Attenda to join Microsoft BizSpark Program

November 18, 2008; 05:54 AM

London – November 18, 2008 – Attenda Limited, the Always On Managed Services company, today announced that it has been selected to join the Microsoft BizSpark Program as a Network Partner. Microsoft has chosen Attenda because of its proven track record and capability in Critical Applications Hosting and Software as a Service (SaaS) provision using Microsoft Technologies.

The Microsoft BizSpark Program is a new global program designed to accelerate the success of early stage Startups by connecting them to Network Partners who, as active members of the global ecosystem, can provide mentorship, guidance and resources to BizSpark Startups. As a Network Partner, Attenda can provide BizSpark Startups with a robust, scalable infrastructure, tools and resource to help design, develop and implement service-enabled software applications.

Commenting on the new Microsoft Program, Simon Hansford, VP Products & Marketing, Attenda says, “BizSpark is uniquely designed to help Startups engaged in software development, providing them with express access to Microsoft tools and technologies. Our role as a Network Partner is to assist and support high potential Startups in hosted application production and deployment.”

The Microsoft BizSpark Program provides Startups with fast and easy access to Microsoft’s full-featured development tools and platform technologies, as well as production licences, to bring to market innovative and interoperable software based products and services for the next generation of user experience.

Neil Bacon, Founder of iWantGreatCare, a website which collects patient feedback on UK-based doctors, who has signed up to the Microsoft BizSpark program through Attenda comments, "As a Startup managing costs and having access to good advice and guidance is key as I look to establish and grow the business. The Microsoft BizSpark program gives me this. Low cost access to Microsoft software and a structured program that gives me support through Network Partners such as Attenda are highly valuable."

Bacon concludes, “The uniqueness of Attenda’s highly resilient shared platform is ideal for us a technology Startup, reducing cost and driving up availability, with significant ability to scale as we grow the business.”

To be eligible for the Microsoft BizSpark Program, Startups must be actively engaged in the development of a software-based product or service that is a core part of their business model, be in business less than three years and have less than US $1M in revenue.

About Attenda Limited
Attenda, the Always On Managed Services company, manages those vital applications that every business relies upon today to function effectively allowing our clients to selectively outsource their IT operations and re-focus on using IT to add strategic value to their business.

Through a commitment to operational excellence, we manage, secure and optimise the performance of their applications, irrespective of the physical location of the infrastructure.

With over 8 years' investment into Attenda M.O., Attenda's operations platform, we provide the people, process and technology to deliver exceptionally high service levels, but at a cost that is amortised across Attenda's entire client base - currently 134 of the UK's leading companies.
 
The company enjoys substantial financial backing, the industry's leading accreditations and an unrivalled portfolio of clients including bmi, Christian Aid, easyCar, Microsoft, NHS, Princes, St. James’s Place and Travelodge.

Attenda is ISO9001, ISO20001 and ISO27001 accredited, an HP SP Signature Partner, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a SAP Adaptive IT Hosting Provider, a SunTone accredited managed service provider and an Accredited Catalist Supplier. Attenda is one of only seven companies to have been ranked in the UK's Sunday Times ARM Tech Track 100 for three consecutive years. It was voted Best Managed Services Provider by Data Centre Europe Awards for both 2007 and 2008 and VMware’s EMEA Hosting Partner of the Year 2007.

 
For further details, visit www.attenda.net