State-of-the-Art Calgary Data Centre and Partnership With Microsoft Give Customers a Single-Provider Solution for Hybrid IT Needs

/EINPresswire.com/ -- CALGARY, AB -- (Marketwired) -- 01/07/16 -- Shaw Data Centre and Cloud Solutions, Powered by ViaWest, today announced the opening of its flagship Calgary data centre to offer business customers a full suite of private cloud, colocation, security, DevOps and managed services. In conjunction with the centre's grand opening, Shaw also announced a new partnership with Microsoft to offer customers access to managed public services on the Azure platform, providing powerful and unparalleled custom cloud and colocation options to meet their Hybrid IT needs.

"The Shaw Hybrid IT model is designed to give customers total flexibility as they deploy their IT platforms, providing future-proofed solutions spanning public cloud, private cloud, colocation, managed services or customized hybrid solutions," said Nancy Phillips, president of Shaw Data Centre and Cloud Solutions, the business infrastructure services division of Shaw Communications that operates under the ViaWest brand in the U.S. "Additionally, our new partnership with Microsoft offering the Azure suite of services now gives our customers throughout North America the added ability to quickly deploy workloads across multiple locations and markets globally."

The Shaw and Microsoft partnership will combine 30 state-of-the-art Shaw and ViaWest data centres and their 16-year history of offering innovative managed services with Microsoft Azure cloud services -- including analytics, computing, database, mobile, networking, storage, and web -- that help businesses move faster, achieve more and save money. Consultative experts from Shaw Data Centre and Cloud Solutions will help simplify the migration to a cloud environment and give customers a single hybrid provider that supports their business growth. Shaw also offers customers industry leading security and DevOps capabilities and is set to expand its portfolio of managed cloud services with the recently announced acquisition of INetU.

"Companies like Shaw are helping to bring innovation to North American businesses by expanding hybrid cloud capabilities in Calgary," said Janet Kennedy, president of Microsoft Canada. "The integration of Microsoft Azure with Shaw will enable our mutual customers to collaborate, compete and ultimately achieve more in an increasingly mobile world."

Shaw Celebrates Grand Opening of Newest Data Centre
The Microsoft Azure services will be part of the full suite of Hybrid IT Solutions offered at Shaw's Calgary data centre. This new, purpose-built facility features 40,000 square feet of raised floor space and state-of-the-art security, power and cooling solutions. It is a carrier-neutral facility, allowing businesses to utilize the extensive fibre network from Shaw and ViaWest, the network of a carrier of their choice, or a combination of both. With more than 15 years of IT experience, David Lod will oversee operations and expansion of the Shaw Data Centre and Cloud Solutions business unit as Vice President and General Manager.

Shaw Communications acquired ViaWest in 2014, and since then Shaw Data Centre and Cloud Solutions, which operates under the ViaWest brand in the U.S., has continued to expand both its portfolio of Hybrid IT Solutions and its geographic footprint. In June 2015, ViaWest acquired Applied Trust, a provider of security, compliance, DevOps, and infrastructure consulting services, and the company recently opened a new U.S. data centre in Portland, Ore. The company recently acquired INetU, which expands its footprint on the U.S. East Coast and in Europe, and further strengthens its cloud offerings.

"The Shaw Data Centre and Cloud Solutions mission is to help our customers leverage and integrate multiple environments -- from data centres to cloud to customer premises -- to most effectively meet their IT security, compliance, business and budget requirements," said Phillips. "Our newest data centre in Calgary, in conjunction with these new Microsoft Azure offerings, provides customers with more options and capabilities to deploy and manage their IT workloads."

About Shaw Communications
Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified communications and media company, serving 3.2 million customers through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw serves consumers with broadband Internet, WiFi, Digital Phone and Video products and services. Shaw Business Network Services provides business customers Internet, data, WiFi, telephony, Video and fleet tracking services. Shaw Business Infrastructure Services offers North American enterprises colocation, cloud and managed services through ViaWest. Shaw Media provides Canadians with engaging programming content through one of Canada's largest conventional television networks, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY® and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (TSX: SJR.B) (NYSE: SJR). For more information, please visit www.shaw.ca.

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