Internap Launches Professional Services Group; Customers to Benefit from Unique IP Optimization Team Focused on Simplifying Complex Networks and Application Performance

Business Wire, Feb 28, 2005

ATLANTA -- Internap Network Services (AMEX: IIP), the leading provider of performance-based routing solutions over the Internet, today announced the launch of Internap Professional Services, an organization designed to help companies build and optimize IP-based networks to meet the specific goals of their businesses.

Internap Professional Services combines a deep understanding of IP route optimization technologies and real-world experience with the industry's leading network- and premised-based solutions to deliver an unprecedented range of skills and capabilities. Enterprises looking to move critical applications to the Internet or to improve the performance of existing IP-based services will benefit from this experienced group of network architects and IP professionals.

"Our network is our business, so selecting the right services organization to assist with our WAN upgrades was essential for us," said Douglas Chadwick, CEO at Dynamic Concepts, Inc. "Dynamic chose Internap Professional Services. Their combination of WAN optimization expertise, years of operational experience and knowledge of specific networking equipment and vendors makes them unique. And, our experience working with them validated our decision. They were able to make changes to our critical infrastructure without causing disruptions to our business. With our new configuration, we've given our customers a more resilient network. Internap Professional Services played a central role in this process."

"Networks are becoming increasingly complex, and managing them to appropriate performance levels is becoming a larger burden by the day," noted Robin Gareiss, executive vice president for Nemertes Research. "Our research indicates that IT executives need tools and services to help them manage mission-critical applications--not only over their private networks, but also over the public Internet. Professional services that help organizations improve network performance and reduce operating costs will be in ever-growing demand in the coming year."

The concept of "multi-homing"--or using more than one path through the Internet--has been used by companies for the last decade to better ensure application performance and service availability for WANs. The costs and complexity of this approach, however, have stalled many deployments. Internap Professional Services deploys the expertise and services, along with the latest in multi-homed design techniques for both public and private networks, to enable organizations to take advantage of the benefits of multi-homing, providing critical failover and redundancy for enterprise and service provider networks.

"Internap is the only company with the critical mass of expertise to effectively deliver this type of offering," said Dave Abrahamson, vice president of Sales for Internap. "This team, with years of complex IP network experience and the most up-to-date network optimization skills and tools, will work with companies on a consultative basis to both optimize existing multi-homed networks and help companies build redundant, resilient and efficient infrastructures. The combination of technical expertise, field tested processes and market-leading technologies will enable companies to confidently deploy Internet-based business-critical applications."

Internap Professional Services Product Offerings

Internap Professional Services offerings are delivered in flexible packages that meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, including enterprises, service providers and technology companies. Services range from handling complex WAN assessments and optimization of technologies, to network audits and customized engineering support for organizations that are resource constrained or lack specific expertise. Packages include:

--Multi-Home Jumpstart - for companies who see the value in a multi-homed environment, but do not have the in-house resources to implement a solution. Solutions architects work with the customer to plan, design and execute a complete multi-home package optimized for specific applications performance requirements and cost considerations.

--Multi-Home Optimizer - for companies that are already multi-homed, but need to get more out of their existing WANs, optimized for both performance and cost improvements. Services include network and route discovery, network design and capacity planning, carrier renegotiation, hardware installation and configuration and routing policy configuration.

--WAN Assessment - provides customers an "inside view" of their WANs' ability to deliver service performance for specific applications such as voice, video or data intensive services. Deliverables include WAN design documentation, baseline traffic analysis, technology and/or design change recommendations and ongoing assessment refreshes.

--FCP Complete - enables Internap's Flow Control Platform customers to get the greatest benefit from their route control devices. Solutions architects work with the customer to plan, design, and execute a top-to-bottom FCP implementation plan, including installation strategies, resource training and on-going product enhancements.