Award recognizes the company's advanced competency in providing hosting software and services; meets Microsoft's highest criteria for enhanced employee certification.

Netcetera, a Douglas-based web hosting service provider, yesterday announced that it has been awarded Gold Certified Partner status by Microsoft.

The company says that the award recognises the company's advanced competency in both providing hosting software and services. As a Gold Certified Partner, Netcetera meets Microsoft's highest criteria for enhanced employee certification and has an extensive portfolio of customer references.

Netcetera became a Microsoft Certified Partner in 1999. To elevate to Gold status, the company worked closely with Microsoft to develop its new managed hosting service to support the Microsoft Server Platform, which includes Window's Server Systems, Sharepoint, Project Server, SQL Server and Small Business Server.

"We are very proud to have achieved Microsoft Gold Partner status," said Peter Skelton, Netcetera's Managing Director. "It recognises the high-level of expertise and quality of the hosting and managed services we provide. With Netcetera, businesses on the island have world-leading technology and services right here on their doorstep. We are pleased to lead the way in hosting and managed services provision in the Isle of Man," added Skelton.