News
VIPRE Antivirus Business “New Version 5.0”
 Built from the ground up after years of research and development, GFI VIPRE® Antivirus Business delivers fast and efficient online security with low impact on system resources. It’s cost-effective, reliable, easy to use and easy to maintain – the perfect antivirus solution for your business.
New features in the 5.0 release include: Enhanced management console, Windows Firewall auto-configuration, Remote access layer, Incompatible software removal, Integrated database, and Server auditing.
To upgrade your VIPRE software, please contact your High Point Networks representative today for details.
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Schneider is added to Service Team as Dispatcher
11/1/2011
 The High Point Networks "Service Team" has added a new position with Amanda Schneider in the role of Dispatcher.
This new position will better coordinate the efforts of the service team providing increased efficiency of resources and improved customer service. Schneider is the point of contact for all scheduling of resources to complete projects, as well as the lead contact for the Help Desk.
Schneider has previous experience as a Dispatcher with GDS a Cox Communications affiliate in Glendale, AZ and work as a Customer Service Representative with Multiband in Fargo, ND.
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High Point Networks opens an office in Billings.
10/5/11
High Point Networks, a leading technology solutions provider specializing in integrated, high performance networks and converged voice systems in the Upper Midwest, announces its expansion into the Billings market with a new office location.
High Point Network’s steady growth in the region now gives SMB and Enterprise level customers a location in the Montana market local access to High Point’s products and professional services.
The Billings location will offer High Point’s complete portfolio of IT solutions. Billings is staffed with experienced sales and engineering talent to give the Montana market immediate access to the best solutions to solve real challenges and provide measurable return on investment.
Damon Andrews, a 1992 graduate of Texas Tech University and a 14 veteran of the IT industry has been hired as an Account Manager for the Billings office. Andrews has mostly recently held management positions with Bresnan/Optimum and Billings Clinic.
Paul Wold has been hired as a Systems Engineer in the Billings office. Wold received his education from Northern State University and Western Michigan University. He has 15 years of experience in IT with engineering positions at Wolverine World Wide and Billings Clinic.
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| Damon Andrews |
Paul Wold |
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HiPoCON was a hit with customers and vendors.
9/30/11
 High Point Networks held its 3rd Annual "HiPoCON Technology Show and Conference" on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fargo, North Dakota.
HiPoCON has grown into one of the premier one-day technology conferences in the region. High Point Networks conducted another great day of networking, discovery and discussion on solutions for IT professionals.
This year's event included a pair of keynote speakers. The morning session featured  a networking and high tech industry veteran in Paul Hooper.
Hooper joined Gigamon from Extreme Networks this past year. In his tenure at Extreme Networks, he held numerous executive positions including Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President and General Manager for the Volume Products Group, and Chief Information Officer. Before joining Extreme Networks, Hooper held senior-level IT positions with myCFO, Inc., JDS Uniphase, Netscape Communications, and Sun Microsystems.
Hooper's message was titled "It's only a network. How complex can it be?" His message emphasized the challenges of an IT Adminstrator and what to expect in this "transaction based world" we lived in.
The afternoon keynote speaker was Special Agent James Shaw from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Shaw's presentation challenged IT Administrators to think about their company's policies and procedures regarding security and the use of the internet in the workplace. He also outlined the mission of the ND Bureau of Criminal Investigation. He emphasized a passion of his work and that being the importance of the The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) program. This is a national program to educate the public about Internet safety and to investigate and prosecute crimes against our children occurring via the Internet.
Shaw also gave the audience examples of local and state investigations of regarding internet crimes and how they were investigated.
The event schedule had a blend of large group sessions and break-out presentations from Extreme Networks, ShoreTel, SonicWALL and Radware.
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| Customer Panelists Rod Lemna (left) from Shooting Star Casino addresses the audience, as Mike Armitage from Jamestown Public Schools looks on. |
A new feature this year was a "Customer Panel" moderated by High Point's Tom McDougall. The panel consisted of customers from a cross-section of industries including: Tim Sanger (Minnkota Power Cooperative), Anne Kuzas (Maintenance Engineering), Rod Lemna (Shooting Star Casino) and Mike Armitage (Jamestown Public Schools).
