Downers Grove, IL, November 21, 2011 – Column Technologies, a global solutions and software provider, today announced that the State of Ohio Office of the Inspector General has selected Column Case Investigative as their internal investigations case management solution.

The Ohio Office of the Inspector General investigates fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption within the executive branch of state government, with jurisdiction extending to the governor, his staff, state agencies, state universities, departments, boards, commissions, and any other entities appointed, employed, controlled, directed, or subject to the authority of the governor.

Column Case Investigative will provide the Office of the Ohio Inspector General with the necessary tools to track end-to-end investigation lifecycles and the ability to access relevant data quickly and accurately. Ohio Inspector General Randy Meyer commented on Column Technologies’ ability to meet the demands of one of the nation’s most active state inspector general offices. “From the beginning, our office asked for flexibility with competitive pricing and Column was able to deliver both. Our office looks forward to using the solution.” The office will use the new product to manage its case load, track case assignments, record narratives, attach files and leverage powerful tools for reporting and analysis.

Column Technologies understands that government organizations are faced with demands to do more with less and under strict budget constraints. With a flexible, cost effective solution, the Office of the Ohio Inspector General will meet its investigative requirements with a case management solution that promotes the use of sound investigative techniques and increases collaboration among its staff.

After a thorough review of the available solutions, the Ohio OIG found that the Column Case Investigative solution excelled in the following areas:

• In depth expertise and understanding of case and records management
• Capability to enable and support best practices across the case management operation
• Critical case management capability to support “many to many” relationships
• Out-of-the-box functionality and workflow best practices
• A responsive, flexible and creative solution provider to work with

Within the United States, Column Case Investigative is widely used within Law Enforcement, Inspectors General, and Regulatory agencies.

About Column Technologies

Established in 1998, Column Technologies is a global solutions and software provider that helps commercial and public sector organizations improve service efficiency while lowering costs and risk. Our rapid growth is due to our in depth expertise and commitment to quality. Column is headquartered in the United States, with over 300 employees and offices in Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. For additional information about Column Technologies, please visit http://www.columnit.com or call 1-866-265-8665. For more information about the solution chosen by the Office of the Ohio Inspector General, please visit http://www.columncaseinvestigative.com.

Downers Grove, IL,—September 20, 2011—Column Technologies, a global technology, management consulting, and services leader, today announced a global strategic alliance with SMI Telecoms, a specialist provider of service management solutions to the communications industry.

Under the terms of the agreement, Column Technologies will establish a global services practice to support the implementation of SMI Telecoms’ OS3 product suite. This initiative builds on Column’s existing strategy to develop industry vertical solutions and service capability.

Column Technologies and SMI Telecoms are already working together on a number of client opportunities through an existing reseller partnership.  This agreement will reinforce Column’s commitment to increase its presence and competence in the communications, media and entertainment industries.

“We have been working with SMI Telecoms and BMC Software on various deals involving OS3 and believe that the product suite offers the telecoms industry a purpose built solution to meet the increasing challenges facing communication service providers”  stated Rob Yario, Principal of Column Technologies. He further commented that “OS3’s adherence to telecoms industry standards provides an excellent enabling platform for Column to base its implementation and resource development strategies.”

Phil Brooks, CEO of SMI Telecoms said “The OS3 Suite is built on the BMC Remedy platform and therefore Column Technologies is well placed and a logical partner for us to provide global services for OS3 given their status as a leading reseller and services partner of BMC Software.”

About Column Technologies

Established in 1998, Column Technologies is a global technology, management consulting, and services company that helps commercial and public sector organizations improve service efficiency while lowering costs and risk.  Headquartered in the United States, we have over 300 employees around the world,  as well as offices in Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. For additional information, please visit http://www.columnIT.com or call 1-866-265-8665.

