Virtustream, the enterprise-class cloud company and a Dell Technologies Business, today announced its first customer and partner in Africa. BCX, Africa's premier end-to-end digital solutions partner, providing advanced information and communications technology, will implement Virtustream xStream and Virtustream Viewtrust software to further orchestrate, automate and secure BCX's cloud capabilities.

Virtustream xStream is an integrated cloud management platform that enables service providers such as BCX to deliver enterprise-class, IT-as-a-Service to their customers. BCX's cloud capabilities are strengthened by the addition of Virtustream Viewtrust enterprise risk management and continuous compliance monitoring solution.

"We are pleased to support BCX's extension of their cloud solutions into mission-critical applications to serve the market needs across South Africa," said Steve Midgely, vice president, Virtustream. "Our relationship with BCX is further evidence that Virtustream's platform is the preferred solution for enterprise cloud services delivering mission-critical applications for customers throughout the world."

BCX, a fully owned Telkom Group subsidiary, serves Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) -listed enterprises, public sector organisations, state-owned entities and medium-sized businesses in Africa, Dubai and the UK. Virtustream's cloud capabilities will be deployed in two BCX Tier IV datacenters, one in Johannesburg and the other in Cape Town, for the coverage BCX requires to meet their growing business needs supported by Telkom Group's reliable Metro Ethernet connectivity.

"Enterprise cloud is a high priority for businesses in South Africa, and we undertook a rigorous selection process to find the right solution to offer business-critical workloads in the cloud for our customers and enhance our existing cloud capabilities," said Jacques Loubser, chief of infrastructure solutions, BCX Group. "In the end, Virtustream was a good fit for us, because we already manage many major private company and government workloads. These organisations deeply value the agility and performance of the Virtustream cloud solution. The additional benefits accrued from Virtustream Viewtrust for security and compliance make the new service a compelling and unique offering within South Africa."

Virtustream cloud solutions are expected to go into service within the BCX datacenters in July 2017.