Hitachi Data Systems to power SLA-based storage-as-a-service offerings hosted within CGI's global data centers or customers' data centers
Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) and CGI (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A), the fifth largest independent information technology and business process services firm in the world, today announced a significant milestone in their strategic agreement to provide clients with enterprise-grade cloud services powered by Hitachi Data Systems.
As part of its portfolio of Digital Transformation services, CGI can now offer clients a number of secure cloud storage solutions that enable access to business critical data from mobile devices and traditional desktops. These solutions give clients peace of mind knowing that their data is safe and uncompromised.
These solutions are already in use by Foresters™, an international financial services provider committed to family well-being with over one million members in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Based on Hitachi Data Systems' most advanced cloud technology, the solutions can be hosted within CGI's global data centers or in a customer's data center in a private cloud model –offering unparalleled flexibility, security and choice to clients.
"Today's significant advancement in our partnership with CGI stems from years of joint collaboration with a mutual focus on delivering to our customers the best possible technologies for their evolving business needs," said Michael Cremen, EVP, global sales, Hitachi Data Systems. "We have teamed to provide a distinctly innovative set of cloud enablement solutions that offer the best of hybrid and private cloud technologies for our customers."
"Our partnership with Hitachi Data Systems helps clients achieve their goals to transform enterprise processes by facilitating secure access to business information," said Brian Cann, Vice-President, Global Marketing, CGI. "Leading technology from Hitachi allows us to deliver a variety of business solutions through a cloud delivery model that meets the procurement needs of our clients. It's this integrated approach that makes the CGI and Hitachi Data Systems global partnership a win-win for clients."
Highlights and key facts
CGI is the first global systems integrator to offer consistent block, file and object solutions using the Hitachi Cloud Service Provider program throughout North America and EMEA.
HDS will leverage CGI's state-of-the-art data centers to offer hosted cloud services "in country", starting in Canada, the United States, Sweden, Norway and Portugal, with additional sites to follow.
The initial technologies to be launched include:
Storage as a service
Data vaulting
Disaster recovery as a service
Archiving as a service from Microsoft® Exchange, SharePoint®, databases, network attached storage (NAS), and other environments.
Bottomless edge to core storage (using Hitachi Content Platform and Hitachi Data Ingestor)
File sync and share as a service (using Hitachi Content Platform Anywhere)
CGI is part of Global Systems Integrator Partner Program by Hitachi Data Systems and is also the first global cloud service provider certified by Hitachi Data Systems.