Google’s Head of Global Partner Programs Cites Cloud Sherpas’ Success Helping Clients Use Google Apps and the Cloud Service Provider’s Impact on Google Apps Customers

ATLANTA, Georgia — January 31, 2012 — Cloud Sherpas has been named the “Google Enterprise 2011 Partner of the Year.” At Google’s annual enterprise sales kickoff event in San Francisco on Tuesday, January 17, Mark Hodgson, Google’s Head of Global Partner Programs, presented Cloud Sherpas with this recognition. The criteria for selection included a proven track record of working with and developing customers, a consistent investment in the Google practice, and noteworthy efforts helping new customers successfully use Google’s Enterprise products.

“We are excited to recognize Cloud Sherpas as the Google Enterprise 2011 Partner of the Year,” said Hodgson. “The company consistently delivered excellence in our partnership throughout 2011.”

Cloud Sherpas was founded in 2008 and has rapidly become a top Google partner and one of the industry’s leading cloud service providers. Since their inception, the public cloud services firm has migrated over one million workers to the Google platform. Cloud Sherpas also boasts revenue growth over 300% for the third consecutive year. Notable accomplishments from the past year include:

• Opened regional offices in New York, Chicago and Austin

• Acquired cloud service providers in Australia, New Zealand, Kansas City and San Francisco expanding its client base and presence in key international and domestic markets

• Helped clients including Lamar Advertising, Tait Communications Ltd. and Wyoming Medical Center adopt Google for messaging, collaboration and more

“The Partner of the Year award from Google is important because it validates the role of the channel in helping businesses succeed in the cloud,” said Douglas Shepard, CEO for Cloud Sherpas. “We hear repeatedly from clients that they need the services of Google experts to fully leverage the platform, collaborate more effectively and grow their businesses. We are proud to be recognized as the Google Enterprise 2011 Partner of the Year, and we look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Google and Google Apps users in 2012.”

About Cloud Sherpas
Cloud Sherpas (www.cloudsherpas.com) is a leading Google cloud service provider and was named “Google Enterprise 2011 Partner of the Year.”  As one of the first Google Enterprise partners, Cloud Sherpas has migrated over one million users across a variety of industries from legacy, on-premise messaging systems to Google Apps, helping organizations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cloud Sherpas has regional offices in locations including San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Austin and Sydney.

###

Cloud Sherpas, Expensify, Insightly, Okta, RunMyProcess, Smartsheet and Spanning Align to Simplify Application Selection, Implementation for Google Apps Users

San Francisco, CA, and Atlanta, GA, September 20, 2011 — Today, Okta, the leading on-demand identity and access management service, and Cloud Sherpas, the world’s leading Google Apps™ cloud service provider, announced a new partnership with the goal of accelerating enterprise adoption of cloud computing. This partnership between Okta and Cloud Sherpas will help organizations of all sizes adopt Google Apps™ and streamline initial set-up and reduce IT expenses, as well as increase productivity for employees and administrators.

Cloud Sherpas is a preeminent reseller and solutions provider, simplifying the process of ‘going Google’ and has helped more than one million end users from hundreds of companies migrate to Google Apps™ – the leading cloud email and collaboration platform for businesses from start-ups to large enterprises.

As companies move to Google Apps™ and other cloud-based applications separate from existing on-premise IT infrastructure, they face identity and access management challenges for both users and administrators. Okta is a simple and flexible solution that enables companies to securely manage all web-based applications, including Google Apps™, regardless of the authentication methods they support or whether they run inside or outside the corporate firewall. For end users, this means single sign-on for Google Apps™ and all other web-based applications they access, and for IT administrators, it means automated user management capabilities to efficiently and securely manage Google Apps™ accounts.

Okta and Cloud Sherpas have already worked together to bring cloud to a number of companies, including AMAG Pharmaceuticals, a Lexington, MA-based company using Okta to manage Google Apps™ and more than twenty other cloud-based applications.

“Cloud Sherpas was absolutely essential in helping us make the move to Google Apps. Plus, we run our business on over twenty cloud applications, so that’s where Okta comes in. It’s the combination of the migration services Cloud Sherpas provides and the Okta platform that holds it all together that has allowed us to see successful results,” said Nathan McBride, executive director of IT, AMAG Pharmaceuticals. “We’ve cut our IT budget in half over the past three years. We attribute much of that to using cloud-based applications to run our business, and using Cloud Sherpas and Okta for adoption and management.”

In addition to the reseller partnership, the companies also announced that Cloud Sherpas has selected Okta for internal use to secure and manage the company’s web-based applications.  Cloud Sherpas now uses Okta to manage over fifty web-based applications across the entire company and has already seen initial benefits, including reduced administrative costs and significant increases in user productivity.