The conference included a Vendor Showcase consisting of booths from Aruba Networks, Extreme Networks, Network Instruments, ShoreTel, Palo Alto Networks, Radware, Infoblox, SonicWALL, Gigamon, Dell, Nimble Storage, CommVault and Ascom.
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The event featured a Vendor Showcase of 13 booths
to learn more about their products and solutions. |
High Point Networks provided each attendee with a free padfolio, breakfast, lunch and social. Several prizes were awarded at the end of the event by High Point and their vendors.
This year's HiPoCON event had 122 IT professionals in attendance, which is up 33% from a year ago.
Event Photo Gallery: Click here
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New Role
6/27/2011
 Tom McDougall, President of High Point Networks, annouced last week the change of roles for Luke Fredrickson from Systems Engineer to Account Manager. Fredrickson will continue to work out of the Minneapolis office serving the Twins Cities metro area.
Fredrickson has worked in the IT industry for the past 12 years at two large firms in the Minnespolis area. He was previously employed by Applied Communications of Minnesota.
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New Hires
6/8/2011
High Point Networks, LLC has hired two new employees to their professional services team.
Clyde Picket has been hired as a Telecommunications Specialist focusing on IP Telephony solutions. Pickett is a 2000 graduate of Alexandria Technical College. He was last employed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota as an Advanced Telephony Administrator. Clyde will work out of the West Fargo office.
Branden Rasmussen joins High Point Networks as a Systems Engineer. He will be focused on networking solutions both in pre/post sales. He has received his education from Dickinson State College and was last employed by Connecting Point Computer Center as a Network Engineer. Branden will work out of Bismarck office.
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| Clyde Pickett |
Branden Rasmussen |
Next-Generation Firewall Market Anaylysis: The SonicWALL Difference
Are you looking to a Next-Generation Firewall to safely enable your employees to use key productivity-boosting technologies like Social Media, Web 2.0, Cloud Computing and Mobility? Gartner predicts that by the year-end 2014, 60% of new purchases will be Next-Generation Firewalls*. So what is driving this phenomenon?
To start with traditional firewalls simply don't provide adequate protection against new and sophisticated threats plaguing the network through these new technologies. They also don't give you the ability to monitor and control usage of every application on the network.
Next-Generation Firewalls deliver on all of these requirements that are now essential to build and secure your business. However, they're not all equal in performance, cost or features.
Learn more by reading the white paper:
 White Paper
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New Hires
High Point Networks, LLC. has hired two new employees in the area of engineering and sales. Luke Fredrickson has been hired as a Systems Engineer focusing on pre/post sales engineering in the areas of network infrastructure, security, storage consolidation and virtualization. Tim Lorsung has been hired as an Account Manager in the Minneapolis area.
Fredrickson has completed the MHTA ACE Leadership Program, and has worked in the IT industry for the past 12 years at two large firms in the Minnespolis area. He was previously employed by Applied Communications of Minnesota.
Lorsung graduated from the University of Nebraska and was previously employed by MSI Systems Integrators, Inc.
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| Luke Fredrickson |
Tim Lorsung |
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Extreme Networks: Extreme Upside Potential
There are several facts regarding Extreme Networks (EXTR) that make it a compelling investment with extreme upside potential. The company has perfectly positioned itself to take advantage of a booming market and is drawing significant attention from its competitors.
In addition, the company's financials are solid with zero debt and nearly half its market cap in cash and investments ($142 million as of end of 2Q2011), which have actually increased over the past four consecutive quarters. If the company does not receive a takeover bid in the near future, I would be very surprised. But, even if it does not, the company is about to go through a period of rapid, sustained earnings growth and will form strong barriers to entry.
