Jun 09, 2009 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- IBM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Enterprise datacentre specialist, Thesaurus, has helped Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) vastly improve performance, reduce energy, maintenance and software costs and increase capacity by updating its system z infrastructure with IBM's z10 technology. The project will save CFS approximately GBP2 million over three years in comparison to an equivalent investment in the previous infrastructure. 

As the latest 2009 CFS financial results show, customers have flocked to the group in search of security amid the turmoil. CFS was operating IBM z990 mainframe servers with limited capacity and decided to upgrade due to this rapid growth, engaging Thesaurus to provide the solution. Thesaurus took all of CFS's capacity requirements into account and tailored a solution that met these needs. Thesaurus utilised the IBM z10 mainframe as it not only has a great deal more capacity but is also faster, has increased memory and a dramatically reduced footprint.

In order to offer the best commercial option for CFS, Thesaurus carried out the upgrade via a replacement and buy-back process, thus removing the legacy system at the same time. Thesaurus technical experts liaised with IBM for the installation of both BC and EC z10 units into CFS's datacentres. Both importantly provide the flexibility and ease for future upgrades and possible future initiatives such as consolidation to a single processor footprint and mutual disaster recovery.

To ensure business continuity, CFS needed the migration from z990 to z10 to be a completely transparent process, turned around as quickly as possible. With Thesaurus' extensive IBM expertise, the migration and full testing was completed within eight weeks. Thesaurus ensures that CFS can put the mainframe server capacity to best use by offering high levels of security, control and automation.

Ian Thompson, Mainframe Database Manager at CFS, explains, "From the very beginning of the project, we needed to deliver to very tight timescales. Thanks to the expertise, commitment and continual support of Thesaurus, the system was not only delivered on time but without any major incidents. To cut costs and energy consumption whilst improving performance is an ideal solution, Thesaurus took the time to really look at what requirements we had and designed the perfect solution. We look forward to seeing what the new mainframe can do." Mike Vinten, CEO, Thesaurus comments, "Thesaurus gave CFS the best possible fit moving forwards, providing significant environmental and cost savings as system capacity grows with a very flexible and easy upgrade path." Gary James, Head of Enterprise Computing at CFS adds, "CFS is committed to continual cost reduction across IT operations and this investment in the latest technology laid the foundations for further cost saving programmes. The purchase of new z10 mainframes acted as a catalyst for a full review of mainframe cost drivers, enabling CFS to optimise their commercial agreements. Taking our cost saving agenda on board, Thesaurus has worked closely with us to reduce the cost base, limiting expenditure on the platform in the event of future upgrades."

About Thesaurus

Thesaurus supports major organisations to exploit and achieve a maximum return on IT investment whilst safeguarding businesses from technology disasters and inefficiencies. With a well-established track record, Thesaurus develops robust business processes with risk-free solutions to protect from issues such as; data loss, skills shortages, energy shortages and waste, overloaded legacy systems, and, ultimately, the failure of business processes. Thesaurus supplies solutions to an impressive portfolio of corporate and government authorities, as well as high-tech industries and professional services organisations.

CONTACT: Thesaurus WWW: http://www.i-tcs.com/

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