About SMI Telecoms
SMI Telecoms is focused on providing OSS and IT solutions to the global telecommunications marketplace. Our particular niche is the harmonization of OSS and ITSM industry best practices and standards such as those set out by the TM Forum Frameworx and ITIL.  At the core of our product portfolio is OS3, a suite of service management solutions designed for the communications industry and built on the BMC Remedy platform. For additional information, please visit www.smi-t.com

Improper access to mission-critical applications and data can lead to detrimental business risks including lost revenue, increased expenses and fines, as well as damaged customer relationships and corporate brand reputation. Column Technologies' solution, based on leading ITSM technology from BMC Software,  a recognized leader in Business Service Management, helps IT organizations cut costs, reduce risks and drive business profits. Through its strategic partnership with Aveksa, Column Technologies will offer a unified ITSM/Access Governance solution to its customers based on industry-leading technology.

Aveksa’s Access Governance platform is comprised of , Aveksa Compliance Manager, Aveksa Role Manager, Access Request and Change Manager, and Aveksa Data Access Governance. The platform enables organizations to deploy automated, continuous processes for governing and managing access request, receipt, review and revocation to reduce complexity and increase operational efficiency. “We are very excited to partner with Column Technologies, and jointly offer an integrated ITSM/Access Governance solution that will enable IT organizations to deliver efficient and secure IT services across the enterprise," said Vick Viren Vaishnavi, President and CEO, Aveksa. "By tightly integrating Access Governance automation processes with Column’s ITSM solutions, IT organizations can ensure that access to applications and data is secure, up-to-date and that the access lifecycle process is working in concert with other service management processes.”

"Access Goverance is a critical part of the ITSM process as IT organizations must ensure that access to sensitive applications and data is accurate and updated in real-time,” stated Tim Yario, President of Column Technologies. "We feel this partnership will add exponential value to our customers' organizations and the stakeholders charged with meeting security and compliance needs."

About Column Technologies

Established in 1998, Column Technologies is a global technology, management consulting, and services company that helps commercial and public sector organizations improve service efficiency while lowering costs and risk.  Headquartered in the United States, we have over 300 employees around the world,  as well as offices in Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. For additional information, please visit http://www.columnIT.com or call 1-866-265-8665.

About Aveksa
Aveksa provides the industry's most comprehensive, purpose-built, enterprise-class, Access Governance automation platform. Aveksa helps IT organizations reduce access management complexity and increase operational efficiency while minimizing risk and ensuring sustainable compliance. Leading Global 2000 organizations in financial services, healthcare, retail, energy/utility, telecommunications, transportation and manufacturing rely on Aveksa to efficiently address access request, fulfillment and regulatory compliance demands. For more information, go to www.aveksa.com.

Press contact:

Nori De Jesus
Column Technologies, Inc.
Tel:  (630) 515-6650
Fax:  (630) 271-1524
ndejesus@columnit.com

http://www.columnIT.com

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About BMC Service Desk Express 9.x: Using

The BMC Service Desk Express 9.x: Using course introduces help desk end users to the functionality of BMC Service Desk Express 9.x.

This online course is an introductory course designed to teach concepts of BMC Service Desk Express Suite v9.x, and familiarize BMC Service Desk Express help desk end users with the functionality of the product. Students learn how to perform various tasks including call logging and creating and assigning incidents and work orders.

Course Objectives

• Describe an incident lifecycle
• Navigate the BMC SDE Navigation bar
• Use Incremental Search
• Use QuickViews and Dashboards
• Create, assign, and close incidents
• Create, assign, and close work orders
• Use Quick Tickets
• Create, modify, and close Whiteboards
• Describe Configuration Management
• Create, modify, and close problem records
• Create and modify purchase requests
• Navigate Self Service Help Desk
• Use the Discussion Forum

Course Details

Code: RSMG-SDUS-0960
Product: BMC Service Desk Express v9.6
Delivery: Web Based Training (WBT)
Duration: 4 Hours
Target Audience: First-tier and second-tier support staff personnel
Prerequisites: User knowledge of the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface (GUI)

About BMC Remedy AR System 7.5: Developer Certification

In this 5-day session your AR System 7.5 knowledge is tested and your ability to build an effective and efficient AR System application, based on supplied requirements, is validated. The skills tested are taught in the prerequisite AR System 7.5 courses. However, knowledge gained from the prerequisite courses should be combined with relevant field experience before and individual attempts the examination.

