Agosto Analysis Validates On-Demand Software as a Cost-Effective, Competitive IT Strategy for Small and Medium Business

MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwire - March 19, 2009) - Agosto, Inc. (www.agostoinc.com), a provider of efficiency-driving IT managed services, technology resources, and CIO-level strategy and management to small and medium businesses, announced today the results of extended infrastructure analysis validating how on-demand software-as-a-service (SaaS) can dramatically reduce IT operating costs while providing stronger competitive advantages. Agosto Consultant and Project Analyst Aric Bandy explained, "In case after case, we've seen SaaS translate into immense savings and greater workforce productivity. Companies gain access to tools on par with larger corporations' resources by leveraging economies of scale that SaaS offers and would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. Instead, businesses like 2nd Wind Exercise can leverage best-of-breed solutions without the huge investment in additional infrastructure and maintenance. In today's economy, companies like 2nd Wind Exercise must stay lean in order to survive."

Agosto has supported and delivered SaaS solutions since mid-2005. The company outsources many of its functions through software-as-a-service and was one of the first Google Apps Certified Resellers in the world. The company trimmed Twin Cities-based 2nd Wind Exercise IT operations budget from $671,000 in 2007 down to a svelte $259,000, a savings of over $341,000. Agosto was cited in the March issue of Inc. magazine's article, "One Company's Budget Getting Back into Shape: An IT department overhaul," for helping 2nd Wind dramatically improve its IT operations efficiency over the past year.

The improvements started with replacement of 2nd Wind's ailing email platform. The multi-phase plan to migrate users to a new platform was scrapped when 2nd Wind's Exchange server crashed. Instead, Agosto migrated 325 employees across 89 locations to Google Apps. Users were up and running within 1 hour.

A post-migration survey revealed that the speed, ease of access, and features of the new system make users more productive. Tom Kelly, 2nd Wind CFO, appreciates the $147,000 savings that the conversion alone generated, adding that providers of software-as-a-service frequently offer better security and uptime than organizations can achieve internally. "This is particularly true in the small and midsize markets," he says.

Agosto also recently landed on Nine Lives Media Inc.'s second-annual MSPmentor 100 (www.MSPmentor.net), a distinguished research report identifying the world's most progressive managed service providers.

About Agosto Inc.

Since 2001, Agosto has provided managed services, technology resources, and CIO-level strategy and management to small and medium businesses. Organizations leverage Agosto's on-demand business and IT expertise to simplify IT operations and management, decrease costs, and gain an edge that helps them compete with companies that larger resources. The company's proprietary process, Enlightened IT, aligns all IT initiatives with business strategies and goals and uses technology to yield specific, measurable outcomes.

Contact Information: Contacts Agosto, Inc.: Irfan Khan 612-605-3555