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We are thrilled to be the first Microsoft Partner in South Africa to have earned the new Windows Virtual Desktop Advanced Specialization.
This accomplishment follows our recent accreditation as an Azure Expert Managed Services Provider, and makes BUI the only Microsoft Partner on the African continent with both Azure Expert MSP status and advanced Windows Virtual Desktop capabilities.
Introduced by Microsoft in September this year, the Windows Virtual Desktop Advanced Specialization recognises Partners with the knowledge and experience to implement, optimise, and secure virtual desktop infrastructure that allows remote end-users to access the tools they need safely and easily, on any web-enabled device.
“From the deployment of Windows Virtual Desktop environments to the management of virtual desktop infrastructure on Azure, we are helping our customers to find scalable, cost-effective solutions for their business needs,” says BUI Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Willem Malan.
“Enterprises are already looking to the future and planning for a post COVID-19 world, and we are seeing a greater emphasis on flexibility and security as stakeholders explore remote-work options for diverse employee groups,” continues Malan. “Virtual desktops enable productivity as usual, even in unusual times, and I think the demand for this kind of functionality will continue to grow as companies adapt to the changing business landscape,” he adds.
To earn the Windows Virtual Desktop Advanced Specialization, Microsoft Partners must pass a rigorous third-party audit, which Malan explains is designed to assess more than just technical aptitude.
“Our ability to facilitate a customer’s move to Windows Virtual Desktop is scrutinised and measured from every angle. This achievement is a testament to our top-line expertise as well as our proven success in delivering virtualised Windows desktops and applications that are secure, compliant, and tailored for the modern workplace,” he says.
Empowering people to work remotely – from their homes, offices, or on the go – is critical for business continuity in a changing world. The Windows Virtual Desktop solution delivered through our a2zManaged modern managed services practice offers a comprehensive, end-to-end managed virtual desktop environment, with several advantages:
“Microsoft Azure is an exceptionally powerful platform, and we are leveraging its versatility to help our customers reimagine business productivity. With comprehensive virtual desktop technology and a trusted partner on hand from server to screen, remote work becomes not only possible, but feasible, too,” notes Malan.
BUI is committed to supporting customers through every stage of digital transformation. “We are determined to help organisations unlock the full value of their technological investments,” declares Malan.
“Advanced specializations like this one, alongside our complementary abilities in Adoption and Change Management, position us to deliver tailormade solutions that enable business teams to thrive in the new world of work,” he concludes.
Our specialists can enable, manage, and support your Windows Virtual Desktop environment – from the server to the screen.
Download our Windows Virtual Desktop brochure for more information on cloud-driven productivity solutions for the modern workplace.
We’re thrilled to announce that we won the Modern Workplace Partner of the Year Award, the Azure Infrastructure Partner of the Year Award, and the Security Partner of the Year Award at the 2020 Microsoft South Africa Partner Awards last night (30 September). BUI was also named as a finalist for the Consulting Services Partner of the Year Award. Congratulations, BUI team! This is an amazing achievement after a year of unprecedented challenges in the face of COVID-19.
Microsoft SA’s awards ceremony was conducted virtually for the first time, as part of the company’s commitment to local lockdown protocols. Held annually, the Microsoft SA Partner Awards recognise and celebrate Microsoft Partners for their performances and achievements. Judging takes place across numerous categories after intensive reviews of the award submissions, and trophies are usually presented at a gala dinner in Johannesburg. Last night, Microsoft SA Managing Director Lillian Barnard (pictured above) acknowledged the different digital format as she welcomed more than 350 attendees to the online celebration.
“I really would have loved the opportunity to meet you all in person,” said Barnard. “This is an exceptional moment in history, and over the past several months all of us have been put to the test. However, the innovation and responsiveness of our partner community has helped many organisations survive,” she continued, highlighting the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and thanking partners for their commitment, passion, and energy.
For Managing Director Ryan Roseveare, the Modern Workplace Partner of the Year trophy is an important acknowledgement of our unwavering focus on customer needs. “The term ‘workplace’ took on a different meaning this year as companies grappled with the demands of doing business under lockdown. BUI was quick to respond, and to provide innovative solutions that enabled customers to move entire workloads to the cloud and to shift entire workforces to remote desktops, efficiently and securely,” he explains. “I’m thrilled with this accolade, but prestigious honours like this would not be possible without the dedication of our people. They work very hard to create value-driven Microsoft solutions for our customers.”
Technical Director Willem Malan is equally pleased with this recognition, especially as we continue to pursue a cloud-first strategy. “We’re actively expanding our already strong professional environment with additional competencies to further support our customers through digital transformation. By focusing on change management, we can ensure that end-users are fully prepared to leverage cloud-based productivity tools like Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams, wherever their workplaces may be located,” he says.
BUI achieved the highest infrastructure-related Azure consumer revenue in FY2020 and was the first SA Microsoft Partner to launch a Cyber Security Operations Centre powered by Sentinel. Last night’s Azure Infrastructure Partner of the Year victory was particularly special, says Roseveare. “We’re cloud enthusiasts as well as cloud advocates,” he explains.
