Existing IT Infrastructure

The client had 20 users based at a single office in central London, 15 used desktop PCs and 5 sales consultants were supplied with notebook PC’s to enable them to work either in the office or remotely from home. These machines were running Microsoft Win 2000 and MS Office 2000.

The office network consisted of 2 servers, one running Microsoft Server 2000 to support file / print and a CRM application and the other for email running on MS Exchange 5.5. A firewall was in place with an ADSL broadband internet connection. The servers were backed up to an internal DLT tape device housed within the file & print server.

Operational Issues

All of the hardware was between 2 to 4 years old and was working satisfactorily. However, the client had the following concerns:

• Email had been down about 3 times throughout a 12 month period for about 3 days at a time
• They were not convinced that backup was secure and actually backing up the whole system i.e. all data including email and remote users data
• Support was provided by an IT reseller, this was acceptable but there seemed to be constant additional charges i.e. for problems that were outside of support contract, installation of new equipment, advice etc.

next »