The Oxford Knowledge Company

Thursday 2 November 2006

And Further Distinguishes Itself by Earning a Microsoft Competency in Advanced Infrastructure Solutions

Summary:

The Oxford Knowledge Company goes Gold: Oxford-based organisation recognised by Microsoft as one of its most competent technology partners
Oxford-based IT specialists, The Oxford Knowledge Company has become a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner – the highest accolade given to the software giant’s business partners, and an award given to only a handful of technology organisations in Oxfordshire. In particular, The Oxford Knowledge Company has been recognised for its expertise in the design and implementation of advanced infrastructures or, in plain English, for its abilities to maintain, design and develop IT systems that allow organisations to get on with their business without worrying about the IT supporting them.

The Oxford Knowledge Company works with small and medium businesses local to Oxford or larger organisations with satellite offices in the region to provide advice, technology support and maintenance. For some organisations this means serving as the outsourced IT department: providing advice; installing computer systems; performing regular preventative maintenance - all to ensure the smooth running of their businesses. For others it means complementing the in-house team: in a strategic consultancy role, to fill skills gaps; to provide extra resources as required. For all clients it means understanding their long term business objectives and designing technology solutions that will enable them to reach these as their businesses grow, underpinned by a technology solution that will adapt with them.

The Microsoft Gold Certification confirms The Oxford Knowledge Company’s abilities to look at an organisation’s overall business issues and provide the solution to address it. But just as importantly, it ensures a long-term commitment to staff training, development and acquisition to maintain its knowledge base and skills. Designing and implementing business-critical technology solutions is just half of the offering: highly skilled, articulate and personable consultants who listen, understand and deliver a technology solution that meets each customer’s changing needs is the other half and it’s this unusual combination of skills that really sets The Oxford Knowledge Company apart.

Official Release Follows:
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Oxford, England — 2 Nov 2006: The Oxford Knowledge Company Limited today announces that it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Programme with a competency in Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, recognising its expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, The Oxford Knowledge Company has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers’ needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.

“This is great testimony to our consultants and engineers who, by listening and understanding each client’s business challenges, are able to provide the highest levels of service. This ranges from regular onsite maintenance, upgrades, software updates, to providing strategic consultancy and the design and implementation of entire technology infrastructures to meet an organisation’s long term business objectives,” says Mark Salisbury, Managing Director of The Oxford Knowledge Company. “He continues, “Clearly becoming a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner is a great accolade in itself, but as importantly for us, it provides a critical differentiator particularly when it comes to retaining and attracting some of the most educated, articulate and skilled employees in our sector. For us, this award recognises our abilities to understand and translate a client’s business issues into a long term technology solution. It’s recognition of our employees who provide the heart to our organisation.”

“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities,” said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. “They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognises The Oxford Knowledge Company as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology.”

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, The Oxford Knowledge Company had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.

The Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Competency is designed for partners with proven expertise in designing and/or implementing complex infrastructure solutions such as Active Directory®- and Microsoft Host Integration Server-based design and deployment solutions, and Microsoft Exchange Server migration or deployment solutions. Because customers are increasingly asking to do more with less, partners with the Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Competency can identify their unique skill in helping customers’ access management solutions, improve operational efficiency and reduce security risks. Specialisations within the competency are Active Directory and Identity Management, Exchange Migration and Deployment, Hosting Solutions, System Management and Storage Solutions.

“Our industry partners allow us to deliver high-quality solutions and applications to our customers. And we’re always looking at ways to improve our relationships,” said Paul Flessner, senior vice president of the Server Applications at Microsoft Corp. “Solutions competencies enable Microsoft to provide resources and training to partners seeking to meet, and even surpass, customer needs. The competencies also provide industry partners with a way to showcase their expertise to customers that depend on them for services, such as building critical infrastructure including storage and hosting solutions.”

The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The programme offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognises partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful.

About The Oxford Knowledge Company

The Oxford Knowledge Company works with small and medium businesses local to Oxford or larger organisations with satellite offices in the region to provide advice, technology support and maintenance. For some organisations this means serving as the outsourced IT department: providing advice; installing computer systems; performing regular preventative maintenance - all to ensure the smooth running of their businesses. For others it means complementing the in-house team: in a strategic consultancy role, to fill skills gaps; to provide extra resources as required. For all clients it means understanding their long term business objectives and designing technology solutions that will enable them to reach these as their businesses grow, underpinned by a technology solution that will adapt with them.
The Oxford Knowledge Company maintains reassuringly high standards with highly personable teams. Developed through its long term commitment to excellence, these high standards are demonstrated through Investors In People and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Programme awards. For more information, please visit www.oxford-knowledge.com or call 01865 322100.

For press enquiries, please contact:
Karen Irvani Juliet Harbottle
The Firebird Agency The Firebird Agency
01295 269455/ karen@thefirebirdagency.com 01296 655814/juliet@thefirebirdagency.com

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