Dimension Data, a global ICT services and solutions provider, today announced the availability of its Cloud Services for Microsoft in South Africa and across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
Dimension Data’s Cloud Services for Microsoft is a private cloud offering comprising managed Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and Microsoft Lync 2010 hosted in a managed private cloud environment. The Group plans to offer the service in Australia, India and an additional eight countries, expanding availability based on client demand.
Dimension Data’s new offering is part of the group’s cloud services strategy announced earlier this year. Based on Microsoft’s productivity solutions, cloud services for Microsoft provides a private, single-tenant cloud environment hosted within Dimension Data’s Managed Cloud Platform (MCP).
“Dimension Data has really demonstrated the ability to understand Microsoft cloud technologies and is poised to drive further business opportunity in today’s cloud era,” said Mteto Nyati, managing director at Microsoft SA. “This offering merely enhances its proven ability to implement solutions that solve today’s customers’ business challenges using cloud services.”
By leveraging the offering, enterprises will realise the productivity benefits of Microsoft’s unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) suite, while reducing the cost and risk of managing underlying infrastructure and applications. Dimension Data’s approach provides a customisable and secure managed private cloud solution that maintains data sovereignty and control.
“Hosting this offering on our Johannesburg-based Managed Cloud Platform (MCP) enables Dimension Data to offer enterprises across the Middle East and Africa region the ability to kick start their journey to the cloud with the security, compliance and customisation they require,” said Bradley Bunch, General Manager: Microsoft Solutions, Dimension Data South Africa.
Bunch added that by offering clients managed productivity solutions in a private cloud environment, Dimension Data is removing the barriers that previously inhibited some organisations from placing key business services in the cloud.
Maximising existing investments in technology is a key consideration for enterprises as they transition to the cloud. Organisations with existing investments in Microsoft technology can take advantage of the Licence Mobility through Software Assurance option to repurpose their SharePoint 2010, Exchange Server 2010 and Lync 2010 licences.
Dimension Data will take advantage of this licensing option so that clients can move to the cloud on their own schedule, without waiting for existing agreements to expire or purchasing duplicate licences.
Dimension Data’s Cloud Services for Microsoft allow clients to maintain the control they need to perform routine tasks through a self-service portal that automates provisioning, orchestration and management of the applications and underlying infrastructure.
The service leverages the group’s CloudControl cloud management system and Microsoft System Center. With deep Microsoft expertise and the highest levels of Microsoft certification, Dimension Data also provides systems integration and data migration services.
