'Softchoice Benchmark Awards' Recognize Best Practices in IT ...

Canada NewsWire (press release) - Canada
TORONTO, May 11 /CNW/ - Softchoice is delighted to announce the winners of
the 2006 Softchoice Benchmark Awards. Presented for the first time, the
Benchmark ...

TORONTO, May 11 /CNW/ - Softchoice is delighted to announce the winners
of the 2006 Softchoice Benchmark Awards. Presented for the first time, the
Benchmark Awards celebrate organizations that have embraced best practices in
IT systems management to enable increased end-user productivity, the reduction
of security threats and improved cost-management through the optimal use of IT
resources. Fitch Ratings, Rawson L.P., and Smead Manufacturing have
distinguished themselves from their peers by demonstrating a proven commitment
to maintaining a trouble-free desktop environment. By employing an active
strategy that includes the use of asset inventory audits and regularly
scheduled process reviews to monitor security and internal IT policy
compliance, these companies have set a new standard for ship-shape computing.
"We created the Benchmark Awards to draw attention to the importance of
maintaining an effective IT systems management process, which, in the age of
information, is really the backbone of a healthy and productive business,"
said David MacDonald, Softchoice's President and CEO. "Relative to their
peers, our winners have raised the bar with their focus on sustaining a
current, secure, and proactively managed desktop environment. These
organizations can be very proud of their achievements."
The 2006 winners were selected from pool of nearly 100 qualifying
organizations that had received a Softchoice TechCheck(TM) Policy Assessment
in 2006. The results from these assessments - which look for common IT trouble
spots such as the rate of missing anti-virus software and service packs,
security vulnerabilities, outdated PC's and adherence to stated internal IT
policies - were compared against a sample population representing the North
American average(*). The 2006 Benchmark Award winners were found to be best in
class in their efforts to proactively set and monitor IT policies that affect
security and productivity, as well as in following an optimal PC replacement
schedule to avoid productivity and cost management issues caused by retaining
older, slower machines.
"We're celebrating the unsung part of IT, the focus on management
processes and audits that, while not exactly glamorous, make all the
difference to the success and productivity of end users," said Edwin Jansen,
Softchoice's Services Manager. "More than just recognition of a job well done,
the true reward is giving IT staff the opportunity to focus on solving real
business challenges instead of devoting so much time and energy to the smaller
fires that are often caused by a lack of proactive maintenance."
When it comes to systems management, this year's Softchoice Benchmark
Award winners are a definite cut above the North American average(*). A study
conducted by Softchoice in 2006 revealed that many North American
organizations are exposing themselves to unnecessary security risks and making
unnecessary expenditures because of the inability to properly manage their IT
assets. Using inventory data from some 90,000 PCs, the study found that on
average 6 percent of PCs were missing anti-virus entirely, 23 percent of PCs
were missing major operating system service packs, and 49 percent of PCs
showed 'moderate' to 'severe' infestations of malware. Moreover, 39 percent of
PCs were shown to be beyond the organization's own stated system retirement
age and 64 percent of organizations were out of compliance with their
operating system deployment policies.
"All too often we see organizations reacting to issues and making
unnecessary purchases that could easily be avoided with the implementation of
the proper IT inventory tools and review processes," added Mr. Jansen. "Our
winners have clearly demonstrated the value of making IT asset management a
regular part of the IT management process. Their efforts have and will
continue to yield significant benefits in terms of the improved utilization of
existing assets, and eliminating unnecessary security threats and IT
spending."
(*) Source: Softchoice Study: "Unneccesary Expeditures, Unnecessary Risks",
June 2006. The findings are based on an inventory analysis of 90,000 PCs from
more than 200 organizations. Organizations represented a wide range of
industry verticals and ranged in size from 28 to 4,452 PCs; the average number
of PCs per participating organization was 456. To read the complete study
please visit: www.softchoice.com/research

About Softchoice Corporation

As one of North America's leading providers of technology products and
services, Softchoice helps businesses and organizations of all sizes to
select, acquire and manage their software and hardware technology resources.
Softchoice offers a full range of capabilities, including face-to-face
consultations and IT asset management services designed to help customers save
time, money and risk in IT procurement. In 2006, Softchoice was named Software
Value Added Reseller (VAR) of the Year by VAR Business magazine. Softchoice
currently has 624 employees operating from more than 30 branch offices located
in major cities across the U.S. and Canada. Softchoice stock is listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the trading symbol "SO." The common shares
of Softchoice are not registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and are
not publicly traded in the United States.