Partner Profile: Sentia
Who is Sentia?
Sentia was started three years ago, by a trio of individuals experienced in the partner world. “You don’t have to be all things to all people” is the Sentia motto. This IBM-partner works with an IT department at a consultative high level, to understand challenges and provide solutions custom-fitted to match individual needs. Sentia specializes in the upper mid-market, with customers in the healthcare and public sector among other verticals.
Business Partner Innovation Center (BPIC)
Sentia’s in-house lab is a cornerstone of their assessment-led engagement strategy. This hardware and software technology centre is available for demonstrations, proof-of-concepts, solution validation, and training. BPIC features the latest IBM server and storage hardware, as well as the newest software. Included are:
- IBM Power 520 Servers
- System Storage Productivity Center
- Tivoli Storage Manager
- IBM Systems Director
The initial assessment is followed by design of architecture, installation and implementation services, and training and documentation. Ongoing infrastructure and systems management rounds out the Sentia offering.
An IBM Partner
For their customers, Sentia has earned a position as a trusted advisor – with a 96% approval rating on a customer satisfaction index. The Sentia headquarters hosts an IBM America Storage Capsule, and also serves as a beta-test site for Tivoli software. Specialties include Business Continuity and System X. The staff often teaches IBM courses.
Sentia Solutions: what you can expect as a customer
The staff at Sentia has over 90 IT accreditations and 100 years total experience in designing and implementing IT solutions. Sentia focuses on customers in the eastern Ontario region, including the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa. The typical customer lacks an internal team, but has terabytes of data that must be managed and protected. Sentia offers solutions in the following key areas:
1. How to maximize the use of IT staff
Sentia offers sophisticated self-managing infrastructure that allows clients to adopt a proactive approach to IT versus a reactive one.
Info-Tech Insight: Become a better IT leader by maximizing the use of IT staff; a recent survey of Canadian CIOs showed that IT leaders that devote more time to strategy and overseeing operations are more successful that those that spend time doing what their employees or contractors could be doing
Source: Info-Tech Research Group N = 117
2. Server and Storage
Customers are guided to setting up their own private Cloud, from start to finish – on top of the line blades servers. Storage offerings include consolidation, optimization, and virtualization
3. Focus on backup of information and data
Back-up, continuity, and recovery software products, along with auditing and archiving tools – mitigates risk of data loss. Sentia also monitors and manages information on their customers’ behalf.
Info-Tech Insight: Interest in backup and recovery is climbing, as are the solution options available
4. Sophisticated demos/proof-of-concepts
The Business Partner Innovation Centre is a functionality lab, allowing customers to test run their unique specifications before deploying it in their IT department. This saves time, money, and provides peace-of-mind to customers.
