CenturyLink launches new, globally available Private Cloud service in 57 data centers

--Federation with CenturyLink public cloud dramatically simplifies hybrid deployments

MONROE, Louisiana, Aug. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) today announced the availability of CenturyLink Private Cloud, a new cloud service that delivers the agility and innovation of public cloud but with the physical isolation, dedicated hardware and security standards that many large enterprises require.

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Each private cloud instance is federated into the CenturyLink Cloud network of public cloud nodes, giving users a single interface for creating and maintaining a hybrid environment that spans both public and private clouds. The end result is greater agility for businesses across a broader range of workloads – even those that require additional security and compliance.

"CenturyLink continues to realize our vision for business-friendly hybrid IT solutions, with public cloud, private cloud and network connectivity all available from one provider," said Andrew Higginbotham, senior vice president, cloud and technology, at CenturyLink. "CenturyLink Private Cloud delivers the best of private cloud – from dedicated hardware and physical isolation to enterprise-level security and service-level agreements – along with our truly innovative public cloud experience, featuring advanced self-service automation and a fast pace of feature innovation."

CenturyLink Private Cloud – built on CenturyLink's public cloud platform and expertise – was developed to meet the needs of large enterprises:

• Furthers hybrid IT capabilities – Private Cloud connects with public cloud running the same technology platform; enterprises can also leverage other CenturyLink solutions, including network and opt-in managed services for critical applications.
• Runs on the same industry-recognized platform as CenturyLink's public cloud – Innovative cloud management, automation and orchestration capabilities, as well as new features as they are released.
• Delivers geographic flexibility – Enterprises can deploy private cloud in any of CenturyLink's 57 data centers located in 34 cities around the world.

"Hybrid cloud is the enterprise IT operational model of the future," said Melanie Posey, research vice president, hosting and managed network services, at global analyst firm IDC. "CenturyLink Private Cloud provides a frictionless hybrid cloud option for organizations that want to source private and public cloud services from a single provider and connect cloud with other IT services through an extensive Tier 1 IP network."

The launch of CenturyLink Private Cloud builds on CenturyLink's recent cloud advancements, which include industry recognition as a leading cloud provider, the availability of cloud-based managed services and new CenturyLink Cloud pricing.

About CenturyLink Technology Solutions   
CenturyLink Technology Solutions delivers innovative managed services for global businesses on virtual, dedicated and colocation platforms. For more information, visit www.centurylink.com/technology.

About CenturyLink
CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States and is recognized as a leader in the network services market by technology industry analyst firms. The company is a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprise customers. CenturyLink provides data, voice and managed services in local, national and select international markets through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple data centers for businesses and consumers. The company also offers advanced entertainment services under the CenturyLink^® Prism™ TV and DIRECTV brands. Headquartered in Monroe, La., CenturyLink is an S&P 500 company and is included among the Fortune 500 list of America's largest corporations. For more information, visit http://www.centurylink.com/.