MARLBORO, MASS., February 25, 2002 - Concord Communications (Nasdaq: CCRD) today announced it has integrated its eHealthTM Suite of products with Cisco's VPN Solutions Center (VPNSC). The integrated solution allows service providers to deploy multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) virtual private networks (VPNs) in a matter of hours while providing the management technology they need to keep those private communications channels performing optimally.
Versatel, one of the largest broadband communications network operators in the Netherlands, has integrated Cisco's VPNSC with Concord's eHealth to help ensure its enterprise customers' private communications channels aren't interrupted. "Our customers can't afford to have any hiccups in the secure communications with their satellite offices," said Kees Ouwehand, managing director of network services of Versatel. "Cisco's VPNSC gives us the infrastructure to deliver our services while Concord's eHealth lets us manage them and maintain the important service level agreements (SLAs) we sign with our customers."
eHealth and Cisco's VPNSC let Versatel and other service providers pinpoint and fix problems before they affect service delivery while enabling revenue-generating SLAs.
The integration of eHealth and Cisco VPN Solutions Center module automates customer provisioning, eliminating the time and expense of manually keying in and maintaining customer data normally entailed in running an effective operational support system (OSS) management system. Each time a service provider provisions a customer, eHealth automatically obtains the quality of service information it needs, including SLA parameters, end-user configuration and Cisco Service Assurance agent information to begin managing that service. Automating this process lets network operators reduce the time to begin managing the VPN from days to mere hours.
"Deploying reliable VPNs is crucial to enabling service providers to roll out and manage MPLS-enabled IP services cost effectively," said Sanjay Kapoor, Cisco's VPNSC product marketing manager. "Deploying the technology to effectively manage VPNs can absorb significant resources without automated solutions. Integrating Cisco's VPNSC with Concord's eHealth lets the customer rapidly deploy reliable VPNs, and the means to manage those VPNs and the lucrative SLAs they guarantee to their customers."
The proof is in the SLACisco's VPNSC provisions on MPLS networks, which allow service providers to charge their customers for different levels of VPN service. MPLS lets companies route and manage data traffic using a variety of classes of service. Classifying service delivery as "premium" (real-time) and "best effort" (as soon as possible) enables service providers to bill for each level and generate more revenue. Speeding and managing data delivery allows service providers to easily maintain quality of service, and charge a premium for higher service levels and traffic transportation.
For example, a service provider may use Cisco's VPNSC to establish a VPN between a pharmaceutical company and its worldwide offices. MPLS can provide the pharmaceutical company differentiated traffic classes for time-sensitive voice traffic, primary business applications and best-effort Web traffic. Concord's eHealth provides the measurement and proactive reporting capabilities that let customers see how the service provider is maintaining the vital SLAs that guarantee the individual VPN service's peak performance.
"Why would anyone want to deploy a vital communications channel with customers, partners and satellite offices without having the means to ensure that nothing impedes that communication?" asked Kevin Conklin, Concord's executive vice president of business development. "Combining eHealth with Cisco's VPNSC gives companies reliable VPNs that they can easily deploy and manage within a couple of hours. This integration gives them a quick path to generating revenue and providing a high return on investment. The integration of Concord's eHealth's with Cisco's VPN Solutions Center module is an extension of our participation in Cisco's Service Provider Solutions Ecosystem Partner Program, and offers our customers a superior solution."
About Cisco's Service Provider Solutions Ecosystem Partner Program
The Cisco Service Provider Solutions Ecosystem Partner Program includes best of breed Partners teaming with Cisco to offer products, solutions and services providing tangible benefits to service providers. Membership in this program is offered to companies who exhibit market leadership and utilize Cisco's industry-leading technology while sharing in Cisco's commitment to customer service and satisfaction. Cisco and its Partners offer a wide range of solutions for Packet Telephony, Voice Applications, OSS/BSS, Broadband Access, Content Delivery, Wireless, Security and Integration/Deployment.About Versatel
Versatel Telecom International N.V. (Nasdaq & AEX: VRSA) based in Amsterdam, is a competitive communications network operator and a leading alternative to the former monopoly telecommunications carriers in our target market of the Benelux and northwest Germany. Founded in October 1995, the Company holds full telecommunications licenses in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and has over 72,000 business customers and 1,565 employees. Versatel operates a facilities-based local access broadband network that uses the latest network technologies to provide business customers with high bandwidth voice, data and Internet services. Versatel is a publicly traded company on the Amsterdam Stock Exchanges and Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "VRSA". News and information are available at http://www.versatel.com.About Concord Communications
Concord Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: CCRD) is the market leader in automating technology management of the Internet infrastructure. With its eHealthTM Suite of software products, Concord offers the only solution to combine real time information with historical context for integrated fault and performance management across systems, applications and networks. Only by successfully managing fault, performance and availability across all of these key areas can organizations truly ensure effective e-business. This end-to-end view provides the critical insights needed to power day-to-day business and e-commerce operations for some of today's most successful service providers and corporations worldwide. Concord is headquartered in Marlboro, Mass. For more information on Concord, call 1-800-851-8725 or visit Concord on the Web at www.concord.com.