“As more companies make the move to cloud, central application and access management is absolutely critical. Okta is the glue that holds it all together. This partnership enables us to provide increased customer value,” said Eran Gil, Founder and VP Business Development, Cloud Sherpas. “Okta offers an innovative, native cloud approach to give IT more control around user management and provisioning, as well as make it super simple for all employees across a company to get access to all applications, Google Apps included.”

“Cloud Sherpas has deep real-world experience in dealing with IT and end user challenges associated with adopting Google Apps,” said Roger Goulart, Vice President of Business Development & Strategic Accounts, Okta. “This partnership is largely driven by the joint successes we’ve already seen in the market. Many companies are already running their core IT services in the cloud, but there’s still work to be done. Working with Cloud Sherpas will help us to reach a broader audience and accelerate the next phase of growth for Okta. ”

About Okta
Okta is the market leading on-demand identity and access management service that enables enterprises to accelerate the secure adoption of their web-based applications, both in the cloud and behind the firewall. Okta delivers a complete solution addressing the needs of IT, end-users, and business leaders; no customization required.

Okta’s initial service is built on a secure, reliable and extensible on-demand, multi-tenant cloud services platform. That platform will be the foundation for a growing set of core Okta and partner services that empower businesses to eliminate cloud adoption barriers and unlock the potential of the cloud for enterprise users everywhere.

The Okta team has built, deployed, and supported market leading, on-demand and enterprise software solutions from companies including Salesforce.com, SuccessFactors, PeopleSoft, Microsoft, Sun and HP. Okta is backed by premiere angel and venture investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, FLOODGATE and Ron Conway. For more information, visit us at www.okta.com or follow us on www.okta.com/blog.

About Cloud Sherpas
Cloud Sherpas (www.cloudsherpas.com) is a leading Google Apps cloud services provider. As a Google Apps Authorized Reseller and Google Enterprise partner, Cloud Sherpas has migrated over one million users across all major industries from legacy, on-premise messaging systems to Google Apps, helping organizations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. SherpaTools for Google Apps (www.sherpatools.com), our flagship product, enhances the functionality and ease-of-use of Google Apps for both administrators and end-users. As the #1 ranked tool in the Google Apps Marketplace, SherpaTools has been installed on over 20,000 domains in over 110 countries representing over 3.5 million end-users.

###

SYDNEY, Australia — September 7, 2011 — Cloud Sherpas, one of the world’s leading Google Apps cloud service providers (CSP), has acquired Devnet, a Google Apps reseller headquartered in Brisbane, Australia.

The acquisition of Devnet is the latest in a string of acquisitions made by Cloud Sherpas this year, and its second in the Asia-Pacific region. Last month, Cloud Sherpas acquired WaveAdept, a Google Apps Reseller from New Zealand. The acquisition of Devnet provides Cloud Sherpas with additional well-connected, local talent, more Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialists, and regional marquee customers such as Technology One, Altium and Investor’s Club.

Cloud Sherpas isn’t alone in recognising the growth opportunity in the Asia Pacific market. Analyst firm IDC says cloud computing in Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) will grow 40% annually through 2014, from $1.3 billion in 2010. Combined with the fact that many Cloud Sherpas clients are global businesses with a presence in Asia makes expansion in the region is a “no-brainer” for the company.

“Companies in the Asia-Pacific market are embracing the cloud,” says Cloud Sherpas CEO Jon Hallett. “Our acquisition of Devnet, an early Google partner, ensures that our local team will be well-equipped to serve the increasing demand from both enterprises and local businesses looking for an experienced Google Apps partner in the region.”

Cloud Sherpas operations for Asia Pacific will be headquartered in Sydney, Australia. “Sydney gives us a launch pad to all of Asia,” said Eran Gil, a co-founder of Cloud Sherpas and acting General Manager for the region. “While we intend to focus on delivering world-class service and support to businesses in Australia and New Zealand in the near-term, over time, we expect to work with many customers in Singapore, India, Japan and other Asian markets.”

With this acquisition, Cloud Sherpas cements its position as one of the world’s leading Google Apps cloud service providers. The company recently celebrated its one millionth user migrated to Google Apps, and boasts more Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialists than any other partner in the world.

About Cloud Sherpas
Cloud Sherpas (www.cloudsherpas.com) is a leading Google Apps cloud service provider. As a Google Apps Authorised Reseller and Google Enterprise partner, Cloud Sherpas has migrated over one million users across all major industries from legacy, on-premise messaging systems to Google Apps, helping organisations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. SherpaTools for Google Apps (www.sherpatools.com), its flagship product, enhances the functionality and ease-of-use of Google Apps for both administrators and end-users. As the #1 ranked tool in the Google Apps Marketplace, SherpaTools has been installed on over 20,000 domains in over 110 countries representing over 3.5 million end-users.

