Vanguard Managed Solutions Sets New Standard for ISO 9001 Certification.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MANSFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2003

One of the First MSPs to Certify Service Development, Delivery, and Support Processes; Offers Customers New Level of Quality Assurance

for Services

Furthering its ongoing efforts to continuously improve its business practices and elevate the quality of its services, Vanguard Managed Solutions (VanguardMS) has completed a full audit of its business processes and achieved ISO 9001 certification--the internationally recognized accreditation standard. One of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to obtain ISO 9001 certification, VanguardMS leads the way for services companies to adopt a standard of quality, measurement, and accountability that was once principally associated with product manufacturers.

VanguardMS engaged the certifying agency BRQ to audit its service development and network management processes and procedures for all of the services and solutions delivered from its Network Operations Center. VanguardMS' objective was to identify and document the best, most successful practices for supporting its customers. This certification verifies that VanguardMS has a consistent, reliable methodology for repeatable processes to deliver the highest quality managed network services to its customers. It also adds credibility and commonality to suppliers and partners who share ISO certification.

"Until now, service providers and their client constituencies have relied on the SLA as the only method for measuring and documenting accountability," said Jeffrey Nudler, senior analyst, Enterprise Management Associates. "Services companies have long had the challenge of differentiating their offerings with or without quantifiable metrics. With ISO 9001 certification, VanguardMS has focused on critical process and quality requirements -- which should provide its managed services customers with added incentive to trust their mission-critical networks to VanguardMS' care."

The audit measured the quality of management processes delivered through VanguardMS' Network Operations Center, the platform for all of VanguardMS' networking solutions. The audit entailed an examination of service functions including discovery, analysis of information, corrective action and customer feedback loops.

"This worldwide recognition will give our customers and partners something tangible and quantifiable so they can be confident in the solutions we provide", said Rick Lane, CEO, VanguardMS. "From the management processes of the NOC to the implementation of our products and services, we are committed to delivering the networking solutions that best address our customers business needs. VanguardMS has made an investment of our people and resources to establish the most successful methodology that is consistent and repeatable throughout our entire business. The return on this investment will go to our customers who will benefit from known, proven and recognized practices."

"VanguardMS had already established a well-organized, well-documented methodology that was aligned with our certification criteria," said Eileen McIntyre, vice president of registration services, BRQ. "It made our jobs easy and efficient. With the support of senior management and a near flawless rating of their procedures, VanguardMS is a model for the business processes that services companies should be conducting."

About Vanguard Managed Solutions

Vanguard Managed Solutions (www.vanguardms.com) is a leading provider of managed network solutions. Leveraging its leadership and expertise in voice, video, and data over a broad range of multi-service technologies, VanguardMS helps organizations get the maximum value from their IT infrastructure through fully customized, industry-specific, end-to-end solutions that support their business's networking needs.

VanguardMS offers a full range of services addressing the network's entire lifecycle to customers worldwide. This range of services, along with the award-winning Vanguard multi-service IP access router series, is the basis for complete, custom, scalable solutions that enhance productivity, while cutting costs. VanguardMS takes care of your network so you can take care of your business.