Computacenter employee lands top Microsoft award

Computacenter is celebrating a prestigious award win this week following Microsoft’s decision to honour one of its employees with an award for Outstanding Contribution.

Mark Garrity, Microsoft license manager for Computacenter in Northern Ireland and Scotland, received his award following 14 months working for Computacenter advising its key clients on Microsoft license issues.

Mark Garrity, 33, said: “It’s an honour to be recognised in such a way by a company so highly regarded as Microsoft. It’s unusual for the firm to hand out such an award so I’m genuinely very surprised, but naturally delighted.”

Mark’s Outstanding Contribution award is the only one of its kind given out in the UK this year.

Gordon Mackenzie, Managing Director of Microsoft in Scotland, said: “We are delighted to recognise Mark's work in driving forward our licensing business this year. In what has been a very challenging economy, Mark has helped drive the software business for both Microsoft and Computacenter to fantastic levels and really deserves this award.”

Software licensing is becoming an increasingly important issue for companies with the number of firms either over-licensed or under-licensed on the rise. In Britain alone it’s estimated that 26% of software in use is illegal and the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) has a range of fines set out to punish offending parties.

Mark Garrity added: “The licensing aspect of the IT sector has become a bit of a hot topic recently as more companies are switching on to the importance of their software assets. Many companies overspend on unnecessary licenses and as a result waste significant amounts of money which could be used to better effect elsewhere.

“Likewise, companies often underestimate the number of licenses required to keep them compliant and frequently fall foul of the law without even knowing it. Either way, businesses are more vulnerable these days with the amount of new technology entering the workplace and it’s crucial that they are given up-to-date advice on all aspects of licensing.”

Software licensing is a complex area, though there have been significant changes put in place by Microsoft in the past 12 months.

Mr Garrity said: “It’s my responsibility to ensure that Computacenter’s customers in Northern Ireland and Scotland understand these changes and see the potential impact they could have on their business.”

(SP)