News Release

Alestra Launches "Enterprise C-Computing," a Cloud Computing Service in Mexico Based on VBlock Infrastructure Platform from VCE

Alestra is the first Mexican IT and telecom provider to offer value-added Cloud Computing Servicesd
cisco_building_corporate_002-jpg-1889882-1-0
Nov 08, 2011

ACAPULCO, Mexico, November 8, 2011 – Today at Cisco Live! Mexico, Alestra, a Mexican IT and telecom company, announced it will offer cloud services to Mexican customers based on  VBlockTM Infrastructure Platforms, which integrate best-of-breed technology from Cisco, EMC and VMware into a highly automated and standardized IT infrastructure.

The powerful cloud computing capabilities will allow Alestra to expand its value-added services portfolio, to include an IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) solution for virtual computing, storage  and disaster recovery capabilities through its Enterprise C-Computing service.

Enterprise C-Computing is an IaaS cloud solution from Alestra designed to satisfy the need of the Mexican market for reliable and highly secure options for buying IT infrastructure in the cloud. Enterprise C-Computing combines IaaS services with connectivity and 7x24 support in Spanish.

Enterprise C-Computing provides customers with Virtual Machines (VMs) powered by the Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS™), EMC storage and backup & VMWare virtualization software integrated within the VBlock platform. These virtual computing resources are now available to customers from  which empowers customers to acquire from Alestra Virtual Computing Power (VM) without having to invest in infrastructure at their premises. Using this technology Alestra will provide services from the cloud in minutes delivered from its  world-class Alestra data centers in Monterrey and Guadalajara.

The VBlock platform is the industry's first completely integrated offering that combines virtualization, networking, computing, storage, security, and management technologies into a standard product with end-to-end vendor accountability.

Through this deployment, Alestra will add cloud-based infrastructure solutions to its  portfolio, which  serves over 7,500 business customers with  advanced Cisco® managed services such as IP communication  VPN-MPLS networks, Cisco TelePresence®, digital media Signage (DMS), as well as LAN Wi-Fi managed solutions.

In line with its evolving strategy, Alestra offers today a series of applications to vertical industries under  SaaS (Software as a Service) and recently announced the first offering of SAP, the world-leading ERP application, as a service in Mexico, also under a Software as a Service solution delivered from the cloud. The Enterprise C-Computing platform will leverage Alestra's vertical business momentum  within the healthcare, government and education markets.  

"The  VBLock solution provides us with an integral and robust cloud infrastructure, which will allow the  integration of current technologies from Cisco already deployed in our network," said Ricardo Hinojosa, Alestra's Marketing VP.   "Furthermore, it will enable us to provide an end-to-end enterprise class solution including high availability networking and data center in addition to the flexible computing, storage and DRP capabilities. This new agreement strength our relationship and leverage synergies with other Cisco business units focused in the large and medium enterprise segment."

"Cisco has been providing tecnology for Alestra since its first MPLS and IP network  deployment, and now Cisco is able to support it to enhance its  portfolio with a new line of business at the same time we still supporting its network to ensure reliability, capacity, flexibility and resilience to Alestra end customers," said Alejandro Ceballos, from Cisco Mexico. "The  VBlock platform will help Alestra accelerate its ability to realize the benefits of pervasive virtualization and private cloud infrastructure."

The equipment to be deployed in Alestra infrastructure includes two VBlock interconnected platforms, one  to be deployed in  Monterrey and one  in Guadalajara. Under this Architecture Alestra will offer not only virtualized infrastructure but will allow to configure redundant and geographically disperse environments capable to support operational and even mission critical applications looking to become the IT infrastructure provider of its customers, helping them to reduce operational costs, improving its operational efficiency, and allowing them to focus in building strategies for their core business. 

In addition to the VBlock, Alestra will install the EMC Avamar, dupication backup software and systems, which provides resiliency and data protection for the two VBlock platforms; and the VMware® VCloud Director,  a cloud service provisioning application.

Alestra is a Cisco Gold Partner and a Managed Service Cisco Partner. Cisco is a major supplier for the Alestra IP network, including core and end user's equipment.

About Alestra

Alestra offers the most innovative Information Technology solutions, supported by a comprehensive practice of Network Managed Services to multinational, small and large Mexican companies, as well as institutional clients, with a well defined long term vision. Through its extensive portfolio, Alestra provides: value added services like Data Center, Cloud and Security applications; vertical solutions for specialized industries such as Healthcare, Education, Government and Finance; in addition to consulting services for designing and managing  complex TIC projects.  Its leadership, based on operational excellence is inspired by a constant innovation philosophy and supported by certifications such as ITIL and ISO 27001 among others, additionally boosted by strong and reliable alliances with both leading global and local technology suppliers . Alestra has annually invested over 1,000 million pesos on capital expenditures, in development of new TIC services and infrastructure.

About VCE

VCE, the Virtual Computing Environment Company formed by Cisco and EMC with investments from VMware and Intel, accelerates the adoption of converged infrastructure and cloud-based computing models that dramatically reduce the cost of IT while improving time to market for our customers. VCE, through the VBlock platform, delivers the industry's first completely integrated IT offering with end-to-end vendor accountability. VCE's prepackaged solutions are available through an extensive partner network, and cover horizontal applications, vertical industry offerings, and application development environments, allowing customers to focus on business innovation instead of integrating, validating and managing IT infrastructure. For more information, go to www.vce.com.

VCE and Vblock are trademarks or registered trademarks of VCE Company LLC  in the United States and/or other countries. VMware, VMworld, and VMware View are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.  EMC and Avamar are registered trademarks of EMC Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

# # #

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.