant step for Web service technologies, providing real business value and agility to customers," says Cyril Belikoff, telecommunications industry manager at Microsoft South Africa.
The latest research report from BMI-TechKnowledge states that Internet Solutions leads the field in complex managed hosting in terms of complex managed Web hosting services in SA. "We currently enjoy a 57% market share," says Payne. "Our closest competitor is at 7%, indicating our strength in this market sector. The latest innovations in managed hosting further enrich our leadership position in this segment of the market," he concludes.
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Established in 1993 as the country`s first commercial Internet service provider, IS has grown in stature and today attracts 80% of SA`s top 250 listed companies. IS remains the leading ISP with a market share of over 50%. Probably one of the country`s most successful post apartheid companies, IS has expanded from being a pure Internet connectivity provider to an innovative and pioneering business with services that include Internet access, VPNs, hosting, dial-up, security and business gateway solutions. Testimony to its recognition as a market leader IS has earned an impressive collection of awards, which includes eight First National Bank "Most Admired" awards, Professional Management Review silver and golden arrow awards and even a Loerie award for its design work.
Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.
If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft South Africa, please visit the Microsoft Web page at www.microsoft.com, or the South Africa home page at http://www.microsoft.com/southafrica/.
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