NETWORKS

Cisco Technology and Architectures Combined in SAVVIS' Global Network, Data Center Infrastructure and Management Systems to Provide a New Breed of IT Services for Business and Government Applications: Cisco and SAVVIS, a global leader in IT infrastructure services for business applications, today announced an agreement to enable deployment of a next-generation Internet Protocol (IP) network based on Cisco products and services. This new network will enhance SAVVIS' global application infrastructure and expand SAVVIS' ability to deliver "IT-Infrastructure-as-a-Service" through: -- Integration of network and hosting infrastructures tuned to the unique needs of individual applications; -- An architected service provider model that connects network and hosting services to virtualized applications, policy decisions and automated management and provisioning systems; -- Rapid provisioning of new network-based high-availability services such as business continuity systems, packet-flow optimization with "bursting" capacity, and managed security services; -- MultiProtocol Label Switching (MPLS) core services combined with high- speed Metro-Ethernet access; -- End-to-end monitoring and management resulting in application-specific service-level guarantees; and -- Pay-as-you-go managed utility services. "The concept of a global, high speed, QoS sensitive, interconnected IT infrastructure is something that the IT industry is embracing," said Melanie Posey, Research Director at IDC. "The integration of SAVVIS' global networking and hosting infrastructures creates the type of service-oriented architecture needed to support the high performance, high availability application delivery environments that business and government enterprises increasingly require." This new SAVVIS infrastructure will be based on a combination of the Cisco IP Next Generation Network (IP NGN) service provider architecture, featuring Cisco CRS-1 routers and Cisco Internetworking Operating System (IOS) XR software at the core and Cisco 12000 Series routers as multi-service edge platforms; and the Cisco Service Oriented Network Architecture (SONA). SONA will deliver an architectural approach to connect network services to applications, transforming networks into service-delivery platforms designed to support critical business applications. SAVVIS has begun the planning and deployment of the core and edge infrastructure and plans to begin offering services over the network in mid-2007. "SAVVIS' next-generation network is a leading high availability, highly secure, integrated hosting and network application infrastructure," said Mike Volpi, senior vice president and general manager of the Cisco Router and Service Provider Technology Group. "We are pleased that SAVVIS has chosen Cisco technology as the cornerstone of this strategic initiative and we look forward to working with SAVVIS to realize its vision of delivering a responsive IT infrastructure designed to improve the availability and performance of enterprise applications." SAVVIS' next-generation infrastructure will enable development and dynamic deployment of new network-based IT services based on SAVVIS intelligent networking and utility datacenter products and Cisco network technology and architectures. These services include business continuance and disaster recovery, application performance management and business-to-business integration services that align application performance and business priorities with IT infrastructure capabilities. "The combination of Cisco technology and SAVVIS' global server, storage, network, security, and hosting infrastructure, enables a new service provider model that complements and extends current enterprise IT systems and truly delivers 'IT infrastructure as a service,'" said Phil Koen, chief executive officer of SAVVIS. "It improves application performance and lowers overall costs presenting a compelling alternative to traditional approaches."