MSI Systems Integrators: Press Releases

MSI Systems Integrators Launches Cloud Solutions

marketing@msiinet.com — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:00:00 +0100

MSI Cloud Offering Includes Cloud TEC Briefing and Assessment Service

[OMAHA, NE - January 28, 2010] - MSI Systems Integrators (MSI), a leading comprehensive IT solution provider of hardware, software and services, today announced it will offer cloud solutions as part of its complete IT solutions portfolio. MSI's cloud offerings include an MSI Cloud Briefing through MSI's award-winning local Technology Enablement Centers (TEC) and a MSI Cloud Assessment service.

MSI's TEC Cloud Briefing helps companies explore cloud solution alternatives, assess best practices, and educate companies about cloud computing types and technologies. The MSI cloud assessment builds a roadmap and implementation plan for public, private, and hybrid cloud solutions. MSI experts can assess a company for cloud computing by understanding the company's technology portfolio and analyze the associated benefits, costs, feasibility, risks, technologies, and implementation paths.

"Imagine being able to control your computer expenses by turning on - and turning off - your computer enterprise, using servers and software only when you need them," said Phil Sauvageau, chief operating officer, MSI. "With cloud, you can allocate computing resources on-demand, provision and deprovision power as needed, and manage all your companies' units varying workloads and processes according to each one's unique requirements."

The initial step toward cloud technology often involves briefings to educate organizations on the cloud environment. From there, MSI conducts a business assessment to determine how well a cloud would meet an organization's needs, helps with due diligence and vendor selection, and facilitates all migration requirements. MSI can aid in designing and implementing the entire cloud solution, which includes procuring the most appropriate software from vendors like Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, VMware, and many others with whom MSI has partnering arrangements.

MSI's technical talent and key partnerships with top cloud vendors provide an ideal environment for comparing and contrasting cloud technologies such as IBM's BladeCenter CloudBurst, HP's BladeSystem Matrix, Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS), NetApp Virtual Dynamic Data Center, and VMware, Citrix, Novell, Symantec, Archer Technologies, and APC.

For more information about MSI cloud offerings, visit www.msiinet.com/services-support/cloud/.

About MSI Systems Integrators

MSI Systems Integrators is an IT integration firm that helps companies make their businesses better by providing IT optimization, virtualization, data center optimization, security, unified communications, and business continuity solutions. A leading provider of hardware, software, and services, MSI has deep technical skills and partners with technology leaders such as Cisco, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Symantec, and VMware to provide world-class business solutions that help companies be more efficient, dynamic, and resilient. MSI is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska with offices throughout the United States. For more information about MSI, please visit www.msiinet.com or call 800-640-4674, extension 2394.

MSI Systems Integrators Receives Certification to Become an Authorized Seller of IBM Passport Advantage Software

marketing@msiinet.com — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:00:00 +0100

MSI Meets Skills Requirements for the New IBM Software Value Plus Initiative

[OMAHA, NE - January 26, 2010] - MSI Systems Integrators (MSI), a leading comprehensive IT solution provider of hardware, software and services, today announced it has achieved certification to become an Authorized seller of IBM Passport Advantage software by meeting the skills requirements of the new IBM Software Value Plus initiative.

MSI offers industry-leading solutions to help organization develop and maintain a comprehensive software strategy. MSI's dedicated team of software solution specialists provide end-to-end solution, from consulting and development to implementation and integration. MSI has achieved both the sales and technical certifications from IBM in each of the initiatives which allow MSI the ability to offer its clients most of the IBM Software Value Plus solution offering.

The IBM Software Value Plus initiative is designed to meet the demands of clients who are looking to drive more value from their technology investments by working with trusted partners with proven skills to quickly and effectively implement new infrastructures. IBM Software Value Plus enables IBM Business Partners to set themselves apart by gaining key technical and industry skills necessary for smarter technology implementations that help clients achieve their business goals.

"IBM is committed to supporting an ecosystem of skilled partners that can provide the most value to our shared clients," said Sandy Carter, vice president, IBM Software Group Channels. "Business Partners who invest in the proper skills and expertise are well positioned to help clients achieve a faster return on investment over time."

"MSI is committed to world-class software solutions," said Michael Endelman, vice president of Software Business Development, MSI. "From workload optimization to software reviews, you can leverage MSI's software experience to capitalize on changes in software licensing models."

IBM Software Value Plus rewards Business Partners who invest in skills and expertise and are focused on delivering greater client value. Under the initiative, IBM software partners choose on which IBM software to build technical, marketing and sales skills, such as WebSphere, Information Management, Tivoli, Lotus, and Rational. Partners can become certified and authorized to sell these products across multiple industries.

For more information about IBM Software Value Plus, please visit www.ibm.com/partnerworld/softwarevalueplus.

