User:Scarlett BBG/sandbox

Blackbird Group, Inc. is an Enterprise software company headquartered in New York City, New York. Founded in 2002, Blackbird develops, markets and supports software that helps companies and organizations with large-scale, Windows-centric networks manage and audit Active Directory, Windows File System, Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server environments. Its products are also used by organizations to manage both regulatory and corporate Compliance (e.g., HIPPA, FISMA, GLBA, PCI, SOX, etc.), as well as Data Protection requirements. Blackbird Group serves financial,, government, healthcare industries and educational industries among others, in midsize and large business areas.

In late 2012, the company reported more than 20 million seats under its management.

Blackbird Group sells its products and services through its direct sales organization as well as through a variety of partners and resellers worldwide.

History
Blackbird Group was founded in 2002 in Hamburg, Germany by Christian Ehrenthal. The following year the business was moved to New York City. The company initially focused on recovery and backup solutions for enterprises using the Novell eDirectory services, becoming a Novell Preferred Technology Partner. In 2008, the company shifted its focus to providing compliance and systems management solutions for Microsoft-centric environments.

The company now counts many Fortune 100 companies among its customers. It was completely bootstrapped, taking no venture capital, and has experienced continual profitable growth since its start-up.

By 2009 the company had attained gold certified partner status in the Microsoft Partner program. Two years later, the company was chosen by Microsoft Corporation as a member of the U.S. ISV Managed Partner Program in the High Potential ISV Group.

Among its achievements, the company's Blackbird Management Suite was named the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Gold "Editors' Best Award Winner" by Windows IT Pro magazine.

Key Partners

 * Microsoft Managed and Gold Certified Partner
 * Novell Preferred Technology Partner

Products
The company offers the Blackbird Management Suite, a technology platform that unifies the operation of ten functionally separate modules that track, manage, and protect various activities from a centralized console. In the Windows infrastructure management arena, products focus on Active Directory, Windows File System, Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange.

The company divides its products into three solution areas:


 * Identity and access management
 * Data protection
 * Auditing and Compliance

Community Products
The company has developed a portfolio of five community products for enterprise IT managers who wish to track their Active Directory logon activity and their cloud app configurations and user activity. The community products are divided into two categories:
 * Active Directory utilities
 * Cloud utilities

Awards & Recognition
The Blackbird Management Suite won the “Editor’s Best Award 2012” in the Best Auditing/Compliance Product category from Windows IT Pro magazine.

The Blackbird Management Suite won the "Editors' Best Award 2011" in the Best Active Directory and Group Policy Product category from Windows IT Pro magazine.

In 2011, Redmond Magazine reviewed the Blackbird Management Suite and rated it with a score of 9.0 out of 10, which earned Blackbird the magazine's MVP award.

The Blackbird Management Suite was named the "Editors' Best Award 2010" winner in the Auditing/Compliance Category by Windows IT Pro magazine.