Helping customers to modernise and secure their operations with Azure is a real passion for everyone here at BUI, concurs Malan. “Our success stories are built on a foundation of service excellence. We all understand the importance of delivering relevant Azure solutions that work for our customers, and that align with their strategic business vision, and that ultimately enable them to serve and support their own clients using a scalable and incredibly powerful cloud platform.”
Roseveare and Malan are delighted to see BUI take home the Security Partner of the Year Award for the second year in a row. “This accolade speaks to our central philosophy,” says Roseveare. “Security is at the heart of our business and we make it a core part of design, deployment, and management projects for our customers. By harnessing Microsoft’s robust security tools, we can empower organisations to proactively protect their critical assets.”
Security is an ongoing concern for local enterprises, says Malan. “South Africans experienced a surge in coronavirus-related cybercrime this year, and while the pandemic certainly increased the frequency of malicious attacks, it’s important to remember that the threat is constant. We are committed to leading from the front with modern security solutions. BUI specialists are highly skilled and best-in-class, and this recognition from Microsoft is well-earned and well-deserved.”
Our trophy haul last night marks the latest achievement in a banner year for our company. Since the beginning of 2020, BUI has celebrated its 20th anniversary, been named Microsoft’s Country Partner of the Year for South Africa, become the first local Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Services Provider, and attained Microsoft’s new Adoption and Change Management Advanced Specialization.
“I’m extremely proud of Team BUI,” concludes Roseveare. “They have helped our customers to stay online, to keep connected, and to remain secure throughout the extraordinary circumstances of this year, and I know they will carry the same passion forward as we look ahead to the future.”
Thank you for making these achievements possible, everyone!
Have you educated your staff about cybersecurity? Join us for the Creating Your Human Firewall webinar on 15 October and see how to transform your employees into cyber defenders!
When was the last time you conducted a pen-test? Sign up for our Evolution of Penetration Testing webinar on 16 October to explore new ways to protect your digital estate.
It’s official! BUI has been named a Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Services Provider (MSP). We’re extremely proud to be the first South African company to achieve this distinction, which is currently held by only a select group of Microsoft Partners worldwide.
The Microsoft Azure Expert MSP programme recognises Microsoft Partners with the proven expertise and capability to deliver the highest quality of managed end-to-end Microsoft Azure cloud services, from initial planning and design through to implementation, operation, and optimisation.
“This is a fantastic achievement for BUI and a win for our customers,” says Managing Director Ryan Roseveare. “This is an acknowledgement of our skills and competencies around Microsoft Azure and benefits our company and our customers. It shows that we are in the top tier of globally recognised Microsoft Partners, and that we are highly successful when it comes to managing modern cloud environments. As more and more South African businesses explore cloud-based solutions, the need for Azure specialists grows. We’re proud to rank among the best, and to support local companies.”
Roseveare’s sentiments are shared by Technical Director Willem Malan: “Now, more than ever, I think customers are looking for the best partners to support them through digital transformation. We have attained Microsoft Azure Expert MSP status and that is certainly a validation of our abilities, but more importantly, it’s an assurance for our customers. It shows that we’re equipped to provide truly world-class service, and to deliver Azure cloud services at scale for enterprises across the board.”
To participate in the Azure Expert MSP programme, Microsoft Partners must meet stringent requirements defined by Microsoft and independently evaluated by third-party auditors.
“The process is rigorous,” explains Malan. “Our teams have been assessed on everything from technical aptitude to customer deliveries, and we’re delighted with the positive feedback received. We’re fortunate to have so many talented, passionate people who are committed to delivering business value for our customers,” he says.
“We congratulate BUI on their Azure Expert MSP recognition and look forward to working alongside them, to help more customers make the move to the cloud as a critical enabler of digital transformation. It is a digital transformation journey that for many has accelerated exponentially, as the need for remote working has increased. Our partners are a cornerstone of the Microsoft ecosystem, now more than ever, as we navigate towards a post COVID-19 business landscape that creates hybrid workplaces that are secure, cost efficient and streamlined,” says Lillian Barnard, Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa.
“We’re honoured to have earned this prestigious accreditation, and we look forward to helping more customers benefit from the security and scalability of Microsoft Azure,” concludes Roseveare.
Ryan Roseveare remembers walking through a Sandton shopping mall with a cellphone in his hand and hearing hushed chatter from the people behind him. “Look, that guy’s got one of those new cellphone thingies,” someone had whispered in amazement. It was the dawn of the new millennium. The world was still getting used to novelty items like mobile phones. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn were on the distant horizon. And digital technology was evolving at an unprecedented speed.
In the year 2000, Roseveare and his good friend, Willem Malan, were working at an IT firm that was struggling to adapt after a takeover. “We saw a very dynamic business deteriorate into a complete mess. It became very clear very quickly that the focus was on the stakeholders instead of the people.”
As the corporate carnage continued, Roseveare and Malan weighed their options. “We knew we didn’t want to do mundane IT. And we knew we wanted to put people first. We soon realised that starting our own business was the best thing to do,” he says. And so, BUI was born.
