Managed service provider offers international plan

RESTON, VA. - KeyBridge, a managed services firm focused on companies requiring mission-critical Internet infrastructures, was expected to officially launch its offerings this week.

KeyBridge, of Reston, Va., is keying in on small to midsize businesses requiring an international or regional online presence. The services KeyBridge has on tap include system and security architecture and management, storage architecture, network monitoring and VPN management.

"Large enterprises can afford to build their own Web infrastructures, but small to midsize companies can't afford the skill sets required," says Paul Nemirovsky, KeyBridge's CEO. "But for some smaller businesses the Web is mission-critical, so there's an opportunity here."

KeyBridge is a services-only company. It will work with customers to integrate and support a variety of applications. The company will also work with customers to select the most appropriate telecom service provider.

KeyBridge will monitor its customers' operations through three network operations centers (NOC) in Washington, D.C., London and Singapore. The London and Washington sites are completed, while the Singapore site should be up and running later this year.

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While KeyBridge will try to steer customers toward the collocation space of KeyBridge investor Global Switch, the company will work with customers housed in other data centers.

Global Switch, which has invested $60 million in KeyBridge, operates more than 5 million square feet of collocation facilities worldwide.

KeyBridge's services will be based around a series of preconfigured systems and software. Customers can build their ideal package using these "Lego boxes," Nemirovsky says.

KeyBridge will rely on the NOCs for more sophisticated monitoring and support, but will also have staff on hand at local data centers to provide on-site maintenance.

Bill Martorelli, an analyst with research firm Hurwitz Group, says the international angle may be what sets KeyBridge apart from other players in the managed services market.

"This could appeal to a U.S. company that's global and needs to expand into Europe or vice versa," he says.

However, Martorelli notes the managed services market is becoming crowded, and it may be tough for companies offering managed services to drum up enough demand.

KeyBridge: www.keybridgecorp.com

Contact Senior Writer Michael Martin

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