Virtualization and security: part of a proven framework

Broadview Networks is a Systems Integrator in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We are focused on creating and maintaining the essential IT infrastructure that businesses depend on. These components include network operating systems, data storage, e-mail, network connectivity, and network security. As a result, two important areas for us are virtualization and Microsoft’s Forefront security solution.

Lowering cost, improving agility
Microsoft’s virtualization story is stronger because of Windows Server 2008 R2, which has optimized the data centre and desktop components. Virtualization is very hot here now. Two years ago our average quote didn’t include virtualization, but today we do very few quotes that don’t consider virtualization as part of the solution. People want guidance on how to take advantage of virtualization and branch office technologies to lower costs and improve agility.

Our customers are listening because Broadview has established itself as a trusted provider of quality IT solutions offering expertise and service, and because we’ve got a strong partnership with Microsoft.

We have a broad market focus, and are heavily certified around the Microsoft stack of products. We use the Core Infrastructure Optimization (IO) Model to sell and promote our business, seeing it as a way for businesses to improve their IT environment. This applies across the board: we have customers that range from smaller companies that are new to IT to larger enterprises.

Security: always
We all want our information and communication to be protected from unauthorized access. An important part of the solution is Microsoft’s Forefront, which has proven to be very popular. A lot of our customers utilize Forefront’s hosted security – having their e-mail scrubbed for spam and viruses before reaching their network makes things a lot easier on the IT department.

We also sell on-premise Forefront security, for the Client and Server OS, Exchange and SharePoint. There are a lot of people with the on premise solution, and we see it as a big opportunity: it integrates well with the OS, has a low memory footprint, and works well with Active Directory. It’s definitely an advantage that the products come from the same company that makes the operating system.

At Broadview we do a lot of core IO assessments with our customers. This helps line up the customer with the model, and has huge value because they can learn about ways to better secure their environment from end to end. Unified Threat management provides for complete security from edge to server to end user device.

Managing the identities of people and assets is important to maintaining security. We implement solutions that help manage and protect identity data (synchronization, password management, and user provisioning, to mention a few), and better manage access to resources from corporate mobile users, customers, and partners outside of a firewall.

IT: a strategic business asset
As you can tell, we are a big promoter of Core Infrastructure Optimization, which addresses capabilities across many critical aspects of IT. This is a proven framework for evolving your IT infrastructure to become more agile, secure, and better-managed, while reducing overall IT costs and making better use of resources.

The bottom line—IT becomes a stronger strategic asset to the business. For more information, please visit us at www.broadviewnetworks.ca.