The 5 days in this session are devoted entirely to examination; no additional instruction is provided. There are two parts to the exam: a written portion that tests understanding of AR System concepts; and a hands-on portion that includes a practical case study. Using the case study certification, candidates apply their AR System 7.5 developer skills to plan and build a solution, which they will present to a BMC certified instructor. Candidates must work individually and can only work during class hours, but are permitted to use notes, training materials, and product documentation.

Course Objectives

• Validate a candidate has the sills necessary to be a BMC Certified Developer: BMC Remedy AR System 7.5

Course Details

Code: RSMG-ARD3-0750
Product: BMC Remedy Action Request System 7.5
Delivery: Instructor Led Training (ILT)
Target Audience: Experienced AR System Developers
Prerequisites:

• BMC Remedy AR System 7.5: Foundation - Part 1 (WBT)
• BMC Remedy AR System 7.5: Foundation - Part 2
• BMC Remedy AR System 7.5: Developer - Part 1 (WBT)
• BMC Remedy AR System 7.5: Developer - Part 2 (ILT)
• Field experience designing and developing AR System 7.5 applications
• Relevant on-the-job experience applied after taking the prerequisite courses listed above

About BMC Atrium CMDB 7.5: Administering - Part 3

BMC Atrium CMDB 7.5: Administering – Part 3 covers many advanced topics for the administration, implementation, and configuration of the BMC Atrium CMDB. Topics include modeling complex applications; extending the Common Data Model (CDM); building data transfers in the Atrium Integration Engine (AIE) using XML and CSV files as data sources; configuring the CMDB to support Asset Management; reconciling across multiple discovery datasets; integrating the CMDB with Web Services; and working with various impact service models.

In this workshop environment, students use a real-world case study to plan, analyze, determine, and perform the necessary steps to administer and configure the CMDB to support the corresponding business processes. Workshop activities include online demos, simulations, and quizzes; scenario-based guided hands-on lab exercises, and research exercises.

This course ends with a final exam and the designation of BMC Certified Administrator: BMC Atrium CMDB 7.5. Upon completion, you will return to your organization with increased visibility as a recognized BMC Atrium CMDB Management Expert and with improved capabilities to impact your business.

IMPORTANT: Included in this course is the BMC Certified Administrator: BMC Atrium CMDB 7.5 exam. Taking the exam and pursuing certification is optional, however all students enrolled in the BMC ATRIUM CMDB 7.5: ADMINISTERING – PART 3 course are automatically enrolled in the exam.

Following the completion of your BMC ATRIUM CMDB 7.5: ADMINISTERING – PART 3 course, you will have three weeks to take the BMC Certified Administrator certification examination online. You can take the exam twice within this period. Those who pass will receive the title of BMC Certified Administrator: BMC Atrium CMDB 7.5. Those who do not take the exam within this timeframe, or do not pass after two attempts within this timeframe, will not be granted a retake.

Course Objectives

» Model complex systems
» Extend the CDM using extension packs
» Modify permissions for a custom class
» Normalize third-party data against the Product Catalog
» Load data using AIE from the XML and CSV data sources
» Describe a typical discovery workflow
» Customize the CMDB UI for asset management
» Reconcile multiple discovery datasets
» Integrate the CMDB with Web Services
» Work with Computation Models
» Work with Propagation and Impact Models

Course Details

Code: RSMG-ACM3-0750
Product: BMC Atrium CMDB 7.5
Delivery: Instructor Led Training (ILT)
Target Audience:
»Configuration Managers
»CMDB Administrators
»CMDB Application Developers
Prerequisites:
» BMC Remedy AR System 7.5: Foundation – Part 1 (WBT)
» BMC Remedy AR System 7.5: Foundation – Part 2
» BMC Atrium CMDB 7.5: Administering – Part 1 (WBT)
» BMC Atrium CMDB 7.5: Administering – Part 2

About BMC Remedy Asset Management 7.5: Using (WBT)

In this online course, students are introduced to the functionality of BMC Remedy Asset Management 7.5. Students learn how to perform various tasks from the perspectives of a configuration administrator, contract manager, software asset manager, approver, and purchasing manager.

Course Objectives

» Describe the Asset Management process.
» Describe Asset Management roles.
» Log in to and navigate BMC Remedy Asset Management.
» Create and modify asset records.
» Create and review contracts and leases.
» Create and manage software licenses.
» Create and manage configurations.
» Create and manage inventory items.
» Create and approve purchase requisitions.
» Receive and return purchased assets.
» Run reports to produce business metrics.
» Create reminders and broadcasts.

