Cogeco Data Services Announces Development of Canada's First Neutral Public Cloud

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 2, 2014) - Cogeco Data Services, a Canadian provider of fully managed ICT solutions, today unveiled its plans to launch a new Public Cloud service, providing Canadian businesses with public, private and hybrid cloud capabilities.

The new Public Cloud, the first of its kind in Canada and scheduled to launch early next year, will offer customers the choice between flexible enterprise-class virtual environments, including Microsoft's Hyper-V and VMWare's vSphere platforms. Enterprises will have the ability to host applications and workloads in the cloud using the platform of their choice without having to compromise on security, privacy or reliability.

"We take pride in being a customer-centric organization that combines best-in-class technology with a consultative approach. The development of our geo-redundant fully managed Public Cloud is another step in our mission to empower customers with solutions that enable better business agility," said Virginia Brailey, Vice President Marketing and Product Management, Cogeco Data Services. "Our new public cloud, combined with our dedicated cloud and suite of managed IT and connectivity services provide customers with a single point solution to manage their unique IT requirements."

Cogeco Data Services' Public Cloud will provide access to advanced features including virtual data centre, next-generation storage performance management, hybrid capabilities and geo-redundancy supported by Managed Security, IT and Public and Private Connectivity options. Based on best-in-class solutions from global technology leaders such as Microsoft, VMWare, NetApp, Cisco and Ensim, customers will be able to manage their cloud environment through new portal capabilities that provide real-time visibility and self management.

Hosted in its wholly-owned tier 3 quality data centres in downtown Toronto and Barrie, Cogeco Data Services' Public Cloud will provide customers with the option for geo-redundancy while maintaining Canadian data residency.

"Cogeco Data Services' integrated cloud platform provides customers with the option to choose their preferred virtual environment and operate it on a secure, resilient and high availability infrastructure," said Mark Schrutt, Research Vice President, Services and Enterprise Applications, IDC Canada. "The new flexible suite is the first in Canada to include dual hypervisors on a geo-redundant public cloud platform, removing a major roadblock for the adoption of enterprise-class cloud solutions."

"Our customers, and the majority of Canadian companies, are increasingly looking to cloud service providers to help them achieve predictable IT costs and reduce complexity," added Brailey. "Regardless of industry, size or location, our new fully managed Public Cloud will have the capability to help businesses increase efficiencies."

This latest offering builds on Cogeco Data Services' extensive experience in connectivity, cloud, managed IT, data centre, professional and security services. In March 2014, the company was recognized as a Major Cloud Player in the IDC MarketScape: Canadian Dedicated Private Infrastructure as a Service 2014 Vendor Assessment. [View Press Release]

About Cogeco Data Services

With its suite of ICT solutions (Data Centre, Managed IT, Private and Public Cloud IaaS, Connectivity, Voice and Professional Services), Cogeco Data Services supplies its customers with the fast, reliable and secure ability to access, manage, move and store large amounts of data worldwide. The Company's 'always on', tier 3 quality data centres and reliable, redundant network provide some of Canada's largest companies and public sector organizations with near limitless bandwidth and secure facilities for hosting, storing and managing mission critical data.

For more information about Cogeco Data Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cogeco Cable Inc. (TSX:CCA), visit cogecodata.com, or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

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