PARIS, May 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

"Collaborative Services" is a unique offer linking both Microsoft Online Services' Cloud Computing solutions and STS Group's "Confidence Services". SMEs and SMIs can thus benefit from simple, immediate access to Digital Confidence services, for their collaborative working needs, in addition to Microsoft Business Productivity Online Services solutions, and in a few months, Office 365. They can also integrate them with all other services managed in Cloud by Risc Group IT Solutions: Centrex Telephony, Voice/Data/Internet VPN and Network Solutions, Hosting and Virtualisation.

Marketed in April 2011, this packaged offer allows Microsoft's Cloud solutions for communication and collaborative working (instant electronic messaging with Exchange Online and Office Communication Online, collaborative portal with SharePoint Online and web conferencing with Office Live Meeting Online) to be linked with the know-how of Risc Group IT Solutions and STS Group in terms of Digital Confidence in SaaS (electronic secure data storage and e-mail archiving, electronic signature, secure exchanges thanks to the Electronic Recorded Delivery Letter).

In addition to this offer, SMEs can also take advantage of all the features of Risc Group's Digital Confidence platform in SaaS mode, based on the STS Group software suite (probative value archiving solutions for digital objects or documents, dematerialisation of tax services, invoices or payslips, etc.). What's more, the offer will be rolled out over the STS Group JV network in 20 countries.

For all its packaged services, Risc Group IT Solutions provides advice, installation, migration support and training, with a single centre for support and billing. Itemized billing can be carried out per site, per user group or per company subsidiary.

In addition to its functional wealth covering all collaborative tools and Digital Confidence needs, the offer allows SME customers to reap the benefits of Cloud Computing's flexibility and ease-of-use (hosting of high availability & redundancy applications, security, maintenance and scalability of software versions).

"The market potential is enormous for this type of service in France. These offers correspond perfectly to SME requirements in terms of business IT tools. This partnership is thus essential so as to meet the expectations of more and more companies, and Risc Group IT Solutions is perfectly placed to meet them" said Ariane Gorin, Office product line director at Microsoft.

"We are glad to strengthen our partnership with Microsoft by becoming one of the 10 companies in the world selected to market this offer, and thus be able to capitalise on Microsoft Online solutions, linking up our Digital Confidence know-how" said Pierre Fort, CEO of Risc Group IT Solutions and VP Strategy of STS Group. "What's more, the Microsoft Online offer provides native interoperability with the office suites of our customers based essentially in Microsoft Office, and it guarantees continuous functional enhancement while future-proofing the existing environment."

"Risc Group IT Solutions is positioned as an aggregator of the best in Cloud Computing in its three key domains: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and as an integrator of managed turnkey convergent services" said Kais Turki, Operations Director at Risc Group IT Solutions. "Microsoft shares this strategic vision of Cloud with us, and thanks to this worldwide partnership, it provides us with the best solutions on the market in terms of collaborative working and messaging services."

"This partnership strengthens our worldwide positioning in Cloud services and allows our customers to benefit from the complementary nature of our respective services in an environment where Digital Confidence's needs and demand are continually growing" said Benoit Huard, Commercial Director at Risc Group IT Solutions. "Security and digital confidence are increasingly of concern to all IT departments, and are at the heart of all discussions surrounding Cloud Computing."

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation (listed on NASDAQ under the MSFT symbol) is the world leader in software for microcomputers. The company develops and markets a wide range of software, accessories and services for both business and home use. This allows everyone to access the power of computing from anywhere at any time, by using the online digital tools of their choice. Created in 1983, Microsoft France employs some 1,400 people. Since 1 February 2005, it has been chaired by Eric Boustouller.

For more information, visit the site: http://www.microsoft.com

About RISC Group IT Solutions

A major European player in outsourced managed services, Risc Group offers both a network infrastructure connected with the leading IaaS[1] operators and a full range of SaaS[3] managed services for SMEs, SMIs and VSEs. Risc Group thus provides its customers with optimum converging telecommunications services, PaaS[2] Digital Confidence platforms and services, collaborative solutions, Voice/Data/Internet VPN and networks, virtualisation, hosting, backup and information management.

Risc Group is a limited company with capital of EUR 21,216,764.80 listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (C Unit - ISIN code FR 0010542647. - MNEMO Code: RSC)

For more information, visit the site: http://www.risc-group.com

1: IaaS: Infrastructure as a Service

2: PaaS: Platform as a Service

3: SaaS: Software as a Service

About STS Group

STS Group is the European leader in Digital Trust software publishing, an area covering the authentication, exchange and probative value storage of any digital object. STS Group markets its software offer via an international network of digital trust platforms. The Company reiterates it does not have the status of Issuer raising funds from the public and so the share offering can only be made to qualified investors acting on their own behalf under Article L. 411-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.

For more information, visit the site: http://www.group-sts.com

SOURCE STS Group