SIA Picks MCI For Internet Services

The Securities Industry Association (www.sia.com) today announced that it has entered into a major agreement with MCI (www.mci.com) to offer Internet services to its nearly 600 member-firms. Under terms of the agreement, MCI will deliver a wide range of Internet related services, including managed hosting, Internet access, security, Private IP, video and Net Conferencing solutions, to help SIA members conduct business more effectively through better technology utilization.

SIA and MCI will work closely to help SIA members better utilize Internet technology to conduct electronic transactions, process and share confidential documents, research market trends, host Web-based meetings, and enhance communications with customers.

"The agreement with MCI will enable SIA member-firms to receive cost-effective business services at favorable rates," said SIA Executive Vice President Donald D. Kittell. "In fact, the MCI deal will give firms access to some of the most advanced, secure, and high performance Internet services and products available today."

SIA member-firms will be able to take advantage of MCI's expertise in developing and maintaining tailored Internet solutions. MCI will work with individual firms to address their business continuity, disaster recovery and security requirements, either through fully managed or customer-managed solutions.

"MCI is focused on helping customers like SIA put IP technology to work for its member-firms, while ensuring their Internet networks are continuously available 24/7," said Steve Young, senior vice president, MCI Commercial Services.

SIA members can also fulfill critical security and regulatory requirements through MCI's extensive suite of Internet security solutions, including managed network protection, intrusion detection, vulnerability assessment, remote scanning and anti-virus, anti-spam services.