About MSI Systems Integrators

MSI Systems Integrators Honored With HRAM Successful Practices Award

marketing@msiinet.com — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Award Recognized MSI's Summer Internship Program Success

[OMAHA, NE - December 11, 2009] - MSI Systems Integrators (MSI), a leading comprehensive IT solution provider of hardware, software, and services, announced today it was named winner of the Successful Practices Award by the Human Resources Association of the Midlands (HRAM). MSI won the award in the medium-sized employer category for its summer internship program.

The HRAM Successful Practices Award recognizes excellence in human resources practices and programs in six major functional areas of human resources. The categories include strategic management, workforce planning and development, human resource development, compensation and benefits, employment and labor relations, occupational health, and safety and security.

"We are honored to be recognized for the purpose and mission of our summer internship program," said Jon Breuning, EVP, corporate development and general counsel, MSI. "Our talent development is based on real professional experience with meaningful responsibilities and valuable feedback."

MSI has hired 51 interns since the program's inception. Since then, nine have been hired full time, and several others have returned for a second summer or are now part-time employees. MSI's internship program encourages talent development at earlier points in each employee's career path. Encouraging information exchange with executive-level management and providing mentoring opportunities is the basis for the program's success.

About MSI Systems Integrators

MSI Systems Integrators Earns HP Converged Infrastructure Elite Designation

marketing@msiinet.com — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:00:00 +0100

MSI to Deliver HP Converged Infrastructure Solutions to Clients

[OMAHA, NE - December 9, 2009] - MSI Systems Integrators (MSI), a leading comprehensive IT solution provider of hardware, software and services, has earned the HP PartnerONE Converged Infrastructure Elite designation -- the highest level of Solution Elite rewards and recognition for authorized HP channel partners. MSI earned this designation based on its expertise across the broad portfolio of HP Enterprise Business technologies and services.

The Converged Infrastructure Elite designation requirements include holding the FY 2010 Enterprise Storage, Services Sales and Virtualization Elite designations, and holding certifications for the Converged Infrastructure Maturity Model.

"The Converged Infrastructure Elite designation represents the mutual commitment and technical focus of our teams," said Jim Simpson, president and CEO, MSI. "We will continue to diligently look forward to the additional growth and technical opportunities with HP."

Through HP's Converged Infrastructure strategy, MSI will deliver the HP Converged Infrastructure and the next-generation data center in which adaptive systems and technologies are integrated. The new designation also allows MSI to provide its clients added value and savings by aligning solutions with business strategy.

About MSI Systems Integrators

MSI Systems Integrators Certified to Deliver HP Adaptive Infrastructure Maturity Model

marketing@msiinet.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Services Include Step-By-Step Roadmap

[OMAHA, NE - September 4, 2009] - MSI Systems Integrators (MSI), a leading comprehensive IT solution provider of hardware, software and services, today announced it has been certified to deliver the HP Adaptive Infrastructure Maturity Model (AIMM). HP AIMM is a review methodology pioneered by HP to help organizations move toward the next generation data center - a 24x7 lights-out environment based on standard building blocks and automated using modular software. HP business partners must complete a mandatory training program to deliver the HP AIMM assessment.

"The goal is to help MSI clients spend less and gain more from their IT operations by optimizing the use of their infrastructure," said Jim Simpson, president and CEO, MSI. "This assessment will give the client best of breed recommendations."

MSI will use this standard set of real-world metrics to provide a step-by-step roadmap for reaching its clients desired future state. Using benchmarks from 1,400 companies, MSI evaluates across four domains, including technology and architecture; management tools and processes; culture and staff; and demand, supply and IT governance. Those areas are then analyzed against five stages of maturity, ranging from a compartmentalized stage to an adaptive, shared infrastructure stage, to identify an actionable roadmap for the client organization.

The process includes data gathering, a review and analysis of information, and a workshop. A specific roadmap and recommendation report is provided by MSI and compares the current level of achievement to the average for other organizations.

About MSI Systems Integrators

MSI Systems Integrators Recognized by Cisco as Data Center Unified Computing Authorized Technology Provider

marketing@msiinet.com — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:00:00 +0100

MSI to Deploy and Support the Cisco Unified Computing System in the United States

[Omaha, NE - July 16, 2009] - MSI Systems Integrators, Inc. (MSI), a leading comprehensive solution provider of hardware, software, and services, announced today that it has achieved Data Center Unified Computing Authorized Technology Provider (ATP) status from Cisco. This designation recognizes MSI as having fulfilled the training and program prerequisites to sell, deploy and support the Cisco Unified Computing System in the United States.

