The fact that it has been selected as a finalist for the Microsoft Partner of the Year award in Security Solutions, Identity and Secure Access has been announced by Certified Security Solutions (CSS).

said Michael Evans, CEO and President, CSS declared: "It's a tremendous accomplishment for CSS. We're honored to be recognized by Microsoft for a third straight year." He added: "Our consultants get all the credit. They have created great value for our clients by leveraging the Windows platform to optimize and secure corporate IT infrastructure."

With winners chosen from a pool of more than 2,000 entrants worldwide, awards will be presented in a number of categories. The Security Solutions, Identity and Secure Access Partner of the Year award honors partners that have practices with proven proficiency in implementing solutions based on the Microsoft Identity and Access (IDA) technologies (Active Directory Certificate Services, Active Directory Rights Management Services, Microsoft Identity Lifecycle Manager, Windows Active Directory Domain Services, Active Directory Federation Services). Partners with innovative solutions that help enterprises optimize their identities and their access to resources in a heterogeneous environment or solutions that provide value-added security and compliance capabilities are also recognized by this award.

Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft, Allison Watson, stated: "Partners are critical to delivering rich business solutions and innovative excellence to customers." Allison continued: "Congratulations to the 2008 Partner Award winners who have each demonstrated innovation beyond measure and an unswerving commitment to delivering the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We look forward to these partners continuing to raise the bar in the design and deployment of customer solutions built on Microsoft technologies."

With competencies in Security, Advanced Infrastructure, Network Infrastructure, and Information Worker Solutions, CSS joined the Microsoft Partner Program in 1999 and is a Gold Certified Partner. CSS is also a participant in Microsoft's National Systems Integrator program.