Partners Offering Quick-Start Storage Assessment to Evaluate and Identify Opportunities for Reducing Cost and Complexity of Managing BI Data

SPARKS, Md. and Cary, N.C., July 27, 2009 – Systems Alliance, Inc., a regional systems integrator providing high-value IT and business consulting services, today announced it has entered into a partnership with Zencos, a Cary, N.C.-based business intelligence consulting firm and SAS Alliance Gold partner and reseller, to provide clients with all services required for installing, optimizing and managing the SAS Business Analytics Framework.

Initially, the partners will deliver services and solutions focused on improving the performance and manageability of the storage infrastructure underpinning their clients’ SAS deployments. These will include aquick-start SAS storage assessment and implementation of SAS-optimized versions of the Sun Storage 7000 series NAS appliance.

"The industry-leading performance of the SAS Business Analytics Framework can be enhanced by optimizing the underlying storage infrastructure," said David Septoff, CEO, Zencos. "For this reason, we’re very excited about our partnership with Systems Alliance as it gives us immediate access to a team of infrastructure experts with deep experience configuring high-performance, low-cost Sun storage solutions."

As companies become empowered by, and drive more business value with, the SAS Business Analytics Framework, they face the challenge of managing increasingly complex and growing volumes of data. Beyond expanding the scope and cost of storage infrastructure, the process of moving massive volumes of data through the SAS workflow makes storage performance an increasingly critical component in determining the overall performance and effectiveness of the SAS Business Analytics Framework.

"SAS Business Analytics provides our clients with the insight they need for making smarter decisions and thriving – even when economic conditions are challenging," said Ric Hughes, president and CEO, Systems Alliance. "By partnering with Zencos, we gain the expertise of a premier SAS consultant, enabling Systems Alliance to deliver the precise services necessary to ensure our clients get the most value possible from their SAS investments 24/7. We’re very pleased to work with David Septoff and the entire Zencos team."

To help businesses optimize their SAS infrastructure, Systems Alliance and Zencos are offering a low-cost, zero-risk storage assessment. IT and business analytics professionals responsible for ensuring the performance of SAS infrastructure can learn more about the assessment and the other SAS services offered by the partners by visiting http://www.systemsalliance.com/better_SAS_storage.

About Zencos
Zencos architects, builds, and supports business intelligence solutions which provide the vital intelligence necessary to interpret information accurately, allowing companies across all industries to make timely critical business decisions. Zencos is a SAS® Gold Alliance partner that offers a full breadth of solutions including hosted solutions, hardware and software planning, installation and configuration; application development and data storage mechanisms; training and ongoing SAS administration support. See where our vision and strategy for business intelligence can take your company at www.zencos.com.

About Systems Alliance
Systems Alliance, Inc., founded in 1993, is a Maryland-based company that provides business and technology consulting services to leading corporate and public sector clients including Asurion, Condé Nast, Johns Hopkins Institutions, Random House, Inc., Baltimore County Government, and Maryland Department of Transportation. Systems Alliance has local offices in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. To learn more, visit: http://www.systemsalliance.com.