The Cisco Unified Computing System unites network, computational, storage access, and virtualization resources in a single energy-efficient system that can reduce the costs and complexity of information technology (IT) infrastructure, help extend capital assets, and improve business agility well into the future. A new computing model, the Cisco Unified Computing System uses integrated management and combines a "wire once" unified fabric with an industry-standard computing platform to optimize virtualization, reduce the data center's total overall cost, and provide dynamic resource provisioning for businesses that are becoming increasingly collaborative, mobile and distributed.

"Achieving Unified Computing ATP is a credit to the quality of the engineering and sales specialists that make up our Networking team," said Jim Simpson, president and CEO, MSI. "The specializations recognize the quality of work and experience that MSI brings to the table when assisting clients with any of their networking needs."

"Taking advantage of an architectural shift in the data center, Cisco's new computing model can help customers transform the data center into a dynamic IT environment with the power to increase productivity, improve efficiency and drive virtualization to an entirely new level," said John Growdon, director, Worldwide Channels Go-to-Market Group at Cisco. "As a Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Authorized Technology Provider, MSI is a member of an elite ecosystem of industry leaders working with Cisco to stimulate technology innovation, augment service delivery, and accelerate the market adoption of unified computing."

To qualify as a Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Authorized Technology Provider, MSI had to meet a number of requirements. These included achieving the Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Specialization and the Cisco Data Center Storage Networking Specialization as well as demonstrating mature competencies in server, storage and virtualization technologies.

Cisco's Authorized Technology Provider Program is part of a comprehensive go-to-market strategy for emerging and advanced technologies. The program helps Cisco to define the knowledge, skills and services that channel partners need to sell, deploy and support these technologies. As the market changes, an ATP status is often the precursor to a Cisco specialization.

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MSI Systems Integrators Joins NetApp Partner Program at the Star Level

marketing@msiinet.com — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:00:00 +0100

MSI to Offer Expanded Range of Storage Solutions

[Omaha, NE - July 13, 2009] - MSI Systems Integrators (MSI), a leading comprehensive solution provider of hardware, software and services, announced today it has joined a select group of storage experts by being named a Star level reseller in the NetApp Partner Program. Through the program, MSI will be able to provide its clients with enterprise storage technologies and solutions that are more manageable, simple, and faster to deploy than traditional storage solutions. In addition, the solutions offer increased availability and require fewer IT resources.

At the highest level in the NetApp Partner Program, Star partners have the opportunity to grow their business and increase profits through enhanced technical support, marketing and selling programs. Offering industry-leading storage solutions from NetApp, Star-level partners are able to help their clients achieve improved profitability, faster time-to-market, and gain competitive advantage by exploiting untapped value within their IT infrastructures.

"MSI offers a broad range of value-added services and solutions that complement NetApp storage and data management solutions," said Todd Palmer, NetApp Vice President of Americas Channel. "We are pleased MSI has achieved Star status, the most advanced partner level in the NetApp Partner Program."

"This highest level of commitment with NetApp helps MSI provide storage solutions to address our unique clients' challenges in today's business climate, including building high-performance IT infrastructures, increasing cost efficiency and maximizing storage consolidation," said Jim Simpson, MSI president and CEO. "The benefits at the Star level represents a commitment to mutual collaboration by NetApp and enables MSI to better serve our storage clients."

IDC estimates the market opportunity for the software, servers, technologies and services to manage the world's converged IT and physical infrastructure to be $122 billion by 2012.

About MSI Systems Integrators

IBM Recognizes MSI Systems Integrators for Outstanding Achievements in Business and Technology Excellence

marketing@msiinet.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0100

MSI Named Winner of the Outstanding Power of i Business Solution

[Omaha, Neb. - June 9, 2009] - MSI Systems Integrators (MSI), a leading comprehensive solution provider of hardware, software, and services, announced today it was named winner of the award for the Outstanding Power of i Business Solution category in the 2009 IBM Beacon Awards competition for delivering outstanding value and innovative approaches to helping clients address unique business challenges.

The IBM Beacon Awards are an integral part of IBM's PartnerWorld program, which provides industry recognition, increased visibility, and promotional opportunities to IBM global Business Partners. Members of IBM PartnerWorld benefit from global marketing and technical enablement initiatives to drive new revenue and market opportunities through the delivery of innovative business solutions.

"We are very proud to have won an IBM Beacon Award this year," said Jim Simpson, president and CEO, MSI. "The technology and the resources IBM provides allow us to further envision and architect efficient, customized solutions that address cost, risk, and cycle-time reduction for our clients."

MSI and its client, Perishable Distributors of Iowa, understood IBM's vision of where the system i and virtualization technology was heading and early-on saw the strengths, efficiency, and promise it could bring to their enterprise and enhance business operations. As a wholesale distributor that ships perishable food to 210 retail stores in a seven state area, welcome benefits of the technology solution included cost savings, time savings, footprint and energy consumption reduction, reliability, scalability, and ease-of-use.

