Two Canadian technology partners demonstrate their commitment and leadership in the channel community at the annual Microsoft IMPACT Awards
Toronto, ON – November 17, 2008 – Envision IT and CMS Incorporated Inc. announced today that their Web Content Management solution for Cadillac Fairview was the winner of two prominent awards at the 2008 Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards for Custom Development and Security. The sixth annual IMPACT awards recognize excellence across the large and diverse community of Microsoft’s Canadian technology partners. The winners were announced at a gala event in Toronto on November 13, 2008.
“As real leaders in their fields, our technology partners continue to help customers optimize their business performance,” said Lora Gernon, Senior Director, Partner Group, Microsoft Canada Co. “Our annual IMPACT Awards celebrates top technology partners who have shown true passion through their tremendous service to customers and innovative solutions.”
Microsoft Canada recognized the power of the solution that Envision IT and CMS Consulting Inc. were able to provide Cadillac Fairview by working together and bringing to bear their unique expertise to solve the company’s problem of trying to manage multiple external websites.
Envision IT won best custom development solution for the creation of a framework, based on the SharePoint platform, which will support all 26 Cadillac Fairview retail web sites. This solution includes a .NET interface that allows mall tenants to post content to the Web site, from store promotions to job openings. “It's a hybrid solution of a very custom piece built for that purpose, and out of the box SharePoint for the Web content management,” said Peter Carson, Envision President. “It was a solution that drew on our developers' past expertise with .NET and also helped develop new expertise with SharePoint.”
CMS Consulting Inc. was chosen as the winner of the Security Solution for the demonstrated expertise in providing the most advanced security solutions and services to help protect Cadillac Fairview’s information assets. “Our partnership with Envision IT allowed us to build a solution that fully addressed our customers’ needs,” adds Brian Bourne, CMS President. “Microsoft Forefront Security for SharePoint was used along with server hardening best practices and intrusion detection to ensure a highly secure server environment that allows Cadillac Fairview to continue leading the way in commercial real estate with innovative and secure retail websites”.
Together, these partners were able to develop a secure, standard website for Cadillac Fairview that can be seamlessly deployed across multiple sites. User benefits include easy navigation, richer search and greater customer interaction through standardized page layout, content and image management and more stringent approval workflows to ensure greater consistency across multiple sites. This solution truly leverages Microsoft’s People Ready message related to bringing information and people together. These wins were also recognized in itbusiness.ca, CRN Online and eChannelLine.
Cadillac Fairview has 27 production websites operating on different web content management (WCM) platforms, hosted by various 3rd party organizations. In order to simplify the external website environment, improve WCM functionality & security, leverage internal expertise & knowledge and substantially reduce operating costs, Cadillac Fairview has engaged Envision IT to deploy Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 as the new standard WCM platform. The Toronto Eaton Centre (www.torontoeatoncentre.com) was the first site launched in July 2008. In addition to what the public sees on the site, a completely new CFPromo promotions tool was also launched to allow TEC retailers to post content to the site through an approvals process.
About the Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards
In 2003, Microsoft Canada replaced all of its previous technology partner awards with a unified program that also recognizes customer service, marketing, and contribution to the community. The IMPACT Awards include categories that recognize top technology partners for excellence in four categories: Solution Awards; Business Awards; Marketing Awards; and Community & Initiative Awards. The Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards are open to Systems Integrators, Large Account Resellers, Direct Market Resellers, Value Added Resellers, Distributors, Systems Builders, Authorized Education Resellers, Certified Partners for Learning Solutions, Microsoft Certified Partners, Independent Software Vendors, Channel Suppliers, Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) Partners and Original Equipment Manufacturers. For a list of all 2008 winners, and more information on the Microsoft for Partner IMPACT Awards, please visit http://www.microsoft.ca/awards.  |
About Envision IT
For over 20 years, Envision IT has helped our clients fully realize the potential they can gain by bringing their processes to life on the Internet. Envision IT is the “go-to” partner for Microsoft SharePoint, building integrated public web sites, Intranets, Extranets, and web applications that leverage our clients’ existing systems anywhere over the Internet.
About CMS Consulting Inc.
CMS Consulting is a premiere boutique System Integrator focused exclusively on Microsoft Advanced Infrastructure, Security and Collaboration. Leveraged by Canada’s foremost corporations and public sector organizations, our reputation for delivering Microsoft-based security-focused IT consulting is second to none. A seven-time Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, CMS has the unique ability to delivery truly efficient, secure and well managed IT infrastructure.
About Cadillac Fairview
Cadillac Fairview is one of North America's largest investors, owners and managers of commercial real estate. For more than 50 years, Cadillac Fairview has been leading the way in commercial real estate with innovative design, development and management |