MSP DirectNetworks Uses ASG Management Suite to Set Up Cloud-Based Workplace Offering

Managed service provider (MSP) DirectNetworks, Inc. has chosen a management suite from ASG Software Solutions to create its new cloud-based workplace offering. The company put together its DirectCloud Webtop solution and is using the CloudFactory end-to-end management suite from ASG to manage the offering.

CloudFactory enabled the MSP to migrate its IT operations to the cloud in just three months with minimal disruptions while also providing a vendor-agnostic and open software ownership framework, which was crucial for DirectNetworks. The offering also integrates with the Citrix and Microsoft portions of the Webtop offering, which lets DirectNetworks manage it from within its own data centers.

All of that boils done to major benefits for DirectNetworks and its SMB customers. The service provider is already realizing 20 to 30 percent costs savings and 30 to 50 percent efficiency gains by using the CloudFactory suite.

"We recognized that cloud computing was quickly becoming an essential element of any successful, modern IT strategy, so the development of Webtop was crucial to both our customers and our survival as a company,” said Colin Mehlum, partner and business development, DirectNetworks, Inc. “But, without CloudFactory, Webtop simply would never have been possible. ASG really treated us like a partner in helping us reach our goals, and its innovative cloud suite has been a crucial element of our company's vision and success."

DirectNetworks was able to set up a single workspace for users to access and provision all their applications and services using CloudFactory. The service provider handles advanced service orchestration and automated infrastructure lifecycle management in the background, transparent to customers and end users. The company is able to pass along cost savings to its customers, as well as enhancements in mobility and productivity thanks to the cloud migration. Additional benefits the service provider is offering to its customers include cloud-based storage, servers and virtual desktops.

DirectNetworks also offers customers a variety of managed services like hosted VoIP, SharePoint and Exchange Server along with email and web filtering and general IT support.