Companies need to consume an expanding array of ever more complex technologies, just to keep up with competition, regulation and changing customer needs. Some companies use technology as a business weapon, changing the dynamics of competition in their industry or creating new ones.

Find out how Cisco uses Managed Services to deliver value while freeing up IT innovators to drive commercial differentiation. Get an insight into the architectures that Cisco has developed to deliver a service oriented network through every part of your business, including your customers, employees and partners.

Cisco works with service providers and systems integrators world wide to deliver a suite of Cisco Powered Network Managed Services. Find out how to make the right decision when you choose to outsource or out-task.

Multisourcing – The Flexible IT Outsourcing Option to Achieving Your Desired Business Outcome.

The user community is demonstrating a sharp U-turn away from total outsourcing, driven by cost reduction due to the lack of flexibility and contractual constraints. Multisourcing and utility based IT services, driven by business outcome, are predicted by industry analysts for significant growth as an alternative.

• What are the options available?
• What are the drivers and issues end users have in moving to this emerging model?

This workshop, with case studies, will assist you answer questions you may have included;

• What are the real drivers for out-tasking your networking functions to a managed service provider?
• What are the KPI’s should be looking for?
• What is total cost of ownership and how can a managed service help?
• Where do I find a service provider to suit my requirements?

Explore what you want from a managed service provider in this interactive discussion with Cisco and your networking peers.

I will be following an analogy from a book written by Joseph Campbell in 1948 which charts the classic "Hero Myth" about how a hero is called to adventure, gains advice from a wise man, overcomes several challenges and then returns with his treasure. Using this analogy I will go through the basic Tennents of a Managed Service, what criteria make an MS decision practical, what steps should be taken to ensure that the right kind of MS is selected and what pitfalls should be overcome. Hopefully Enterprises will be able to navigate these issues to achieve the many benefits which MS can deliver.

The presentation discusses managed communication services (MCS), which has emerged in response to growing demand from enterprises for an enhanced range of network-based services that can optimize total cost of ownership, integrate with traditional service delivery models, and guarantee an appropriate technological evolution path.

These services exist in four domains: managed business communication services, managed employee interaction services, managed customer interaction services and managed networking services. Success of operators will be determined by factors such as:

• Provide a flexible range of service solutions to enterprises, complete with optimized cost structures at both network and operational levels
• Develop solution and integration capabilities through a proper go-to-market approach that addresses different enterprise segments
• Provide solution integration, local support and maintenance capabilities
• Use effective marketing to match enterprise segment needs with appropriate service bundles and trusted support.