CSC signs cloud computing agreement with Royal Mail :: PublicTechnology.net :: e-Government & public sector IT news + job vacancies:

CSC has signed an agreement with Royal Mail Group to provide cloud computing information technology services.

The new agreement is the largest Cloud user base agreement from an IT Services Provider and expands the company’s current contract signed with Royal Mail Group in 2003 to maintain its desktop computers and manage and develop its servers, mainframes and IT processes.

The new contract is an industry first, with CSC being the first Microsoft partner to lead and win a cloud computing services agreement of this scale. Under terms of the contract, CSC will provide Royal Mail Group’s 30,000 employees with access to new IT services using Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), part of Microsoft Online Services. CSC will also provide first line helpdesk support.

CSC’s cloud services are designed to help businesses easily and securely adopt cloud computing solutions, allowing them to reduce the costs of managing and maintaining business systems while giving them access to the latest Microsoft Online Services including Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Communications Online and Microsoft Office Live Meeting.

Royal Mail Group's Head of Technology Service Delivery, Carol Olney, said: “This deal forms part of Royal Mail's drive to invest in new technology to improve efficiency and customer service.”

“The Microsoft suite will give people across Royal Mail Group the tools they need to do their jobs more effectively, enabling our business units to collaborate with each other, partners and other external organisations more freely, easily and securely while securing cost savings."

“We are pleased to expand our relationship with Royal Mail Group and deliver the benefits of cloud services,” said Kevin Brown, vice president and chief operating officer of CSC in the UK. “Working collaboratively with Microsoft, we look forward to helping Royal Mail Group lower operational costs and providing more flexibility in the management of its IT systems.”

“Public and private sector organizations, such as Royal Mail Group, are moving their critical applications to Microsoft Online Services in increasing numbers,” said Ron Markezich, corporate vice president at Microsoft. “Partners like CSC are important in helping our customers take full advantage of the enterprise-grade capabilities and flexibility Microsoft’s cloud applications deliver.”