Netcad transforms IT services business using Kaseya

Kaseya (http://www.kaseya.co.za), a global provider of IT automation software for IT solutions providers and public and private sector IT organisations, today announced that South African IT consultancy Netcad has transformed its managed service business following the implementation of the Kaseya IT automation platform. By using Kaseya to automate key tasks and remotely manage client IT systems, the company has dramatically reduced travel to client sites and freed up over 90 man-hours per week. This has enabled Netcad to grow its customer base by 25% without increasing its head count, and attract new clients located a significant distance from its Johannesburg headquarters.

Since the implementation of Kaseya in June 2007, Netcad has radically transformed its IT services business from a traditional "break/fix" model to one that offers proactive IT managed services and support for more than 600 PCs, laptops and servers. The platform enables Netcad to remotely and simultaneously monitor and manage the infrastructure, network components, servers and desktop PCs for every client, through a single, integrated Web-based interface.

The integrated view also enables Netcad to group and manage the IT systems according to client, machine roles, or by physical site, as well as other service-based permutations such as all customers on 'Platinum' service level. As a result, the company can schedule key tasks and procedures such as system back-up, running virus checks, deletion of temporary files and patch management, and run these across the entire customer base at the same time.

Dianne Blumberg of Plastics Federation of South Africa, a customer of Netcad, commented: “Outsourcing the ongoing management and maintenance of our IT system to Netcad means that our IT is always functioning at an optimal level. Downtime is minimised and potential issues are identified before they become a problem, but most importantly, using a specialist managed service provider ensures we can concentrate on our core business.”

According to Jan Smith, marketing manager at Netcad, Kaseya has really opened up the market for the IT consultancy: “Previously, we supported businesses close to Johannesburg to minimise 'dead' travel time, which could be as much as 20 hours a day, but by automating and running key tasks remotely we can cost-effectively support companies with multiple branches or rural offices. We have dramatically increased our capacity to take on new business, while ensuring all clients receive a rapid, proactive IT service. We evaluated many systems and Kaseya stood out head and shoulders above the rest. In just 12 months, the software has transformed our business.”

Key features of the Kaseya IT automation platform include:

* Fully automated patch management
* Easy, powerful and comprehensive scripting for scheduling and automating tasks
* Automated, recurring and complete hardware inventory and software inventory and audits
* System monitoring and event alerts
* Secure remote control
* Comprehensive, integrated management reporting
* Powerful anti-virus and anti-spyware detection

Garth Hayward, Regional Manager Africa, Kaseya, commented: “Netcad is an excellent example of a traditional IT service provider that has successfully made the transition from 'break-fix' to proactive, automated IT managed service provision. Smaller businesses are faced with an increasingly competitive and globalised market, where every penny and every second counts. By using Kaseya, managed service providers such as Netcad can meet the demands of smaller businesses for reliable, cost-effective and flexible IT support.”

To find out more about how Kaseya can transform managed service delivery, register to attend the company's free “Journey to Managed Services” educational seminars, running in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town from 16 to 19 September 2008.