IBS and Microsoft announce a new initiative, offering Russian companies pioneering Internet services. In the framework of a joint marketing program, IBS DATA FORT project offers the customers optimization of software acquisition costs by making use of advanced technology implemented in the Internet Data Center.

The customers will be able to use Microsoft solutions through remote access in two operation modes — hosting mode or ASP (Application Services) mode depending on license format. Hosting mode includes all necessary infrastructure and product support services. Software solution is installed on a server in the Internet Data Center. The customer is the owner of the license. ASP mode includes hosting services and lease payments for license use. In this case the customer is not obliged to buy a license as the ASP’s special license entitles it to legally outsource the relevant software.

One of the program’s advantages is reduced timeframe for launch of necessary IT solutions as the client only needs to submit a “subscription” or deploy its own application on the provider’s server. Formalization and organization of these procedures takes a little more than a week while only server delivery may take as much as 6-8 weeks. The customer does not have to invest in equipment, staff, technical support, etc.

In the framework of the marketing program the companies may lease or deploy in hosting mode the following products:

• Corporate mail system Microsoft Exchange Server;
• Database management system Microsoft SQL Server;
• Microsoft Office XP office applications;
• Project management system Microsoft Project;
• Portal solution Microsoft Sharepoint Portal Server;
  ERP-system Microsoft Business Solutions Navision.

According to Ivan Pashkevich, Microsoft Business Development Manager, “Microsoft sees IT solutions lease and outsourcing services as one of strategic priorities in the context of business globalization and an active development of IT outsourcing market. Evolution of software lease and sales as a service makes development and implementation of IT solutions less time-consuming and more available.”

DATA FORT experts provide data security, technical support of the resources and users, monitoring and administration in compliance with world quality standards. The joint program is designed to meet the requirements of any company regardless of scale and occupation.

Since DATA FORT and Microsoft signed the ASP agreement in August 2001, more than 20 companies have benefited from application lease and outsourcing, among them: E-xecutive, a project of Ward Howell, a leading HR consulting and staff recruitment company, Diline e-business center, Terem Group of Companies, Connexions marketing agency, Megapoisk application developer, on-line ticket booking system Parter, to mention a few. Says Dmitry Komissarov, DATA FORT Commercial Director, “Offered modes are especially convenient for companies with distributed organizational structure. In this case, an application is installed on our server and is remotely accessed through Internet or other connections.”

All DATA FORT customers who have signed a contract for application hosting or outsourcing, are offered discounts for standard hosting package, free access to Webtrends statistics module, free testing of applications in testing mode. The marketing program will be finished in July 2003.