Migrating
to a new and better computer system
The Client
|
CBM
is an international Christian development organisation, committed
to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in
the poorest countries of the world. CBM acts upon the needs and
rights of people with disabilities and supports the provision of
more than 900 projects in more than 90 countries |
The
UK branch of CBM is based in Cambridge and
has more than 30 staff some of whom travel extensively. |
The Challenge
CBM had an office based computer system that was based
on the Microsoft Windows NT server platform with a mixture of Windows
95, Windows 2000 and XP on the desktops. Users were experiencing slow
system response and downtime. Although remote users could connect into
the main office, functionality was limited. CBM needed an updated infrastructure
that would serve the needs of office based and mobile users. CBM were
recommeded to contact us and invited us to help.
The Solution
Our starting point as always was to look at the business
processes in operation across the organisation. We looked at the working
information, how it was processed and stored. this included database systems
and accounting. We analysed the individual user requirements in terms
of applications, communicaton, security and mobility. This helped us to
form an overall picture of the commercial needs of the organisation.
Once the business needs were established
we performed an extensive audit of equipment networks and software.
With computers systems we believe that
evolution is better than revolution and so in our design process we try
to incorporate existing systems where they are still fit for purpose.
This helps to maintain the client's investment and hopefully extend the
lifecycle of the equipment. In this case we recommended new server hardware
and Microsoft Small Business Server. This product allows expansion to
75 users and provides file sharing, email and remote access as standard.
At the desktop we proposed memory upgrades for PCs that were viable as
user workstations and identified any that were beyond their useful life.
All workstations would run Windows XP professional and become part of
a new domain. Group policies will be used to central control the configuration
of each workstation.
The new infrastructure provided:
- Centralised user account managment and login
- A Secure common file space
- Reliable database platform
- Microsoft Exchange email, shared calendars and public
folders
- Centralised printer control
- Secure Remote Access
- Webmail
- Backups
The work was carried out over a weekend and technical
staff were onsite on Moday to assist users with any minor problems and
queries that arose.
The Results
With the newly upgraded computer systems in place CBM began to
enjoy more reliable and functional technology. Server downtime was cut
to a minimum and users found office applications more responsive. Communication
improved with the introduction of Microsoft Exchange and the Sharepoint
based Intranet system that comes as standard with Small Business Server.
Mobile users had much better access to the internal data
systems through the in-built virtual private network (VPN) system. As
well as direct access to Exchange, remote users could also access their
email via the web interface from anywhere in the world.
|
