Cogeco Data Services announced today the introduction of a single point ICT solution to support CIOs and their needs to reduce IT complexity and create the transformational value of their organizations. The new offering combines Cogeco Data Services’ data centre, managed IT, cloud and connectivity services. Cogeco Data Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cogeco Cable Inc. , who was in news around a month back when they acquired PEER1 for $532 million to boost cloud computing.
As the continues, the demand to reduce IT complexity and drive innovation is on the rise. Mark Schrutt, Director, Services and Enterprises, IDC, a global research firm, confirms this trend, “IT departments face continued pressure to drive innovation and create value while maintaining secure management of company information. The consumerization of IT has resulted in a huge influx of shadow IT users (individuals that acquire and manage technology outside the IT department) and, easy access to cloud computing solutions, have played a large role in this trend. By optimizing infrastructure and taking advantage of enterprise-class cloud, data centre, managed IT and connectivity solutions, CIOs can better focus on the core, become more ingrained in the business and add more value for their organizations.”
Shadow IT users and cloud computing are not new, but their presence is on the rise. IDC research indicates that 25% of technology purchases are completed outside of the IT department and that 60% of Canadian businesses believe that cloud computing will be critical to their success. Progressive CIOs understand the value in embracing this change to better meet the requirements of the business.
Online gaming, one of the many verticals served by Cogeco Data Services, is no stranger to user sparked innovation, driven by players, but enabled by publishers. Modifications that improve the end product are made on a daily basis. Infinite Game Publishing, publisher of such online gaming titles as MechWarrior Online and Sins of a Dark Age, looked to Cogeco Data Services to optimize their IT infrastructure. “Cogeco Data Services provides us with a flexible, scalable and reliable solution including connectivity, managed IT and cloud services,” said Kelly Zmak, President, Infinite Game Publishing. “Based on our requirements and the fast pace of our industry, we needed a single-point solution that would allow us to test and launch online games quickly and utilize the same IT infrastructure from beta to launch. Cogeco Data Services put together a flexible solution with a high level of service, allowing us to spend less time concerned with operational efficiency and more time focused on creating exceptional experiences for our customers.”
“By providing enterprise-class single-point solutions, we have expanded the scope of our services to help customers like Infinite Game Publishing get the greatest value from our expertise and the latest technology,” said Virginia Brailey, Vice President, Product Management and Marketing, Cogeco Data Services. “Our new suite of services has been developed to help reduce IT complexity and shift the focus of the IT department from operational support to innovation.”
