Microsoft and International Network Services Announce Alliance To Bring Enterprise Customers New Internetworking Solutions Based on Windows NT Server
REDMOND, Wash., and SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 19, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. and International Network Services (INS) today announced a strategic alliance formed to help large organizations capitalize on the innovation, flexibility and lower cost of ownership of today’s server-based platforms within large-scale, mission-critical internetworking communications solutions.
The two companies will collaborate to deliver enterprise and public-carrier network solutions, based on the Microsoft® Windows NT® Server operating system and the BackOffice® family, that take advantage of INS’ global internetworking services capabilities and that integrate with customers’ existing multivendor networks.
“International Network Services is a well-respected network consulting business that can help deliver comprehensive networking solutions and support to customers in the enterprise,”
said Deborah Willingham, vice president of the enterprise customer unit at Microsoft.
“One of Microsoft’s biggest priorities today is simplifying IT deployments for its customers and reducing cost of ownership. With the INS and Microsoft collaboration, enterprise and public-carrier customers will get the best of both worlds: the reliability of Microsoft’s manageable, scalable Windows NT Server platform and INS’ large-scale internetworking competence and worldwide service delivery resources that meet even the most demanding business needs of large organizations.”
“INS welcomes the opportunity to work with Microsoft and expand its network planning, design, implementation and operations capabilities to support Microsoft Windows NT Server,”
said John Drew, president and chief operating officer of INS.
“The scalability and manageability that Microsoft Windows NT Server 5.0 with its Active Directory can provide enterprise networks promises to be one of the most significant developments in networking. We are pleased to join with Microsoft to bring the full benefits of these enabling technologies to our mutual clients.”
As part of the objectives of this alliance, INS plans to offer the Microsoft enterprise solutions platform as its preferred platform for server-integrated communications infrastructure, network management and security. To enable this effort, INS will train and certify over 500 of its network professionals as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs) and Microsoft Certified Solution Developers (MCSDs), and will establish its own internetworking certification to address Microsoft Windows NT-based enterprise environments. In addition, INS will establish Centers of Excellence and Training Centers focused on Microsoft Windows NT-based internetworking solutions.
“Customers are telling us that they are using Windows NT Server as the platform for reliable and secure communications across the enterprise and the public network,”
said Mike Nash, director of marketing, Windows NT Server and infrastructure products at Microsoft.
“With virtual private networking (VPN), remote access service, telephony and other forms of network communications support, Windows NT Server provides customers with the solutions they have been asking for.”
Market Initiatives
INS today provides its customers with an extensive range of networking consultative services. The alliance with Microsoft will enable INS to expand its service practice to address consulting and integration services targeting four key market initiatives based on the Windows NT Server platform:
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Windows NT Server internetworking and Active Directory. An initiative to design and implement enterprise solutions using Microsoft Windows NT Server-based networking services and the Active Directory with Windows NT Server 5.0.
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Integrated communications infrastructure. An initiative to plan, design, implement and support solutions targeting emerging voice and video over IP, WAN and LAN services integration, virtual private networking solutions and consolidation, including interoperability with legacy network operating systems.
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Network management and security. An initiative to design and implement enterprise network management and associated security requirements for Windows NT Server- and BackOffice-based implementations and to support network management and Web-based Enterprise Management (WBEM) solutions.
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Unified messaging. An initiative to design and implement networks incorporating electronic mail migration, integration and interoperation and to provide the network foundation for electronic service delivery of fax, voice mail, groupware and other communications applications, including Internet technology-based messaging solutions.
In addition, INS will work with customers as they evaluate, implement and test the beta version of Windows NT 5.0. This will enable INS to respond to the immediate requirements of its clients for Windows NT and provide useful feedback to Microsoft based on real-world experience that can influence the development of the Windows NT 5.0 platform.
Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) personnel will be engaged to assist INS in the development of the consulting and integration services in the targeted market initiatives to support the companies’ mutual customers. These activities will include enterprise planning, enterprise assessments, solution architectures and design, pilot systems, migration planning, network planning and design, and training programs, including knowledge-transfer activities. In addition, INS and Microsoft will work together to develop Microsoft service guides and technology consulting blueprints. INS will also utilize Microsoft Premier Support to provide support services for its client engagements.
INS will work with Microsoft to support Windows NT Server 5.0 on its EnterprisePRO Service. INS EnterprisePRO Service is an intranet server-based network performance management service that continuously tracks the utilization rates of key elements of a global enterprise network, from frame relay circuits to wide area networks (WANs) and associated local area networks (LANs).
INS Centers of Excellence and Standardization on Microsoft Products
INS plans to initially establish Microsoft Windows NT Centers of Excellence in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Hartford, Conn. These Centers of Excellence will allow INS to develop, deliver and support customer solutions based on Windows NT Server, Windows NT Server 5.0 with Active Directory, WAN internetworking, integrated communications infrastructure, network management and security, and integrated messaging infrastructure. These centers will also provide INS and Microsoft with the ability to demonstrate the scalability, manageability and business value of these network solutions for enterprise and public-carrier customers. These centers will be used for training INS consultants on Microsoft Windows NT Server-based network solutions. INS also plans to establish a Microsoft technologies and products presence in other INS Centers of Excellence.
INS also plans to standardize on Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Windows NT Server, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Site Server, for internal use. INS will standardize on the 32-bit Windows® operating system (Windows 9x or Windows NT Workstation), Microsoft Outlook
™
messaging and collaboration client, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Project.
About INS
International Network Services (Nasdaq
“INSS”
) is a global provider of solutions for complex enterprise networks. INS provides professional services for the full life cycle of a network, including planning, design, implementation, operations and optimization, and maintains expertise in the most complex network technologies and multivendor environments. INS also provides solutions for certain repetitive network management tasks, such as network monitoring and network performance reporting. As of March 31, 1998, INS had 1,169 employees and provided service from 32 locations. INS’ headquarters are located at 1213 Innsbruck Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. The INS Web site is located at (http://www.ins.com/) .
About Microsoft
Microsoft and its worldwide enterprise solution providers deliver a total solution: integrated platforms, powerful business applications and comprehensive global services that drive the success of its enterprise customers. Large organizations can work directly with Microsoft or choose among the many highly qualified Microsoft enterprise solution providers to implement solutions based on the Microsoft enterprise platform. Based on Microsoft best practices and supported by over 118,000 Microsoft Certified Professionals, more than 10,000 customers in 55 countries are realizing significant business value and competitive advantage from Microsoft’s worldwide enterprise solutions.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Windows NT, BackOffice, Windows and Outlook are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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