Verizon Business Helps Enterprises Harness the Power of the ’Cloud’

Company Delivers New Program to Assist Businesses in Managing the Move to Internet-Based Computing and Beyond

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Cloud computing is transforming how IT resources are delivered. For today’s enterprises, it is not a question of if they will adopt “cloud,” or Internet-based, services, but how and when.

Verizon Business is helping enterprises down this critical path with its new Cloud Computing Program - a set of IT consulting and managed services that offer enterprises a holistic approach to transitioning to the cloud, while addressing specific security, privacy, performance and governance requirements. The Verizon Cloud Computing Program also helps enterprises manage, monitor and maintain their clouds, whether applications are delivered from an enterprise’s own data center, or one operated by Verizon or a third party.

This lifecycle-centric program offers enterprises a flexible, vendor-neutral approach to understanding the cloud environment, using a five-tiered process: assess, design, migrate, manage and secure. By leveraging the company’s experts in data center virtualization, application management and security, Verizon Business works with enterprise customers to create a secure, cloud computing environment, while giving them the level of support desired, no matter where they are in their cloud computing deployment.

Cloud computing, the use of Internet-based technology to supply IT resources, enables enterprises to employ computing resources in the quantities and duration dictated by business requirements, thereby paying for only the resources used and avoiding the need to build out for peak capacity requirements by buying new equipment and adding staff.

Of key concern is advising client-partners on which business applications should be moved to the cloud in order to better use data center resources, enhance performance and control IT costs, as well as identifying the best cloud environment - public, private or a hybrid combination of the two.

(Note: Listen to an audio podcast on Verizon Cloud Computing Program.)

“It is now clear that cloud computing is part of the future of IT,” said Joe Crawford, executive director - IT solutions and hosting product management, Verizon. “While many businesses recognize the many benefits associated with cloud computing, concerns still persist over security, performance and governance. With our market-leading IT capabilities and experience from building and deploying our flagship cloud offering, Computing as a Service, Verizon Business is well-positioned to advise enterprises on their cloud computing strategy.”

Gartner Inc., a leading worldwide information technology research and advisory firm, forecasts that the market for cloud services will grow to $150.1 billion by 2013, from an estimated $46.4 billion today¹.

Verizon Cloud Computing Program

The Verizon Cloud Computing Program is part of the company’s comprehensive approach to cloud computing. From Computing as a Service to IT consulting services, Verizon Business is making it easier for customers to build the right foundation to meet their often complex requirements. The Verizon Cloud Computing Program joins the company’s extensive portfolio of IT and hosting solutions. Supported by a global team of professional services experts and backed by a secure and reliable technology infrastructure, Verizon Business’ IT solutions enable customers to meet the most pressing IT demands. Visit the Verizon IT Solutions & Hosting Web site for more information.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a global leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise with one of the world’s most connected IP networks to deliver award-winning communications, IT, information security and network solutions. We securely connect today’s extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers, partners, suppliers and employees - enabling them to increase productivity and efficiency and help preserve the environment. Many of the world’s largest businesses and governments - including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and thousands of government agencies and educational institutions - rely on our professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

¹ Gartner, Inc., “Forecast: Sizing Cloud; Understanding the Opportunities in Cloud Services,” March 18, 2009; Authors: B. Pring, R. H. Brown, A. Frank, S. Hayward, L. Leong, ID Number G00166525.