Dimension Data today announced it has acquired the final shareholding in managed and cloud IT and telecommunications services company BlueFire, and Netforce, the hosted and managed IT services provider that merged with BlueFire in 2010. This makes BlueFire a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dimension Data, consolidating its managed services and cloud computing offering in Australia and Asia, where BlueFire has a growing footprint.
Headquartered in Sydney, BlueFire offers a range of managed and cloud computing services to more than 500 mid-size clients across Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Its services include productivity application hosting, email and email security, desktop as a service, hosted telephony, cloud storage, disaster recovery, private networks, disaster and backup recovery and cloud computing. BlueFire operates from seven data centres in Australia and New Zealand, hosting more than 2500 servers and associated infrastructure.
Dimension Data made its first strategic investment in BlueFire in 2008. In mid-2010, it took a further stake in the company and, at the same time, acquired a majority stake in Netforce. As a consequence of the investment, the two companies merged operations under the BlueFire brand.
With the full acquisition, BlueFire becomes part of Dimension Data’s global Cloud Solutions business unit, along with OpSource, the Santa Clara-based enterprise cloud company Dimension Data acquired in June 2011. The unit reports to Steve Nola, who is the Group CEO for Dimension Data’s Cloud Solutions business unit and CEO for the Dimension Data Australia group of companies.
In Australia, BlueFire’s day-to-day operations, reporting lines, branding, and 85 staff, and management will remain unchanged by the full acquisition, and Dimension Data will continue to market its Hosted and Cloud Computing Services Suite in the Australian market.
“The advantage in having BlueFire as a fully-owned entity and part of our new global Cloud Solutions business unit is that we are now able to extend its world-leading intellectual property and resources to develop services and solutions to benefit our broader multinational business,” said Mr Nola.
Mr Nola added that Dimension Data’s Australian-based clients can continue to take advantage of BlueFire and Netforce’s advanced infrastructure and skill-set in hosted and cloud computing, supported by Dimension Data’s broad IT integration capabilities and managed services expertise. “We’re seeing a rapid increase in organisations looking for more flexible, IT-as-a-service solutions. With BlueFire, we are able to meet this need better than most, and we also enable organisations to store and manage their data in Australia, as many want to do for security and regulatory reasons.”
“Many organisations are looking to migrate to new hosted or cloud-based IT infrastructure, but it is complex. It involves a broad and interdependent range of technologies, services and skills that few IT service providers can deliver to a high level. As one integrated organisation, BlueFire and Dimension Data can help organisations make this transition effectively and with minimal risk, at the same time deriving the benefits that come with utilising hosted and cloud computing services.”
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About Dimension Data
Founded in 1983, Dimension Data plc is an ICT services and solutions provider that uses its technology expertise, global service delivery capability, and entrepreneurial spirit to accelerate the business ambitions of its clients. Dimension Data is a member of the NTT Group. www.dimensiondata.com.
About BlueFire
Founded in 1996, BlueFire is Australia’s original and most progressive managed and cloud IT and telecommunications services company. Offering a broad suite of services and expertise across Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Rim, in addition to providing its services directly to mid-size organisations, BlueFire enables IT integrators, telecommunications service providers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to rapidly bring to market the broadest range of cloud services available for their customers. www.bluefire.com.au