This year's two awards brings to eight the number of global Microsoft partner awards Dimension Data has won in four years.

The Microsoft Partner Program Awards recognise Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions during the last year. Awards were presented in a number of categories, with winners chosen from a pool of more than 2,000 entrants worldwide.

Commenting on the awards, Steve Nola, Dimension Data’s Australian CEO said, “Being recognised by Microsoft for our packaged solutions year on year demonstrates Dimension Data’s enormous depth of world class intellectual property. We understand both Microsoft’s technologies and the business and technology issues our clients face. We developed both the Dynamic Desktop Deployment and Managed Services solutions off the back of client requirements to better rollout and manage their desktop fleets. The awards are recognition for some of the great work we have undertaken with clients including Australian Unity, Eastern Health and Starlight Children’s Foundation, and our own internal rollout of Windows Vista SP1 and Office 2007.”

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Systems Management Partner of the Year

Dimension Data developed a structured lifecycle management system that minimises the operational effort and cost of deploying, managing, and supporting server and desktop computing environments. Dimension Data Managed Services for Microsoft Infrastructure combines smart technology (Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager and System Center Operations Manager), proven processes (Microsoft Business Desktop Deployment), and a well-defined management framework (Microsoft Operations Framework) to help ensure customers’ environments not only move up the infrastructure optimisation maturity model, but stay there. At the same time, the solution helps drive down costs and improve efficiencies for the customer. In addition, tight integration between System Center Operations Manager 2007 and the Dimension Data Global Services Operating Architecture enables Dimension Data to provide its full catalogue of advanced services to customers worldwide.

Dimension Data was recognised for superior technology and innovation in Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Systems Management. The Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Systems Management Partner of the Year award honors partners that have infrastructure practices with proven proficiency in implementing solutions based on one or more of the following products:

• Microsoft Operations Manager 2005

• Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003

• System Center Operations Manager 2007

• System Center Configuration Manager 2007

• System Center Data Protection Manager 2007

• System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007

• System Center Essentials 2007

These awards recognise partners with innovative solutions that use Infrastructure Optimisation Model (IOM) to advance the state of customer’s IT infrastructure using Microsoft systems management products.

“This is the second year running that Dimension Data has won in the ‘Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Partner of the Year’ category, and we could not be more pleased about this win,” said Suresh Kalpathy, Regional Director, Partner Strategy, Marketing & Programs, Microsoft Asia Pacific.

“Dimension Data developed a structured lifecycle management system that minimises the operational effort and cost of deploying, managing and supporting server and desktop computing environments. Its use of a combination of smart technology, proven processes and a well-defined management framework to provide a Managed Service ensures that client environments not only move up the IO maturity model but also stay there, while at the same time driving down costs and improving efficiencies for the client.”

Information Worker Solutions, Office Deployment Partner of the Year

Dimension Data won the award for an innovative deployment solution based on the Microsoft Business Desktop Deployment Solution Accelerator to provide customers with zero-touch deployment solutions incorporating 2007 Microsoft Office system upgrades. The solution allows companies to easily offer their users a consistent and reliable client computing environment, while driving down the cost of overall deployment on an ongoing basis. Benefits also include automation of manual processes, reduced downtime, and lower training costs.

The Information Worker Solutions, Office Deployment Partner of the Year award recognises exceptional partners that have excelled in offering breakthrough solutions to deploy the Microsoft Office system in customer organisations. The winning partner’s technology and marketing offerings have increased its customers’ employee productivity and assisted them in connecting with their business partners and customers. The winning partner’s innovative thinking has helped to solve a technical challenge or helped to address its customers’ business needs and empower their people, and has had a unique and positive impact on customers’ business pain points.

“Dimension Data is one of the most valued Microsoft partners and the numerous WPC awards it has won is testament to its commitment to excellence,” said Kalpathy. “For example, Dimension Data’s innovative deployment solution based on the Microsoft Business Desktop Deployment solution accelerator provides clients with zero-touch deployment solutions incorporating Office 2007 upgrades. The solution allows companies to easily offer its users with a consistent and reliable client computing environment while driving down the cost of overall deployment on an ongoing basis.”

-ENDS-

About Dimension Data

Dimension Data plc (LSE:DDT), a specialist IT services and solution provider, helps clients plan, build, support and manage their IT infrastructures. Dimension Data applies its expertise in networking, security, operating environments, storage and contact centre technologies and its unique skills in consulting, integration and managed services to create customised client solutions.

For further information:

Martin Aungle

Dimension Data

Tel: 02 8249 5502

martin.aungle@didata.com.au