Johannesburg, 06 Sep 2010
The Integr8 Group, the largest privately owned BEE ICT managed services company on the African continent, has been appointed as ICT services provider and support partner to Curro Holdings, the parent company of all Curro Private Schools. First on the list of projects has been the integration of technology to enhance the institution's communication infrastructure, strategy and management.
Curro Holdings is a recognised provider of private school education in South Africa. The company operates and manages an established national network of private schools that includes Bankenveld in Witbank, Durbanville, Hazeldean in Pretoria, Hermanus, Langebaan, Roodeplaat in Pretoria, Serengeti Academy in Serengeti Estate near Kempton Park, and Helderwyk in Brakpan.
The Curro model is characterised by a high curriculum standard from pre-primary to Grade 12 and is designed to create a child-friendly environment conducive to creativity and positive discipline.
This model caters for both English and Afrikaans speaking learners, who are placed in separate classes. Learners who are in their final year complete their Matriculation examination in accordance with the Independent Examinations Board.
The focus of Curro Holdings is to establish new schools and to continue to provide this growing network of private education institutions with the support of an experienced management team.
Part of this focus includes information communication technology strategy and application. This is where Integr8 has come on board as a trusted and experienced service provider.
Management at Curro Holdings required a secure, cost effective solution that would link all schools onto one network. Additionally there was also a requirement for a centralised co-located hosting solution to remove dependencies on their Telkom infrastructure at head office.
The success of the project hinged on a proactive response from a service provider and the integration of a holistic, comprehensive technology solution. Curro Holdings required a platform that would address a number of critical issues, including e-mail management, as well as offer the benefits of active directory services and a virtual private network.
Experts at the Integr8 conferred with client management and immediately set about linking the education institution to the Nerve Centre operation. This hi-tech remote service and support centre ensures that Integr8 is in a position to offer 24/7/365 managed ICT service and support.
This company epicentre offers all technical staff and client managers with a panoramic view of all clients and their infrastructure. This means that Integr8 team members are constantly connected to clients and can therefore troubleshoot and solve any challenges or issues before they impact on operations.
Flip Vorster, National IT Manager at Curro Holdings, said that from the outset the institution was impressed with Integr8's professional and structured approach in putting solutions forward.
“It was clear from our first meeting that this was a company that knew their business and could immediately match up our requirements with credible solutions,” he said.
Experts from Integr8 suggested the application of a combination of technologies that encompassed several key solutions. This includes an MPLS VPN solution, co-located hosting, Microsoft Exchange, an anti-spam solution, an e-mail archiving solution and offsite backup solution.
“We are in the process of implementing an MPLS VPN solution via MTN Business. Our client's current e-mail solution, a POP mail solution, is limited in functionality and does not provide them with adequate security or protection from spam, explains Robert Sussman, joint CEO, Integr8.
“We are busy with the integration of a complete Microsoft Exchange e-mail system together with Active Directory, as well as MailG8 Enterprise solution to address these issues. It offers complete e-mail content filtering and a 10-year e-mail archiving solution,” he adds.
Management at Curro Holdings has been pleased with both with the level of service as well as the quality of the solutions that are being integrated.
“To date Integr8 has been committed to the project and has more than justified its selection as services partner. Our investment in new solutions has ensured that we can communicate across our network instantly, effectively and will also eradicate spam and other security threats that have the potential to slow down or play havoc on our internal systems. Managed information and communication technology service is inextricably linked with the effective operation of any business today and this investment has reinforced our ability to compete in the market and continue to deliver education of the highest quality to communities throughout South Africa,” said Vorster.
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