SiteROCK(SM) Corp. is First Management Service Provider to Achieve ISO 9001 Certification.

As IT Shortages Increase Demand for Outsourced Services, International Quality

Seal-Of-Approval Becomes Critical in Differentiating E-Business Service

Providers

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ --

SiteROCK Corp. today became the first management service provider (MSP) to be recognized for its quality improvement and change management processes by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) based in Geneva, Switzerland. SiteROCK earned ISO 9001 certification for the processes it has developed to deliver its remote operations support services, which keep e-businesses up and running around the clock.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000203/SITEROCK )

Keeping an e-business up and performing 24 x 7 is an increasingly daunting task requiring the monitoring, measuring and managing of as many "moving parts" as the most complex manufacturing systems in the world. These moving parts, including co-located e-business systems, network providers and dependent third party applications, are critical to generating revenue and ensuring that service to the end user is speedy, efficient, and informative.

The complexity and constant change inherent in managing each link in this dynamic IT delivery chain demands precise, yet flexible processes similar to those used to ensure quality, output and efficiency in life-critical areas such as medical instrument manufacturing.

"SiteROCK is the first management services provider (MSP) to receive the internationally recognized standard of quality that ISO certification represents," said George Peabody, vice president and managing director, of Boston-based consultancy, Aberdeen Group. "In this new market, ISO certification gives customers needed assurance that their service provider has the processes in place to effectively manage e-business operations. Given the critical nature of their websites, e-businesses will require proven quality and accountability from their outsourcing providers."

ISO certification was a key factor in SiteROCK's recent selection by Stentor, Inc. to provide primary operations support for its Internet-based hospital networks. Stentor, Inc., a Silicon Valley-based medical informatics company, is a world leader in the management and distribution of diagnostic images.

"SiteROCK's ISO certification was the deal-maker for us," said Oran Muduroglu, president and CEO of Stentor, Inc. "Our mission is to deliver diagnostic-quality, full-fidelity medical images across the entire hospital enterprise. In the medical world we understand the importance of quality standards and demand the same from our key service partners such as siteROCK. We value SiteROCK's ability to effectively manage and process the ever-changing demands of an e-business network."

"Companies around the world look to the ISO standard as an objective seal-of-approval," said Dave Lilly, SiteROCK COO. "Certification means our customers can trust our change management processes and our ability to see the 'big picture' while maintaining the detailed focus necessary for the alarm processing, fault localization and corrective actions we take on their behalf."

The scope of the ISO 9001 registration at siteROCK included evaluation of siteROCK's software and process engineering, employee training and development, operation of the company's global network of Reliability Operations Centers (ROCs), quality assurance, change management and continuous improvement policies and processes.

ISO certification was conducted by TUV Essen a certification body of TUV Mitte AG, which provides a full range of testing and certification services for more than 100 industries. TUV Essen performed on-site assessments, examined documented procedures and surveyed siteROCK's overall operations. To determine continued compliance, TUV Essen will periodically conduct routine surveillance audits of siteROCK's operations and quality improvement programs.

"In my experience, a relatively young company achieving ISO 9000 in the very first audit without any major or minor non-conformity is uncommon," said Sham Beri, Lead Auditor, TUV-Essen. "We found siteRock's quality management system to be worthy of ISO 9001, which is the most comprehensive standard because it includes design controls, engineered processes and an in-depth verification and validation of quality practices."

About the International Organization for Standardization

The ISO 9000 Standard was written by representatives from the United States and 14 European countries and published in 1987 by the International Organization of Standards in Geneva, Switzerland. The requirements of the Standard are aimed primarily at achieving customer satisfaction by preventing nonconformity at all stages, from production through servicing. The requirements include management, leadership, a pro-active and well-trained work force, customer feedback, measurement, documentation, internal audits, continuous improvement, and third party validation.

About siteROCK Corporation

SiteROCK Corporation is the only management services provider that is IS0-certified to monitor, measure and manage complex ebusiness systems, networks and dependent third-party applications for those companies whose revenues are dependent upon a consistent and reliable Internet presence. SiteROCK's remote 24/7 operations support services cost-effectively augment internal staff freeing them to focus on and control core IT initiatives.

With offices in California, New York, and Tokyo, siteROCK is currently supporting a list of leading ebusiness customers. Principal investors include Mohr, Davidow Ventures, Weiss, Peck & Greer Venture Partners, and Patricof & Co. Ventures, Inc. The company is headquartered in Emeryville, Calif. and can be reached at 510-768-6000 or on the Web at www.siterock.com.