ASPs are hearing two words more and more these days: “Prove it.”
Naturally, potential customers want assurances that an ASP can deliver what it says it can. But they also want proof that a service provider can deliver reliably, predictably and consistently.
USinternetworking (NASDAQ: USIX), a leading enterprise ASP and application infrastructure provider (AIP), now lays claim to two ways to assure clients that it has those qualities.
Annapolis, Md-based USi announced today that it received the SysTrust CyberProcess Certification, following an audit performed by Ernst & Young, LLP. Introduced by American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in early 2000, SysTrust allows ASPs to verify they have the systems and processes in place to back up their service-level agreements (SLAs). (see ASPs and CPAs, July 19, ASPnews).
The audits are conducted by third-party CPAs. Depending on the complexity of the audit, costs range from $15,000 to $250,000. SysTrust ensures an ASP’s reliability through a process that tests four key areas: security, integrity, maintainability and availability.
USi also announced that it received a new certificate of registration for its ISO 9001 quality management system.
The ISO 9001 recertification is a validation of USi’s provisioning of predictable and repeatable processes. According to USi, the recertification assessment included review of its quality management system throughout the USi Global Services Platform.
USi adds this certification and recertification to others that include Cisco Powered Network, EMC Proven, SunTone and SAS-70 Type 1 and 2. And, the company says, it is the only ASP to have received Microsoft Gold Certification across more than one product offering.
USi delivers software from Ariba, BroadVision, Lawson, Microsoft, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Plumtree and Siebel as a monthly fee-based service. Its AppHost managed application hosting services provides enterprises, software companies and system integrators with a way to deliver solutions over the Internet.
USi is listed as as ASPnews Top 20 company.
