Comcast (News - Alert) Business Services and Ascent Data have announced a technology collaboration to put the power of enterprise-grade cloud computing and data center solutions within reach of every business in this region.

The collaboration will bring Comcast's industry-leading, fiber-based network together with Ascent Data's secure SAS (News - Alert) 70 Type II data center to give customers exceptional value, superior performance and robust solutions to meet their every need.

Clients of both companies will now be able to have access, through Comcast's expansive fiber-optic network, to Ascent Data's local SAS 70 Type II data center for collocation, managed hosting, virtualization, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions.

"We are pleased to collaborate with Ascent Data to help drive its continued success by providing dedicated, symmetrical Metro Ethernet bandwidth that delivers a scalable, secure solution to help meet customers' escalating bandwidth requirements," said Glenn Lytle, vice president of Comcast Business Services for the Keystone Region, in a press release.

According to Forrester Research, the global cloud computing market will reach $241 billion in 2020, compared to $40.7 billion in 2010. "Pairing Comcast's Ethernet Private Line and Metro Ethernet high-speed connectivity with our IT infrastructure brings a compelling response to the growing demand for cloud computing services in our market," said Steve Shangold, president and CEO at Ascent Data, in a press release.

Small-to-medium sized businesses, through the collaboration between Comcast Business Services and Ascent Data, are provided with a means to enhance data security and IT staff resources through a seamless, point-to-point connection. 

In related news, with an aim to fulfill the requirements concerning data security of patient health data, Ascent Data has been selected to provide collocation and managed services to Pediatric Alliance, a large group medical practice, providing high-quality, comprehensive primary care to infants, children and adolescents.