Sasfin selects Symetrix to support critical technology infrastructure

Independent South African banking and financial services group, Sasfin, has entrusted the care of its storage area network (SAN), server and desktop environments to Symetrix Information Technologies, a provider of outsourced technology solutions to the South African market. The financial services giant has also purchased is Microsoft Select licensing package through Symetrix.

The Sasfin Group is a JSE-listed group that has been in business for more than 50 years. Sasfin provides focused solutions to private, commercial and corporate clients.

According to Craig Munitz, marketing and sales director at Symetrix, the company has signed a three-year Microsoft Select licensing agreement to provide Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 products to Sasfin, and will also provide support for the Group's Compaq servers, SAN and desktop environment.

"The flexibility of the services we offer, which includes tailor-made service level agreements, as well as our willingness to do business in a way that suits the client, played a significant part in closing this deal," he comments.

Sasfin CIO Peter Oeschger says the company falls within three highly regulated environments owing to the diversity of its operations in the financial services sector. "Our technology infrastructure, which comprises some 500 desktops, 70 servers and a Compaq StorageWorks SAN, is absolutely critical to the day-to-day running of the business.

"We must also meet stringent regulation requirements with the Financial Services Board, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank all demanding compliance," he explains.

Because of these stringent business and regulatory requirements, Oeschger says the company sought a partner that would recognise and respond to the consequence of downed systems.

"With Symetrix, we have experienced service that is up to standard, which was lacking from our previous service provider. Sasfin insists on rapid response times, and flexibility in terms of the service level agreements for various components of our technology infrastructure. Symetrix has consistently delivered on a six-hour turnaround time, which I believe is quite unique in SA," says Oeschger.

He notes that some outsource service providers measure response time. "Response is simply not good enough; it's the turnaround time that counts, especially where high availability is absolutely critical to the running of the business," he explains.

In terms of the Microsoft licensing deal, Oeschger reveals that not all service providers charge similarly for what he describes as "essentially buying paper". "We have had the unfortunate experience where other solution providers have attempted to overcharge for the Microsoft licensing packages," he says.

When buying licensing, Oeschger stresses that the value-add that companies like his are looking for is in consulting and recommendation, following up and managing the licensed environment to ensure full compliance with the vendor policy. "Microsoft offers standard pricing, but there are big variables in the market. Companies should therefore choose their supplier carefully, as the costs involved are significant; you're looking at R3 million to R4 million with 500 desktops upward," he says.

In a highly competitive technology services market, Symetrix continues to win valuable deals by providing service excellence without putting a premium on its pricing structures. Comments Munitz: "The basic principles of business still apply in the technology industry - provide a focused service at a price that the customer can justify. This approach, and our ability to respond with agility and flexibility to the complex needs of customers like Sasfin, will continue to drive our business model," he concludes.