###

Cloud Sherpas has recently been awarded a spot on the CRN Next-Gen 250 list, a ranking that features up-and-coming North American VARs.

“In today’s competitive environment solution providers have to do more than just talk about innovation. The ability to quickly implement new processes, models and technologies is what drives margins and the bottom line,” said Kelley Damore, VP and Editorial Director of the Everything Channel.

Read more about the CRN Next-Gen 250 rankings here.

ATLANTA, Georgia — July 27, 2011 — Cloud Sherpas has acquired a Google Apps reseller and cloud service provider (CSP) in New Zealand as part of a strategy to dramatically expand its business in the Asia-Pacific region. WaveAdept, based in Wellington, is the third company acquired by Cloud Sherpas, a top Google Apps partner, in the past six weeks. To cement its commitment to helping Asia-Pacific clients go Google, Cloud Sherpas has opened an office in Sydney, Australia.

Terms were not disclosed, but the acquisition of WaveAdept provides Cloud Sherpas with local, well-connected senior management talent, additional Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialists, and enthusiastic Google Apps customers. The acquisition also extends Cloud Sherpas’ brand in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for cloud computing. Analyst firm IDC says cloud computing in Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) will grow 40% annually through 2014, from $1.3 billion in 2010.

“We’ve heard that businesses in New Zealand and Australia have been slower to embrace cloud computing,” said Jon Hallett, CEO for Cloud Sherpas. “But from what we’ve seen, companies in this market are aggressively looking to replace on-premise email and collaboration products with cloud-native platforms — particularly Google Apps.”

“Google Apps adoption in Asia is accelerating because businesses in this market are seeing real benefits from replacing their legacy systems with pure cloud solutions.” said Richard Suhr, Google Enterprise Sales Director for APAC. “Google Apps Resellers have played a key role in the growth of Google Apps, and we’re delighted to see Cloud Sherpas move into this region.”

According to Google, Google Apps is used today by 30 million people in three million businesses worldwide, and 3,000 new companies are signing up every day. This growth is consistent with what Cloud Sherpas is seeing in the market: In three years, the company has migrated over one million workers to Google Apps, and Cloud Sherpas’ IT admin add-on for Google Apps — SherpaTools — has been installed on more than 20,000 domains in over 110 countries, including over 80 percent of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

WaveAdept was a logical acquisition target for Cloud Sherpas — which recently snapped up leading Google Apps CSPs on the West Coast and in the Midwest United States. WaveAdept has migrated dozens of companies and thousands of workers to Google Apps, and the firm has significant experience selling and servicing major accounts.

“We plan to staff up quickly in New Zealand and Australia, but the acquisition of WaveAdept gives us immediate help from senior managers and Google experts who know the local market inside-and-out,” said Hallett. “Asia is a huge opportunity for Google Apps, and we’re thrilled to be a key catalyst for rapid adoption.”

About Cloud Sherpas
Cloud Sherpas (www.cloudsherpas.com) is a leading Google Apps cloud service provider. As a Google Apps Authorized Reseller and Google Enterprise partner, Cloud Sherpas has migrated over one million users across all major industries from legacy, on-premise messaging systems to Google Apps, helping organizations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. SherpaTools for Google Apps (www.sherpatools.com), its flagship product, enhances the functionality and ease-of-use of Google Apps for both administrators and end-users. As the #1 ranked tool in the Google Apps Marketplace, SherpaTools has been installed on over 20,000 domains in over 110 countries representing over 3.5 million end-users.

###

ATLANTA, Georgia — June 27, 2011 — Cloud Sherpas, a top Google partner for helping business customers adopt the Google Apps™ cloud platform, has acquired Beloit Solutions Group; terms were not disclosed. Last month Cloud Sherpas acquired San Francisco-based Omnetic, extending the company’s presence on the West Coast. The acquisition of Beloit, based in Overland Park, Kansas, strengthens Cloud Sherpas’ position in another key market, the Midwest, a region dominated by large enterprises, and long considered to be “Microsoft country.”

“This is a great move for Cloud Sherpas that fits perfectly into our strategy to grow the business organically and through acquisition,” said Jon Hallett, CEO for Cloud Sherpas. “Beloit gives us top sales and IT management talent, more Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialists, fantastic customers, and thousands of additional managed Google Apps seats.”

Google Apps is the leading cloud email and collaboration platform for business, and Cloud Sherpas is a preeminent Google Apps reseller and solutions provider. With the addition of Beloit, Cloud Sherpas has now migrated over one million business “seats” to the Google Apps cloud platform.

Beloit was founded in 2006 by Mike Thiessen, who was president of staffing and recruiting consulting firm VistaConnections, and enterprise application specialist, Tim Lockyear, formerly a senior manager for Sprint. Beloit has accumulated tens of thousands of Google Apps users in the Midwest and nationally since joining the Google Apps partner program. Its top customers include Cosentino’s Food Stores and the Midwest Air Traffic Control Systems.

