Wellington, 30 March 2021
Spark-owned IT and multi-cloud service provider CCL today announced it has earned the Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) advanced specialisation, validating its deep knowledge, experience, and expertise in deploying, scaling, and securing virtual desktop infrastructure on Microsoft Azure.
Microsoft’s advanced specialisation is awarded to partners satisfying stringent criteria around customer success, staff skilling, and a third-party audit of their Microsoft WVD technical practices.
CCL is the first Microsoft partner in New Zealand to receive this recognition.
Supporting secure remote work for employees is more critical than ever. Microsoft WVD seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products and allows customers to implement virtual desktops in a scalable, secure, and cost-effective way.
Partners with validated capabilities in implementing Microsoft WVD can help customers deploy and navigate licensing efficiencies to deliver the solution that is most efficient for their organisation.
“The pandemic has placed huge urgency on keeping displaced workers connected and productive,” Tim Howell, Director Marketing and Strategy at CCL, said. “Our team has been working with Microsoft WVD from its early releases and has built strong capabilities in this area. We’re delighted this effort has been recognised by Microsoft.”
He said Microsoft WVD played a critical role in Microsoft’s portfolio, allowing organisations to embrace more flexible workplace practices, while benefiting from the security and scalability of the underlying Microsoft Azure platform.
Matt Bostwick, Microsoft New Zealand Partner Director, added, “The Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop advanced specialisation highlights the partners who can be viewed as most capable when it comes to deploying Windows Virtual Desktop in Azure. CCL clearly demonstrated that they have both the skills and the experience to offer clients a path to transition to desktop-as-a-service in a scalable, secure, and cost-effective way.”
Homecare Medical – best known as the provider of New Zealand’s critical telehealth service Healthline – engaged CCL to implement the provider’s virtual desktop offering, called Digital WorkSpace for WVD.
The health provider faced a 2,000-plus percent increase in inbound calls following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration of a global pandemic in March 2020. CCL’s platform ensured Homecare was able to rapidly scale up operations and increase headcount from approximately 450 to 1,100 employees spread across multiple contact centres and at-home locations.
CCL engineers and support staff designed and delivered a finished “gold stamped” desktop image made available to Homecare Medical employees in just 24 hours.
CCL’s new Microsoft accreditation comes a year after CCL and Microsoft announced a three-year strategic reseller partnership and, more recently, a new partnership with Nerdio to automate the configuration and management of large WVD environments.
“COVID-related lockdowns and general disruption to business placed huge pressure on us to deploy new services at the speed our clients needed them,” Howell said. “Windows Virtual Desktop is a key part of our strategy to transform the workplace for the next chapter on doing business from anywhere.”
“CCL clearly demonstrated that they have both the skills and the experience to offer clients a path to transition to desktop-as-a-service in a scalable, secure, and cost-effective way.”
Matt Bostwick, Microsoft New Zealand Partner Director