The IBM Beacon Awards recognize excellence in the development and delivery of solutions and services that Business Partners deliver to clients around the world. More than 340 nominations were judged by a team of leading industry journalists, analysts and IBM executives, who selected winners and finalists in the 22 award categories.

"IBM is dedicated to helping our global Business Partners deliver innovative solutions that enable our joint clients transform their business operations," said Rich Hume, general manager, IBM Global Business Partner Organization. "MSI was recognized in the Outstanding Power of i Business Solution based on their technology leadership and commitment to delivering customer value. This award is a testament to their commitment to delivering on IBM's smarter planet vision."

For more information about the IBM Beacon Awards, including descriptions of the winning entries and details about the finalists, please visit http://www-1.ibm.com/partnerworld/pwhome.nsf/weblook/2009_awards.html.

To learn more about IBM PartnerWorld, a comprehensive program that offers marketing and sales resources, training, certification and technical support to help create new revenue and market opportunities for IBM Business Partners, visit http://www.ibm.com/partnerworld.

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MSI Systems Integrators Becomes Google Enterprise Partner

marketing@msiinet.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Google Search Appliance Now Available through MSI

[Omaha, NE - June 1, 2009] - MSI Systems Integrators (MSI), a leading comprehensive solution provider of hardware, software and services, announced today it has become a Google Enterprise Partner (GEP)™. The partnership allows MSI to offer the Google Search Appliance (GSA)™ to its clients. The GSA helps organizations more quickly find critical business information to better empower their employees.

The GSA is an integrated hardware and software appliance that has the search algorithms needed to search an organization's entire data stack. GSA allows employees a Google.com search experience to efficiently locate critical information within an organization's own data repositories. The GSA can pull information from intranets, web servers, portals, file shares, databases, content management systems, and real-time business applications. Users can also personalize their own search experience based on their job functions and type of information they routinely need to locate. This comprehensive search experience, known as "Universal Search for Business", allows employees to be more productive by decreasing the amount of time it takes to find information and increasing the amount of time they can use that information.

"Most organizations are struggling with the lack of flexibility to search within their highly-customized back-end system repositories," said Jim Simpson, president and CEO of MSI. "As the volume of data grows and the need for productivity rises, we are finding our clients need a comprehensive and easy solution like the Google Search Appliance."

With an ever-increasing amount of data being stored electronically within organizations, the ability to find the right information inside the enterprise, across formats, and repositories, is necessary now more than ever. According to a 2007 study by Butler Group research, as much as 10 percent of a company's salary costs are wasted on ineffective searches.

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MSI Systems Integrators Receives IBM Certification for Dynamic Infrastructure Skills

marketing@msiinet.com — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Now Part of IBM's Dynamic Infrastructure Specialty Program

[Omaha, NE - April 29, 2009] - MSI Systems Integrators (MSI), a leading comprehensive solution provider of hardware, software and services, announced today it has gained certification in IBM's Dynamic Infrastructure Specialty Program in the areas of Business Resiliency Specialty Elite. Through the program, MSI will work with IBM to help clients build a new, more dynamic infrastructure that will bring greater intelligence, automation, integration, and efficiencies to the digital and physical worlds.

The program is designed to enable customers to use powerful computing systems to manage and gain insight from an increasing number of components in their physical infrastructure that are being instrumented with intelligent sensors. IDC estimates the market opportunity for the software, servers, technologies and services to manage the world's converged IT and physical infrastructure to be $122 billion by 2012.

"The need for IT professionals to build a dynamic infrastructure in order to fully benefit from their data center technologies is undeniable," said Mike Gerentine, IBM Global Vice President of Channels and Solution Marketing. "MSI's dedication to fueling the adoption of the dynamic infrastructure model only helps them deliver more powerful, intelligent and secure data center solutions to their customers."

MSI's participation in the Dynamic Infrastructure Specialty Program better positions them to assist businesses in managing challenges presented by today's globally integrated planet. MSI is able to deepen its skills in areas such as business resiliency, high availability, compliance and security and these enhanced skills will enable MSI to more accurately respond to their customers' multi-faceted IT challenges and help customers with the creation of dynamic infrastructures.

"The IBM Dynamic Infrastructure certification strengthens our ability to respond to client demands in developing solutions based on business needs," said Jim Simpson, president and CEO, MSI. "It enables us to help our clients enhance their competitive position by offering them solutions that mitigate risk and allow better service to their own customers and end users."

In order to achieve this certification, MSI has invested many hours in IBM training classes; achieved brand, system architecture and project management based certifications; and built new offerings to help customers evaluate their environments and implement robust solutions for their dynamic infrastructure environments.

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