MNP LLP Selects Q9 to Consolidate and Improve IT Infrastructure Reliability

CALGARY, March 9, 2015 /CNW/ - Q9 Networks is pleased to announce it has been selected by MNP to provide a high-availability co-location solution that allows the company to consolidate its critical IT infrastructure from in-house facilities to a Q9 data centre in Calgary.

MNP is one of Canada's largest providers of professional accounting, consulting and tax services with 3500 employees and more than 50 offices across the country.

Prior to Q9, MNP's IT infrastructure was replicated between two in-house data centres located in separate buildings in downtown Calgary. However, the company experienced frequent communications and power issues at the two sites, including a fire in a hydro duct that disrupted power to both buildings.

"We were already looking for a more reliable solution when the fire hit," says Phil O'Brien-Moran, Vice President of Technology, MNP. "That incident caused us to make the move a priority. After conducting extensive due diligence, we selected Q9 to host our primary IT systems. What impressed us most was Q9's highly redundant power infrastructure and Internet bandwidth service that eliminates any single point of failure. What further impressed us was Q9's responsiveness in helping with the move to their facility, which took place over a long weekend and went without a hitch. Today, we can focus on more strategic issues without worrying about data centre infrastructure because of the reliability provided by Q9."

Q9 designs, builds and operates its data centres to meet a range of IT infrastructure requirements, including co-location, Infrastructure-as-a-Utility, private cloud, fully managed and hybrid solutions. Customers connect to the Internet via Q9's unique network and are protected by Q9's 100 per cent, SLA-backed uptime guarantees on both power and network availability. Customer equipment and data centre environmental parameters are monitored 7x24 by Q9's Control Centre, staffed by experts versed in all aspects of IT and facilities management.

"MNP is a fast-growing firm that is taking advantage of the extensive investments we've made in our facilities and processes to provide a rock-solid platform for their mission-critical IT operations," says Karen Sheriff, President and Chief Executive Officer, Q9 Networks. "By outsourcing to Q9, MNP ensures superior IT availability for customers and employees while reducing complexity and freeing up resources to concentrate on what they do best."

About MNP

MNP is a leading national accounting, tax and business consulting firm in Canada - proudly serving and responding to the needs of clients in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Through partner-led engagements, MNP provides a collaborative, cost-effective approach to doing business and personalized strategies to help organizations succeed across the country and around the world.

About Q9 Networks:

Q9 Networks Inc. is Canada's leading provider of outsourced data centre infrastructure for organizations with mission-critical IT operations. Q9's national footprint of 14 high-availability data centres spans three provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario and serves customers in both the public and private sectors. Q9 is owned by an investor group comprising Canada's largest communication company, BCE Inc., and some of the largest and most experienced North American pension and private equity funds, including: Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Providence Equity Partners and Madison Dearborn Partners LLC.

SOURCE Q9 Networks Inc.

Kevin Spikes, Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications, Q9 Networks Inc., Toronto: 416-848-3311, Toll Free: 1-888-696-2266, [email protected]