The Company, Customers, and Partners
Extreme Networks addresses a wide range of customers with wired and wireless network infrastructures, from corporate enterprises such as manufacturers, retailers, financial institutions, utilities and healthcare organizations, to large universities and K-12 school districts to federal and local governments worldwide. The company serves 4 of the top 6 mobile Network Equipment Providers (NEPs). If you place a call on your mobile phone, surf the Internet, join a conference call or watch a video on demand, you are using NEPs technologies to get those services. NEPs are literally influencing the lives of billions of people around the world.
The key to Extreme's Current Strategy is to build vertical solutions that create strong barriers to entry. This strategy has been primarily enabled through strategic alliances and partnerships. The list includes 3M (MMM), Adpatec (ADPT), Citrix (CTXS), Dell (DELL), Intel (INTC), Oracle (ORCL), Symantec (SYMC), F5 (FFIV), Network Appliance (NTAP), Microsoft (MSFT), and QLogic (QLGC).
Management
The company is under new leadership. The new CEO, Oscar Rodriguez, was formerly the Chief Marketing Officer of Alcatel-Lucent (ALU), a key competitor in Extreme Networks' space. He has the experience, but most importantly, he is delivering well on turn around initiatives. The bottom line initiatives include cost reductions of $2 million per quarter and accelerating EPS. The top line that would have earned them $0.02 per share will now earn $0.05-$0.07 per the management's estimates in the latest earnings call. Expectations for the top line is an even better story and will be covered under "Disruptive Solutions" below.
Institutions and Insiders
Soros fund management has nearly doubled its stake since June of 2009 and holds approximately 10% of the company. The next three institutions, in order of holdings size, own another 19% of the company combined. Institutional holders comprise 62% while insiders retain 11%, so 73% is closely held.
Disruptive Solutions
Just a few weeks ago, Extreme Networks announced a family of mobile backhaul routers that will enable mobile operators to smoothly transition cell sites to 4G while maintaining existing 2G/3G investments. Per the press release :
"The company's E4G mobile backhaul family will provide the simplicity and scale of a next-generation, pure IP/Ethernet packet network to enable the cost-effective delivery of full motion video, voice and data to the one billion mobile broadband users expected by the end of 2011." Phil Bolt of Motorola stated, "Motorola Solutions looks to advance the capabilities of microwave backhaul with Extreme Networks next-generation mobile backhaul routers. The significant capacity and performance upgrades planned with its new mobile backhaul portfolio offer an opportunity for us to work with Extreme Networks to provide our customers with a flexible, resilient migration from circuit-based to IP networks." Michael Howard of Infonetics Research commented, "As the transition to 4G networks takes place, addressing cell site scalability, synchronization and Ethernet resiliency is critical. Mobile transport and wholesale operators are looking to build networks for the next decade and want future-proof Ethernet backhaul options. With existing deployments in mobile backhaul networks, Extreme Networks E4G product family has the features to address the requirements of additional mobile operators."
What does all this mean for Extreme? It's product is now the only real competitor to that of Cisco (CSCO) to meet the requirement of the mobile 4G world. Others, such as Tellabs (TLAB), Juniper (JNPR) and HP (HP) are now behind the curve. And the launch of Extreme's product line could not have come at a better time.
Only three days later, Feb 11, 2011, President Obama announced a plan to achieve his goal of giving 4G access to 98% of Americans! Obama's plan has the following components:
- Double wireless spectrum available for mobile broadband. The White House says it aims to free up the 500 Mhz band with enough financial
- Incentives to get current licensees to cough up the spectrum.
- A $3 billion fund to support wireless innovation and development.
- Deploy a interoperable public safety wireless network.
- A one-time $5 billion fund to build out 4G in rural areas.
That final part is probably the most noteworthy. The aim is to blanket the country in 4G. The 4G market is huge and Cisco has already indicated that they are losing market share.
This is a very exciting time for Extreme. In the next few weeks, I expect investors will see the stock price break out above its recent 52 week high of $4.25 a share reached on February 9th of this year (immediately after the new product line release).
