ViaWest Buys Fortix, Enters Northwest Market

Denver-based colocation provider ViaWest says it has acquired Fortix, a managed services provider in Portland, Ore. The deal includes a data center operated by Fortix, giving ViaWest three facilities, with exisitng sites in Denver and Utah.

"ViaWest is market dominant in Colorado and Utah and has been successfully servicing mid-sized companies since 1999," said Roy Dimoff, chairman and CEO, ViaWest. "There are many synergies between the two companies that make this a strategic fit, including the fact that Fortix also has been working with mid-sized businesses in Oregon for more than seven years. The addition of the Fortix team, its data center facility, customers and first-rate reputation allows ViaWest to become a significant force in a third major market."

Fortix customers will have access to ViaWest's services, including the toption of using data centers in Utah and Colorado for out-of-region disaster recovery backups. Additionally, ViaWest expects the acquisition to expand development capacity, helping set the stage for bringing new product and services to market more rapidly.

"ViaWest is exactly the type of company with which Fortix wants to be associated," said Gerald Hagan, CEO, Fortix. "ViaWest has the same philosophy and approach to the market as we do, and similar to Fortix, a consistent reputation for providing exceptional customer service."