Course Details

Code: RSMG-AMUS-0750
Product: BMC Remedy Asset Management 7.5.x
Delivery: Web-Based Training (WBT)
Duration: 3 hours
Audience: Users and Managers
Prerequisites: User knowledge of Microsoft Windows graphical user interface (GUI)

To learn how Column's BMC Remedy Asset Management training can improve performance while reducing costs and risk, you can contact a Column office, have Column contact you, or chat with a Column representative.

About BMC Remedy Change Management 7.5: Using

In this online course, students are introduced to the functionality of BMC Remedy Change Management 7.5, including the Release Management module. Students learn how to perform various tasks from these roles: requester, change coordinator, specialist (including change assignees and change or task implementers), change manager, release coordinator, and approvers.

Course Objectives

» Describe the Change Management process.
» Describe the Release Management process.
» Identify the Change Management roles.
» Identify the Release Management roles.
» Log in to and navigate the Change console.
» Create, resolve, and close change requests.
» Log in to and navigate the Release console.
» Create, resolve, and close release requests.
» Create and manage tasks for change requests.
» Create and manage activities for release requests.
» Describe the change and release approval processes.
» Create reports to provide business metrics.
» Use the Requester Console.
» Create reminders and broadcast messages.

Course Details

Code: RSMG-CMUS-0750
Product: BMC Remedy Change Management 7.5.x
Delivery: Web-Based Training (WBT)
Duration: 3 Hours
Audience: Users and Managers
Prerequisites: User knowledge of Microsoft Windows graphical user interface (GUI)

To learn how Column's BMC Remedy Change Management training can improve performance while reducing costs and risk, you can contact a Column office, have Column contact you, or chat with a Column representative.

About BMC Remedy Service Desk 7.5: Using Problem Management (WBT)

This online course provides problem support staff with the information needed to use BMC Remedy Problem Management 7.5 to create and process problem investigations, known errors, and solutions.

Course Objectives

» Identify user roles associated with BMC Remedy Problem Management.
» Describe the BMC Best Practice Flow for Problem Management.
» Access and navigate the BMC Remedy Problem Management application.
» Identify and create problem investigations.
» Assign problem investigations.
» Review, process, and close problem investigations.
» Create, assign, process, and close known errors.
» Create, assign, and process solution database entries.
» Search for problem investigations, known errors, solutions, and other related data.
» Create reports using business metrics.

Course Details

Code: RSMG-PMUS-0750
Product: BMC Remedy Service Desk 7.5
Delivery: Web-Based Training (WBT)
Duration: 3 Hours
Audience: Problem Support Staff (Problem Coordinators and Specialists) and Problem Support Staff Managers
Prerequisites: User knowledge of the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface (GUI)

To learn how Column's BMC Remedy Service Desk training can improve performance while reducing costs and risk, you can contact a Column office, have Column contact you, or chat with a Column representative.

About BMC Remedy Service Desk 7.5: Using Incident Management (WBT)

This online course provides incident support staff (service desk analysts and specialists) and incident support staff managers (group coordinators) with the information needed to use BMC Remedy Service Desk: Incident Management 7.5 to create and process incident requests.

Course Objectives

» Identify user roles associated with BMC Remedy Incident Management.
» Describe the BMC Best Practice Flow for Incident Management.
» Access and navigate the BMC Remedy Incident Management application.
» Identify and create incident requests.
» Assign incident requests.
» Review, process, and close incident requests.
» Search for incident requests, solutions, and other related data.
» Create reports using business metrics.

Course Details

Code: RSMG-IMUS-0750
Product: BMC Remedy Service Desk 7.5
Delivery: Web-Based Training (WBT)
Duration: 3 Hours
Audience: Incident Support Staff (Service Desk Analysts and Specialists) and Incident Support Staff Managers (Group Coordinators)
Prerequisites: User knowledge of the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface (GUI)

To learn how Column's BMC Remedy Service Desk training can improve performance while reducing costs and risk, you can contact a Column office, have Column contact you, or chat with a Column representative.