Dallas, Texas - (The Hosting News) - September 9, 2008 - On-demand hosting services and virtual data center provider for the small to medium enterprise (SME), SoftLayer, has been awarded Microsoft Hosting Competency certification.

Steve Kinman, Customer Service Manager at SoftLayer noted, "One of SoftLayer's core advantages will always be our industry-leading customer support. And we pursue any strategic partnership that can help us stay on the leading edge and give our customers the utmost confidence. Having Microsoft Hosting Competency gives our team access to the most up-to-date resources, helping us continue to leverage best-in-class methodologies and technical solutions."

Microsoft Hosting Competency is a continuous certification that verifies a technical staff possesses proficiency in a variety of hosting areas. The certification is offered for technical professionals with more than two years of experience in managing a Windows-based network and requires demonstration of abilities including:

• Planning the environment
• Deploying core infrastructure
• Deploying all related services
• Designing and configuring automated provisioning
• Administering, managing, and optimizing the solutions
• Troubleshooting the environment

Along with maintaining status as a Microsoft Gold Partner, the highest Microsoft partner level offered, SoftLayer has also earned Microsoft Competencies in the following areas:

• Security Solutions
• Information Worker Solutions
• Network Infrastructure Solutions
• Advanced Infrastructure Solutions
• Security Solutions

Recently, SoftLayer was added as a Fast 50 Technology Company, by Metroplex Technology Business Council. The Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC), is the largest technology trade organization in Texas. Its 2008 Fast 50 contains the 10 fastest-growing technology companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area based on percentage revenue growth over the last year and the 40 fastest-growing technology companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area based on percentage revenue growth over the last five years. The rankings of the Fast 50 will be revealed at the Tech Titans and Fast 50 Awards gala event at the Marriott Legacy Town Center in Plano, Texas on Friday, September 26, 2008.

Headquartered in Plano, Texas, SoftLayer provides next-generation web hosting and on-demand datacenter services on a global basis from facilities located in Dallas, TX and Seattle, WA. Utilizing proprietary management tools coupled with the industry's first network-within-a-network topology, the company delivers unprecedented power and control to securely manage IT environments while providing unparalleled scalability.

To learn more about SoftLayer, please visit: www.softlayer.com.

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