“Mike and Tim have built a tremendous business,” said Hallett. “They’ve sold large accounts, which will be key for us as we target Microsoft enterprise customers in the Midwest. They also have deep technical skills and impressive business acumen, making them important long-term assets for Cloud Sherpas. We’re excited to bring the entire Beloit team into the Cloud Sherpas fold, as we aim to work more closely with Google sales reps throughout the Midwest region.”

“This is a great transaction for Beloit’s founders and investors, and a big win for our customers,” said Thiessen. “Beloit clients in the Midwest and nationally will benefit from the support of a larger and deeper organization, with even more experience helping companies of all sizes use and succeed with Google Apps. We’re very proud to have served so many terrific companies. But the time is right to align with a firm that we believe will be the major Google Apps reseller and solution provider for many years to come.”

About Cloud Sherpas
Cloud Sherpas (www.cloudsherpas.com) is a leading Google Apps cloud services provider. As a Google Apps Authorized Reseller and Google Enterprise partner, Cloud Sherpas has migrated over one million users across all major industries from legacy, on-premise messaging systems to Google Apps, helping organizations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. SherpaTools for Google Apps (www.sherpatools.com), our flagship product, enhances the functionality and ease-of-use of Google Apps for both administrators and end-users. As the #1 ranked tool in the Google Apps Marketplace, SherpaTools has been installed on over 20,000 domains in over 110 countries representing over 3.5 million end-users.

###

Atlanta, GA (June 2, 2011) — Cloud Sherpas, the world’s leading provider of managed Google Apps solutions and top Google Apps reseller, has acquired Omnetic, the premier West Coast Google Apps solution provider. The acquisition of Omnetic, based in San Francisco, gives Cloud Sherpas the largest concentration of Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialists of any company outside Google. It also brings Cloud Sherpas a roster of marquee customers including National Geographic, Dr. Martens, Design Within Reach, Mazda Raceway and the Schumacher Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We have the industry’s largest Google Apps practice,” said Jon Hallett, CEO for Cloud Sherpas, “including offices in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Austin, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia. But the addition of Omnetic significantly enhances our presence on the West Coast. With an office and a highly trained staff in San Francisco, we can bolster relationships with regional clients and prospects, and with Google itself, which will be critical as Google introduces new products and programs for customers and partners.”

Google Apps is the premier cloud email and collaboration platform for business. Cloud Sherpas, whose revenue grew over 600% last year, has migrated over 800,000 users to Google Apps over the past three years, while Omnetic has transitioned 100,000 users. Cloud Sherpas also has the top IT admin tool, SherpaTools, in the Google Apps Marketplace. One of the Original 50 apps in the Marketplace, SherpaTools has been installed by more than 16,000 domains representing three million users in 114 countries.

Founded in 2008, Omnetic is a venture-backed company with significant expertise deploying Google Apps across all major industries. Founder and CEO Chris McGarry is a seasoned entrepreneur who led Salesforce.com’s landmark deployment of Google Apps and was a member of the team that built the native product integration between Salesforce.com and Google Apps, prior to founding Omnetic.

“With Omnetic we’re getting a talented team led by a tremendously gifted business visionary and leader,” said Hallett. “We look forward to bringing Chris and his staff into the Cloud Sherpas fold, while we continue to grow our business organically and through additional mergers and acquisitions.”

“This is a decisive move by Cloud Sherpas and a fantastic opportunity for our team. By joining the recognized leader in Google cloud solutions, we accomplish our goal of creating the dominant company in the Google Enterprise marketplace,” said McGarry. “We share a passion for technology-driven business transformation. Most importantly, our complementary experience, expertise and geographic reach position us to deliver even greater value to our customers and partners.”

“As more and more businesses move to the cloud with Google Apps, they rely on the services of experts like Cloud Sherpas and Omnetic,” said Rahul Sood, Google’s Global Head of Partnerships. “We’re pleased to see these companies — who not only specialize in the cloud but also were built in the cloud — join forces. We look forward to working with them to bring the benefits of Google Apps to even more companies.”

About Cloud Sherpas
Cloud Sherpas (www.cloudsherpas.com) is the world’s leading provider of managed Google Apps solutions. As a Google Apps Authorized Reseller and leading Google Enterprise partner, Cloud Sherpas has migrated hundreds of thousands of users across all major industries from legacy, on-premises messaging systems to Google Apps and Google App Engine, helping organizations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. SherpaTools for Google Apps (www.sherpatools.com) from Cloud Sherpas enhances the functionality and ease-of-use of Google Apps for both administrators and end-users.

###

Developer Cloud Sherpas to Demo “Ultimate Companion App” at Google I/O