The company trades at a price/sales ratio of 1 and slightly over 2 times cash and investments. I believe the stock price will easily double within the next 12 months, if the company is not taken over. Alternatively, a fair buyout offer would be north of $8 per share. Some readers might remember the article I wrote for Seeking Alpha telling investors to buy 3COM (COMS) as a buyout target and know that it was subsequently taken over. Extreme networks currently carries many of the same gem-like characteristics that 3COM did at that time.
As I did with 3COM, I continue to buy Extreme at these incredibly cheap prices and will continue to do so until the market wakes up to see this true gem.
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High Point Networks Expands into the Minneapolis Market with New Office Location High Point Networks announces its expansion into the Minneapolis market with a new office location.
High Point Network's steady growth in the region now gives SMB and enterprise level customers a location in the region's largest market local access to High Point's products and professional services.
The Minneapolis location will offer High Point's complete portfolio of IT solutions. Minneapolis will be staffed with experienced sales and engineering talent to give the Minneapolis market immediate access to the best solutions to solve real challenges and provide measurable return on investment.
"We believe that our unique approach to solving complex challenges will be welcomed by clients of all sizes in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. There are many options from which businesses can purchase solutions. We plan to offer a level of service, both pre-sale and post-sale, that greatly exceeds customer expectations, while maintaining our commitment to proven return on investment in every situation. We can think of no better way to build solid, long-term business relationships that to concentrate first on the success of our clients," said Tom McDougall, president and founder of High Point Networks.
High Point Networks is based in West Fargo, North Dakota with established regional offices in Bismarck, North Dakota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
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HiPoNews - November Issue Released
Read the latest issue of the High Point Networks newsletter. Read more
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SonicWALL and High Point Networks Team up to Help Habitat for Humanity
The Lake Agassiz chapter of Habitat for Humanity was donated a new SonicWALL appliance to secure their network through the efforts of SonicWALL, High Point Networks and Habitat for Humanity board member Tim Sanden. The new appliance brings the Habitat for Humanity network current and offers a level of security needed in today's networks.
"We are proud to support this effort and the great things Habitat for Humanity does for our community. This organization doesn't receive enough credit for the good things they do for people," says Justin Fetsch, VP of Sales, High Point Networks.
"There’s something special about being a part of a community where people help each other. Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity (LAHFH) is a local non-profit organization that brings people together to build homes for people in need. In the same way, LAHFH relies on other members of the community to provide for its own needs. When we desperately needed a network upgrade, High Point Networks worked with one of their manufacturers to provide us with a new SonicWALL firewall. Thanks to help from great community partners like High Point Networks, a distraction was removed allowing us to keep our focus on helping others," stated Shirley Dykshoorn, Executive Director, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity.
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VMware -- the Virtualization Industry Leader -- Runs its Business Infrastructure on Extreme Networks Technology
 Extreme Networks, Inc. today announced that VMware, the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, has deployed its innovative enterprise, data center and Metro Ethernet networking solutions. VMware's network features over 50,000 Ethernet ports that deliver connectivity to its engineering lab and supports the IT infrastructure team for its converged voice implementation.
Extreme Networks met VMware's demanding requirements for highly resilient and scalable network connectivity. Today, VMware's thousands of employees across multiple campuses are served by Extreme Networks' leading Ethernet switching solutions featuring 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet and Fast Ethernet, all powered by the ExtremeXOS® modular operating system. The network deployed by Extreme Networks, due to its common operating system and wealth of features, delivers lower overall cost of ownership while enhancing employee productivity. This enables VMware to develop its industry leading virtualization platforms addressing cloud computing environments, and virtualized data servers.
"We required a robust, feature rich and energy efficient network to handle our data, virtualized applications and converged voice, and we achieved this through a trusted vendor like Extreme Networks, as they help it to achieve maximum availability so that we can drive continuous development," said Drew Kramer, senior director of technical operations and R&D for VMware. "Working with Extreme Networks, from its high performance products to its knowledgeable and dedicated staff, has resulted in a world class infrastructure."
VMware has deployed Extreme Networks family of high performance network solutions, including the BlackDiamond®8800, BlackDiamond 12000 modular switches and the Summit® series of X450, Summit X350 and Summit X250 fixed switches. These switches perform at the core, aggregation and edge of the network carrying critical business information.
