Computer consulting firm Cireson recently named Arizona State University as the first recipient of the company's Innovator of the Month award.

Cireson, a specialist on the Microsoft System Center IT platform, started the program to recognize and reward organizations demonstrating excellence in service and asset management.

Cireson customers qualifying for the honor must meet criteria that includes success in increased automation, continuing education and commitment to best practices.

"We have been using the Cireson products for over a year now, and are very happy with the results," Austin Wong Carter, ASU's systems analyst, said. "We are continually incorporating new features to use more of the full suite. Fully implementing asset management is next on the horizon."

ASU was named Innovator of the Month after a year of decreasing errors in service management and self-service implementation beyond the IT department, among other factors.