Fargo IT company achieves distinguished service recognition from Microsoft

BY LISA GIBSON

Fargo-based Blueprint IT Solutions Inc. has achieved a silver competency level for small and midmarket cloud solutions services from Microsoft Corp. The distinction demonstrates Blueprint’s ability to meet Microsoft customers’ needs, according to Arday Ardayfio, Blueprint president and CEO.

“It’s a big deal for us because only 5 percent of IT companies have that designation of silver,” Ardayfio tells Prairie Business. “Gold is even harder to get.” He adds that only three or four IT companies in Fargo have the silver distinction, all of them older than Blueprint, which has been operating for five years.

Ardayfio says Blueprint has always been a seller of Microsoft products, but this distinction is the stamp of approval from Microsoft that the company has “jumped through all the hoops with deployment, certifications of technician, and references to prove that we can really take care of everything Microsoft Cloud.”

To earn a Microsoft silver competency, companies must demonstrate expertise through rigorous exams, according to Blueprint. Microsoft also requires customer references for successful implementation and customer satisfaction.

“By achieving a silver competency, organizations have proven their expertise in specific technology areas, placing them among the top 5 percent of Microsoft partners worldwide,” says Phil Sorgen, corporate vice president of Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp., in a statement. “When customers look for an IT partner to meet their business challenges, choosing a company that has attained Microsoft competencies is a smart move. These are highly qualified professionals with access to Microsoft technical support and product teams.” PB

Lisa Gibson Editor, Prairie Business 701.787.6753