Approva Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program

by PR Newswire

Approva Further Distinguishes Itself by Earning a Microsoft Competency in Microsoft ISV/Software Solutions

RESTON, Va., June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Approva(R) Corporation, the leader in enterprise controls management software, today announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in Microsoft ISV/Software Solutions, recognizing Approva's expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified partner, Approva has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. They need to trust in someone that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "Today, Microsoft recognizes Approva as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology."

Approva's controls automation and assurance software enables business, finance, IT and audit professionals to automate the on-demand testing, closed- loop remediation and continuous, exception-based monitoring of their application controls. Using Approva's solutions companies can reduce the cost of compliance for regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), streamline preparation for audits, eliminate time spent on manually testing business controls and reduce exposure to mistakes, fraud and inefficiencies.

"We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program," said Silas Matteson, Approva's senior vice president of products. "This allows our customers to maximize the investment they have made in Microsoft technology by enabling them to more easily monitor key business exceptions and risks across heterogeneous ERP systems from the familiar environment of Microsoft's products.

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Status, Approva had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.

The Microsoft ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packed software based on Microsoft technologies.

"Partners play a critical role in delivering solutions and applications to customers with the Microsoft Office System," said Jeff Raikes, group vice president of Productivity and Business Services at Microsoft. "The value of Solutions Competencies is that they enable Microsoft to deliver resources and training to partners that are meeting their customer needs. And for partners, the opportunity to highlight their expertise to customers is tremendous in the growing information worker solution market."

"Some of the largest SAP customers in the world depend on Approva for strengthening their internal controls," said Sean Thompson, Microsoft SAP global alliance director. "Approva's solutions highlight the value of the Microsoft .NET platform in delivering innovative solutions to customers."

The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 2003 and represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners' businesses be successful.

About Approva

Approva(R) Corporation is the industry-leading provider of Enterprise Controls Management software. We enable business, finance, IT and audit professionals to automate the on-demand testing, closed-loop remediation and continuous, exception-based monitoring of controls within and across their business systems. Using our solutions, customers are able to significantly increase visibility into their controls, streamline the audit process, cost- effectively sustain their compliance initiatives and reduce exposure to mistakes, fraud and inefficiencies for business processes such as procurement, sales and delivery, payroll and financial close. In addition, our automated solutions act as key preventative and detective controls, further strengthening our customers' financial and operational control environments. Global companies such as Campbell Soup Company, Colgate-Palmolive, DirecTV, Discovery Communications, McCormick & Company, P&G, Pratt & Whitney, Siemens and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts rely on Approva BizRights(R) Platform and Enterprise Controls Suite to reduce compliance risk, increase operational efficiency and flag exceptions to their business controls. For more information, visit http://www.approva.net/.

Source: Approva Corporation

CONTACT: Elissa Ehrlich of FitzGerald Communications, +1-212-453-2044, approva@fitzgerald.com, for Approva Corporation

Web site: http://www.approva.net/