PDS: Achieves Advanced Data Center Specialization from Cisco in U.S.

PDS first in Wisconsin to achieve comprehensive solutions ranking

Contact: Gareth Harwood

Executive Director of Marketing, PDS

(262) 569-5318

OCONOMOWOC, Wis. – Jan. 20, 2009 – Paragon Development Systems (PDS) announced today that it has achieved the Advanced Data Center Networking Infrastructure (DCNI) Specialization from Cisco®, which recognizes PDS as having fulfilled the training requirements and program prerequisites to sell, deliver and support comprehensive Cisco Data Center solutions. PDS is the only Cisco partner in Wisconsin to achieve this specialization to date.

“Our team has worked tirelessly to complete the rigorous training necessary to qualify for this specialization,” PDS Director of Converged Networks Dan Plautz said. “PDS, as the leading provider of Data Center products and service, is now uniquely positioned to act on behalf of our clients to deliver the full benefits of the new Cisco Data Center solutions.”

“As a Cisco Advanced DCNI Specialized Partner, PDS’s investment in the training required to provide integrated, collaborative and adaptive data center networking solutions ranks it among the industry’s most qualified,” said John Growdon, director of marketing for worldwide channels at Cisco.

The Cisco Advanced DCNI Specialization is designed to help enable partners to address the requirements that enterprise and commercial customers face in deploying a wide range of data center technologies and applications. Cisco Advanced DCNI Specialized Partners are specialists in building end-to-end data center solutions based on the industry-leading Cisco data center networking products, including the Nexus Family of data center switching products, Catalyst® 4900 and 6500 Series Switches, Catalyst Blade switches, Firewall Services Module, Network Analysis Module, Application Control Engine module and appliance, Global Site Selector appliance, and Application Networking Manager.

PDS Vice President of Sales John Miller noted the market has anticipated the benefits of DCNI for the last three years.

“PDS has played a role in future-proofing and aligning the market to adapt these beneficial technologies,” Miller said. “We are pleased to be the first in our region to market in this exciting space and leverage our expertise in complete data center solutions, which provides a more scalable, agile, and efficient infrastructure for our clients.”

Achieving the Cisco Advanced DCNI Specialization also provides PDS with access to Cisco’s comprehensive sales, technical, and lifecycle services training and support.

“PDS already had a great relationship with Cisco, but the Data Center focus now allows PDS to leverage its deep expertise in Virtualization and Data Center hardware to accelerate adoption of more efficient Data Center Switching and Network Virtualization necessary to drive up utilization in the datacenter further,” Plautz commented.

PDS is the largest reseller of Intel/AMD based server technology and VMware infrastructure in the region.

About PDS

For more than 20 years, Paragon Development Systems, Inc. has been providing technology products, services and solutions to medium and large size organizations, improving the quality of life for IT departments in over 22 states. As a technology services company, PDS architects, supplies, implements and manages IT for organizations in four primary markets: healthcare, government/higher-education, corporate, and professional services.

In addition to being a major Enterprise Tier product and service reseller (for manufacturers such as HP, IBM, Cisco, Microsoft and others) PDS manufactures its own PDS-branded PCs in an ISO 9001:2000-certified 43,000-square-foot configuration center. PDS also offers clients a single-point-of-contact, ITIL-aware resource for service management with a 24×7 help desk.

Headquartered in Oconomowoc, Wis., PDS has office locations in Appleton, Brookfield, Madison, Sheboygan, and Wausau, WI, Chicago, IL, Indianapolis, IN, Columbus, OH, Minneapolis, MN and Kansas City, MO. With more than 260 employees, PDS holds more than 400 certifications in technology services, installation and support of computer systems. PDS has been assessed and approved by National Quality Assurance, USA, an accredited ISO 9000 auditor.

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