Relocating or re-establishing ICT infrastructure as a mission-critical project for any business usually conjures up images of stress, risk, issues and hassle amongst decision makers. It does not have to be like that claim technical engineers and IT experts at Integr8.
The company is an established provider of ICT managed services and deploys its IT services division, Integr8 IT, to engage clients and manage the entire project.
Its track-record of success in ICT infrastructure migration, upgrade, relocation and support is based extensively on the application of Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF), a flexible and scalable framework that can adapt to any project (regardless of size or complexity).
“When we engage with a customer, in terms of moving hardware, we take them through the entire Integr8 project life cycle, which includes a mix of industry best practice methodologies. Creating meaningful business solutions on time and within budget requires a proven approach. In our experience, MSF best facilitates this approach,” says Bennie Strydom, Chief Sales Officer at Integr8.
Integr8 is a Microsoft Gold Certified partner. It has access to 7,000 highly skilled personnel across the group and is the founder and operator of the only South African based Nerve Centre, a hub of technology, skill and process, used to regulate the ICT environment of many leading local and international organisations.
The company’s technical engineers refer to the adaptability of MSF to successfully deliver IT solutions faster, requiring fewer people and involving less risk, while enabling higher quality results.
“MSF helps teams directly address the most common causes of technology project failure in order to improve success rates, solution quality, and business impact,” Strydom adds.
Importance of data backup
There are a number of key phases involved in a typical project, once the proposal is accepted. This includes the envisioning phase, planning phase, development phase, as well as a stabilizing or testing phase.
However, prior to any initiation of processes and procedures related to these phases, it is vital that all correct data is backed up and securely placed in a location accessible when restorations of the infrastructure is required.
“Data protection and backups is critical to any project engagement,” Strydom confirms.
In addition, other key considerations associated with an infrastructure move include the precise location of where the infrastructure will reside, confirmation that the infrastructure is in place to adequately support hardware (server room, rack space, power, cabling and network points), a planned schedule of the move, a definition of existing server infrastructure and network infrastructure (documented), a design of how everything will connect and ordering of required material.
Experts at Integr8 concede that there are a number of stages that have to be successfully reached before the infrastructure relocation or migration project can be deemed to be completed.
However, there is no reason – if the right service partner has been brought on board and everyone understands the Framework to initiate the methodology – why a company should experience any issues with connectivity, downtime or disruption to operation.
Bennie Strydom, Chief Sales Officer at Integr8
