Rackspace is now offering managed IT services for the full Google Apps for Work suite.
Google Apps for Work includes Gmail, Drive, and Hangouts, and the apps can now be offered with Rackspace’s migration, deployment and account management services.
Taylor Rhodes, Rackspace CEO, said: "Rackspace strives each day to provide a world-class service experience on top of best-in-class technologies, and our new managed service offering of Google Apps for Work is a prime example.
"Companies want and need a trustworthy provider to offer technical expertise and support to help them succeed with their cloud applications. This partnership is an exciting step forward in advancing the future of cloud-based office productivity and collaboration."
Google Apps for Work at Rackspace opens up the apps to be eligible for the managing firm’s deployment services, including security configuration and mobile device management, and its migration services, which include utilisation and availability reporting options.
"This is an ideal time for Rackspace to announce support of Google Apps for Work, as SMBs are looking to the cloud now more than ever before to support the need for office and collaborative applications that can be accessed from anywhere," said Chris Chute, research VP for Global SMB Cloud and Mobility Practice at IDC.
"Rackspace’s focus on making SMB businesses successful through its managed cloud services and Fanatical Support team is an advantage for smaller customers who many times require this type of assistance in order to take advantage of the cloud productivity market."
As part of this collaboration, Rackspace joined the Google for Work Partner Program as a Premier SMB Reseller. This program enables Rackspace to offer services and provide Google Apps for Work to SMBs globally.
The service will be deployed in 2015.
