Implementation of a New Server Infrastructure and Desktop Upgrades

The Problem / Situation

Simon Dryers is a worldwide provider of industrial drying and cooling equipment.

An outdated IT infrastructure was causing slow and unreliable network access along with system performance issues resulting in the slow running of business applications, email and the crucial CAD software. This was resulting in operating inefficiencies and a loss of productivity for the business.

The current server environment consisted of 3 physical servers running legacy software which was no longer supported. This placed a strain on the existing infrastructure since it was unable to cope with the increasing demand on network resources.

Server hardware had been upgraded to capacity, did not offer a stable and reliable platform and could not be improved further to meet the growing needs of the business.

Email services were provided by a legacy mail server with an inadequate specification. This offered limited functionality in terms of unified messaging and was no longer supported by Microsoft.

The company was lacking the benefits of modern business software. Workstations were running outdated operating systems (Microsoft XP/Vista Home) and dated versions of Microsoft Office (Office 97). Hardware was no longer fit-for-purpose and did not support the high performance CAD software or larger data transmissions required throughout the network.

The security of the network posed significant vulnerabilities and required a solution to effectively protect critical business data and shield the environment from malicious activity and intrusions.

Limited remote working capabilities and collaboration was available via the current infrastructure.

The Solution

After discussing the future goals of the business and conducting an in-depth technology audit of the existing infrastructure, we proposed a complete system upgrade as follows:

The 3 older physical servers were consolidated into 2 and replaced with high specification industry leading Dell hardware. This provided the perfect platform for running applications such as email, file/print sharing, database management and shared Internet access. The following software was installed:

• Microsoft Small Business Server 2011 Premium Edition: an enterprise level all-in-one server solution.
• Microsoft Exchange 2010: business class email and unified messaging.
• Symantec System Recovery 2010: Data backup ensuring business continuity.
• Microsoft Terminal Services: providing secure access for remote working.

Workstations and laptops that had reached their upgrade capacity were replaced with new higher specification models operating Microsoft Windows 7 Professional and Microsoft Office 2010. These included a 3 year next day on-site warranty as standard. Workstations with acceptable specifications were only upgraded with new software keeping costs to a minimum.

An additional network switch was also added to increase connection capacity and improve performance.

Air-IT provided all supporting hardware and software.

The Outcome

The installation and upgrades were completed over the course of four days. Network downtime was minimal due to the ‘parallel running’ technique employed during installation. This involved running both new and old systems side-by-side until certain that the new IT environment could be migrated successfully.

The new server infrastructure has provided a secure, stable and reliable platform enabling the network to perform faster. The Small Business Server allows centralised administration and storage and provides easy access to shared files, resources and applications. This has enabled employees to work more efficiently and has increased business productivity.

The exchange server has provided business class email, calendar and contact capabilities with synchronised messaging across PCs, the web and mobile devices increasing employee mobility and collaboration.

All company emails are branded and include a disclaimer (for compliance issues in accordance with the Companies Act 2006) presenting a more professional corporate image.

Remote working capabilities are now possible with terminal services providing secure access to line-of-business applications and company data. This provides remote and mobile workers with access to internal systems enabling them to flexibly work away from the office.

The company now benefits from dedicated anti-spam, anti-virus and hardware firewall protection giving heightened security and email filtering.

Scheduled backups ensure critical business data is protected in the event of a system crash or a disaster recovery scenario. In the event of a failure, the server can be re-imaged which vastly reduces downtime and potential disruption to the business as opposed to traditional tape backup solutions.

The new IT infrastructure provides a future proof solution that supports further company growth. Additional users, servers and applications or new technologies can be easily added as business needs evolve.

Client Feedback

Chris Ellis, General Manager for Simon Dryers, commented that implementation of the solution was performed to a professional level. He stated that the support and training provided by Air IT post installation was very beneficial.

Chris provided the following recommendation:

“Air-IT impressed with their helpful and knowledgeable advice in providing a completely new IT infrastructure. Installation and migration was completed promptly in a professional and friendly manner with minimal disruption. Together with the training provided and on-going IT support, we would have no hesitation in recommending Air-IT to others.”