AT&T Expands SMB Remote Tech Support Service From PCs to Servers

Dallas (PRESS RELEASE – May 13, 2011) – Building on the success of the popular AT&T Tech Support 360 service, which provides remote IT support for small and mid-size business PCs, AT&T announced recently the availability of remote IT support for SMB computer servers as well.

With the new service – AT&T Tech Support 360 Server Support – small and mid-size businesses receive wide-ranging care for Windows servers from U.S.-based AT&T certified network engineers.

Features and options available with the service may include:

• 24/7 server performance monitoring
• Security patch management
• Management of critical business applications, and network and Internet connectivity
• Monitoring of firewalls, switches and routers
• Consultative recommendations on best practices
• Unlimited phone and live remote support
• Regular reporting and updates

“With the growth of mobile applications, mobile devices, and remote workers, more small and medium business are investing in servers to run their business,” said Michael McDonald, analyst, AMI-Partners, an industry research firm. “As a result, the demand for remote IT server support is growing as well and we expect that it will continue to grow for the foreseeable future.”

In fact, AMI reports that North American small and mid-size businesses already have more than 3 million servers deployed, and projects that the market for remote IT server support will grow from $1.4 billion in 2010 to $5 billion by 2013, a compound annual growth rate of more than 50 percent.

AT&T’s Server Support monitors and reports on more than 2,000 hardware and software indicators to help ensure the health of SMB servers and systems. In the event of an application failure or other critical issue, customers are immediately notified and AT&T certified network engineers work remotely to quickly resolve the situation. They can even go onsite to business locations if necessary.

All online sessions are logged and recorded for security purposes. Because small and mid-size businesses need flexibility as well as security, Server Support makes it easy for customers to change passwords, disable old users, and set up new users.

“As businesses grow and get more complex, so do their IT issues,” said Ebrahim Keshavarz, AT&T Vice President of Small Business Product Management. “With Server Support, we have a solution that offers thorough monitoring, proactive maintenance, problem resolution – at a predictable monthly cost. By remotely monitoring and managing SMB servers, our aim is to prevent problems before they happen. But if they do occur, we react quickly to minimize any impact to their operations.”

For those small and mid-size businesses that have IT staff, AT&T’s new service can help offload day-to-day server support, enabling the customer’s technicians to focus on other business priorities, such as building websites, setting up networks, or ensuring that billing, accounting or other key software and applications are running properly.

Server Support subscription plans start as low as $99 per month per server. Premium plans that come with unlimited remote access support for hardware and operating systems start as low as $309 per month per server. Support for key SMB applications are available for an additional charge.

Interested small and mid-size businesses can get more information about Tech Support 360 Server Support by visiting tech360.att.com or by calling 877-888-7360. SMB’s can also contact their designated AT&T account manager with any questions or to get more information.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.