MSPAlliance Establishes New Cloud, MSP Certification Standard

PRESS RELEASE

CHICO – (March 29, 2011) – MSPAlliance (MSPA), the world's largest Professional Association and Accrediting Body for the Managed Services Industry (www.mspalliance.com), today introduced The Unified Certification Standard (UCS), a new certification standard for cloud and managed service providers (MSPs). UCS offers both of the aforementioned service providers with a standard that is specific to their industry and profession, in addition to a public facing report that can be used to provide assurance to existing and prospective clients.

“The Unified Certification Standard is unique as it not only builds upon the groundbreaking work accomplished by leading MSPs when they created the Managed Services Accreditation Program back in 2005, but is also the first of its kind to offer both a MSP and cloud service, non-technical provider certification,” said Charles Weaver, president and co-founder, MSPAlliance.

Mr. Weaver added, “This certification will offer the service provider a public facing report issued by an independent third party, certified public accounting firm that will provide greater levels of assurance – more than any technical certification – to the service provider and their clients.”

The UCS will provide two levels of certification for both company types. Level One will provide a report that has a fixed certification date; Level Two will provide a report that is forward looking in nature.

According to Frost, PLLC Risk Assurance Services Senior Manager, Cody Griffin, “This certification provides a new, cost-effective way for a wide range of companies to receive an audited report to support their business’ growth. Coupled with the inherent global recognition, the Unified Certification Standard will add true, significant value to those companies which obtain it.”

"The Unified Certification Standard is a groundbreaking achievement for cloud providers," said Scott West, CEO of CloudSway, a Seattle based Cloud Services Provider. "As cloud technology is just beginning to reach critical mass around the world, the need for an effective standard that has a easy to understand public report to help end-user businesses is something that will only help grow our industry."

About the MSPAlliance For over 10 years, the MSPAlliance has been the only unified voice for the Managed Services Industry, and the only organization that promotes the highest level of professionalism, reliability and integrity. As the world's largest Professional Association and Accrediting Body for the Managed Services Industry, the MSPAlliance was created to meet the needs of the Managed Services Professional and to educate the end-user community on the benefits of using a Managed Service Provider.

For additional information, please visit http://www.mspalliance.com