They started small and focused on their strengths, gradually building up a customer base in Johannesburg before taking on projects from around the country. It was a year before they could afford to move the business out of Roseveare’s house and into a corporate space. But the lessons learned in those first 12 months proved invaluable, and Roseveare believes their success comes down to five key factors…
Johannesburg had been BUI’s main hub since inception, but satellite staff had been supporting customers elsewhere, too. With increasing demand in the Mother City, and a desire to broaden the company’s range of solutions, Roseveare approached Living Tech, a leader in managed services. “We were looking to establish a hub in Cape Town, and we were also looking to expand our capabilities,” he explains.
The acquisition of Living Tech ticked both boxes: BUI gained a metropolitan office in the Cape and a new business arm to leverage in service of a growing customer base. Roseveare was determined to make the integration as smooth as possible for Living Tech employees. “For two years, we didn’t change anything. We didn’t even change the coffee!” It was a thoughtful approach that created an opportunity for new faces to become familiar ones, and for teams to learn each other’s rhythms and routines. And it worked. “We have a very close-knit community,” he says.
BUI’s expansion and continued success didn’t go unnoticed. “We had multiple corporates courting us, trying to purchase us, and we turned down a lot of offers,” confesses Roseveare, adding that he and Malan had similar concerns about BUI losing its unique identity. It was a proposal from First Technology Group CEO Arnold Sharp that finally made them reconsider.
“When Arnold came to us, he understood who we were, what we were doing, and how we worked – and he didn’t want to change us. He wanted us to retain our independence, but benefit from belonging to a bigger family,” remembers Roseveare. BUI joined the First Technology Group in 2015. “It was a positive move. It’s given us more strength, more credibility, more reach, and an ally who appreciates our philosophy.”
Being part of the First Technology Group also enabled greater collaboration within the local IT industry. BUI has had a strategic relationship with Ascent Technology since 2017. It’s an accord that Roseveare attributes as much to their shared mission as to their shared status as First Technology relatives. “I think we’re kindred spirits, as far as businesses go. And our agenda is the same: to transform our customers’ IT, modernise them, and make them secure. It makes sense for us to work together to deliver more value to the people we serve.”
Delivering value to customers is one of BUI’s fundamental principles, and technology vendors and partners have always been chosen with this core tenet in mind. “If you’re going to pin your flag to someone else’s mast, then you better choose wisely,” advises Roseveare. “We’ve been selective. We’ve chosen good partners, and good platforms, and we’ve got it right the first time.”
Going all-in with Microsoft was a key decision, and a natural one. “It was a Microsoft world when we started BUI. That worked in our favour, because we knew the market and we had the expertise. But we also saw how technology was changing society. We knew we’d have the chance to innovate alongside one of the most innovative companies in the world,” says Roseveare.
BUI also has longstanding relationships with Cisco and Palo Alto Networks. “For us, end-to-end consulting means having advanced capabilities,” explains Roseveare. “It means knowing which complementary products and services would best suit a customer’s needs. And it means mastering the skills required to develop seamless, integrated solutions.”
Aptitude is important, says Roseveare, but attitude is paramount. “We’ve got an eclectic bunch of individuals here, and our offices are open, interactive places. We talk, we share, and we encourage friendly rivalry. But there’s a golden thread in our business: everyone has the same drive, and the same passion to be the best.”
The company culture is something that Roseveare set out to establish from Day 1. Working from the spare room of his Parkhurst home, he had the dual responsibilities of new parent and new business owner. Malan, likewise, was balancing his home life with the demands of entrepreneurship and a commute of more than 100km every day. “He used to spend half his salary on petrol and the other half on food,” chuckles Roseveare. “It took a lot of energy, but we did it. We planned, we prepared, and we executed.”
Their personal experiences informed their team-building techniques over the years. “We’ve built a people-focused business with a specific culture around agility, flexibility, excellence, and positive outcomes – for BUI and for our customers,” explains Roseveare. The results speak for themselves: dozens of elite technical specialists; a trophy cabinet full of industry accolades; and an enviable list of clients in diverse sectors. “We’re just warming up,” he quips.
BUI will continue to focus on managed cloud services, cyber security and networking, especially in the local market, where skills shortages remain a challenge for even the largest enterprises. Roseveare is also committed to expanding the company’s footprint internationally.
“We’re putting a lot of focus into growing our customer base in sub-Saharan Africa,” he says, adding that cloud-centric solutions make sense in developing countries where infrastructure and capacity constraints may be obstacles to productivity.
He has similar plans for the BUI base in the United States, but he’s being purposefully methodical about scaling up in a foreign environment. “We’re ambitious about our growth. We do want to become a truly global business. But first, we need to make sure that what we’re doing here can be replicated successfully overseas.”
After 20 years at the helm, Roseveare has every confidence in BUI – and his team. “The people in this company… They’re the ones waking up at dawn to solve problems for customers. They’re putting everything they have, and more, into making BUI a success. Without them, nothing would happen. It’s that simple.”