VMware supports a 24/7 operation, mission-critical business and product testing applications. The network, implemented both within VMware's campuses and as a wide area, fiber connected Metro ring, enables employees, from IT staff to developers and operations, who require very stable, reliable and fast network access and converged multimedia, to be at the leading edge of productivity while not thinking about the underlying network.
"Assisting VMware, which places the most rigorous demands on its network infrastructure, demonstrates the scale and efficiency delivered with our core to edge network portfolio," said Eileen Brooker, vice president of worldwide strategic alliances and OEM partnerships for Extreme Networks. "Networks provide the foundation for the evolution of virtualization and we are very proud to help the #1 company."
PDF Version
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High Point Networks Named Extreme Networks Top Diamond-Level Channel Partner Contributor for 2010
 High Point Networks, a leading technology solutions provider specializing in integrated, high performance networks and converged voice systems in the Upper Midwest, today announced that it has been named Extreme Networks’ 2010 Diamond-Level Top Contributor for its North American Channel Partner Program.
At Extreme Networks channel partner event held at the Torrey Pines resort in San Diego, High Point Networks was recognized as the Top Diamond-level Contributor for 2010 for its excellence and demonstrated depth in integrating network and convergence technology, its continued commitment and team-oriented approach to service/support of customers in delivering Extreme Networks high performance network solutions.
High Point Networks is an Extreme Networks’ Diamond-level Solutions Partner providing network and communication system design, installation and support of its converged Ethernet  solutions. "Again in 2010, High Point Networks demonstrated its partner value to customers by delivering highly effective networks that bring increased value," said Rich Long, Director of North American Channels for Extreme Networks, Inc. “Our relationship with High Point Networks typifies the mission of Extreme Networks North American channel program to ensure end users receive the best in technology, support and trust.”
"Being singled out by Extreme Networks for our many successes during 2010 is a proud achievement," said Tom McDougall, president and founder of High Point Networks. "The 2010 Top Contributor award reflects that our unique approach is truly effective in the market and making a measurable impact for the different schools, government agencies and businesses that we help throughout the year.”
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SonicWALL featured in Leaders Quadrant in Gartner's UTM Magic Quadrant 2010
UTM appliances are used by midsize businesses to  meet required network security levels for Internet connectivity. For smaller businesses, those requirements are often driven by regulatory demands (such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards), rather than any detailed security/risk analysis.
Gartner defines midsize businesses as those with 100 to 1,000 employees, and revenue ranging from $50 million to $1 billion. However, the majority of midsize business annual revenue is in the range of $100 million to $500 million, with head count ranging from 200 to 1,000.
Multifunction network security appliances, commonly called UTM appliances, are frequently used across midsize businesses due to their particular security requirements.
In this UTM Magic Quadrant, Gartner evaluates 13 vendors delivering UTM solutions.
Read more
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Customer Satisfaction Award Received
 High Point Networks has received ShoreTel's "Word Class Customer Satisfaction Award" during the period of 7/1/09 -6/30/10 for customer surveys conducted during this time period. High Point Networks received an average score of 96.8 for ShoreTel VoIP and Unified Communication projects. Learn more about VoIP and UC
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 Reep and Peabody Hired as Systems Engineers
High Point Networks, LLC. has hired two new employees in their West Fargo office. Chris Reep and Matt Peabody have been hired as Systems Engineers focusing on Microsoft products, storage consolidation and virtualization.
Reep (top photo) graduated from Chapman University in Orange, California with a B.S. degree in Computer Science. Reep was in the United States Air Force for 71/2 years. He was previously employed by State Bank and Trust and Bank of the West.
 Peabody graduated from North Dakota State University with a B.S. degree in Computer Programming and was previously employed by Northwoods Consulting, Fargo. The Dickinson, North Dakota native worked with the NDSC-Skills & Technology Training Center in Fargo, North Dakota as an assistant IT Manager and trainer.
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