Reed Smith Relies on Virtela Enterprise Network Services to Support Middle East Operations

DENVER, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Customer Benefits:

• Order of magnitude reduction in cost compared to other service provider options
• Reliable network performance supports real-time collaboration, video conferencing
• Real-time visibility into network performance through VirtelaView customer portal

Virtela, the world's largest independent managed network, security and cloud services company, announced today the benefits of its implementation for Reed Smith LLP, a leading international law firm with more than 1,600 lawyers in 22 offices around the world, which is using Virtela's managed network services to support the firm's Middle East offices.  Virtela offered Reed Smith significant cost savings over other providers serving the region and the high performance and reliability the firm required to support real-time collaboration.

"As we expanded in the Middle East, we saw significant increases in both network costs and implementation times from our existing network providers," said Frank Hervert, senior manager of network services for Reed Smith.  "Virtela offered us a managed network service that was an order of magnitude less expensive, and the company truly advocates on our behalf with local carriers, resulting in strong ongoing service management and performance."

Through Virtela's partnerships with hundreds of carriers around the world, combined with its advanced technology platforms, Virtela is able to offer customers the highest performing managed services backed by the industry's most advanced service guarantees. By leveraging Virtela's intelligent overlay network and algorithms to perform best-path routing and automatic failover for customer network and application traffic, enterprises receive an inherently higher performing, more resilient and cost effective alternative than traditional carrier networks.

For Reed Smith, low-latency and reliable performance is particularly critical given its extensive deployment of virtual desktop technology and videoconferencing endpoints that enhance collaboration across its distributed workforce.

"Operating as a global law firm, our presence in the Middle East is critical. Our attorneys need to be able to collaborate in real-time and operate efficiently," Hervert added.  "Virtela's reliability is the best I've seen in my career and their in-region support helps our attorneys build better relationships with our clients and provide our services more effectively.  At the end of the day, we see three primary benefits with Virtela: price, performance, and transparency into our network health."

Virtela provides visibility into all key performance metrics across all services through the VirtelaView customer portal. VirtelaView provides end-to-end visibility and control of Virtela-managed solutions, including historical, real-time and predictive performance reporting.  Virtela is the single point of contact for expert design, implementation and 24x7 monitoring and management worldwide. Virtela's global Network and Security Operations Centers are staffed with seasoned engineers who leverage the company's sophisticated predictive analytics technology – VirtelaPredict™– to proactively identify, resolve and alert customers of issues often before they even detect an issue.

"Virtela's unique model provides enterprises with unmatched flexibility, performance and return on investment in supporting diverse enterprise requirements, backed by our commitment to go the extra mile for every customer," said Mark Weiner, Virtela's senior vice president of worldwide marketing.  "Virtela provides these capabilities across the Middle East and the world, and also delivers optimal performance through cloud-based services such as application acceleration. We're pleased with how we've been able to help Reed Smith leverage these assets to improve their clients' experience and attract new business."

Virtela offers a full suite of managed network, security and cloud services powered by its intelligent multi-carrier model and the world's first independent platform for cloud network and IT services – the Virtela Enterprise Services Cloud (ESC). The company's unique open architecture leverages the latest technologies to give customers and partners a competitive edge while delivering the most value out of every information technology dollar they invest.

About Virtela

Virtela Technology Services Incorporated is the world's largest independent managed network, security and cloud services company. Virtela offers an award-winning suite of services – including managed networks, security, application acceleration and proactive infrastructure management – to midmarket and Fortune 500 customers around the world. Virtela offers unparalleled geographic reach to more than 190 countries through its partnerships with more than 500 carriers.

Virtela is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with globally distributed Network and Security Operations Centers in the U.S., India and the Philippines. For more information, please call +1 (720) 475-4000 or visit www.virtela.net.

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with nearly 1,600 lawyers in 22 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises.  Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions.  Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media, shipping, energy trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education.  For more information, visit reedsmith.com.

SOURCE Virtela