SMALL BUSINESS NETWORKS

Bringing the combination of corporate networks skills, specialists Small Business Server experience and decades of computer support experience to allow us to design, implement and support your business network and staff.

Consultancy & Design

General Advice

Do you have specific queries, problems or concerns?

We will typically spend a half-day with you to identify your problem and then produce a report of information, recommendations & estimates (as appropriate) to solve your problem.

You will be free to use another supplier should you wish to implement any solution. Although we often do not charge for the consultancy if you choose us as your supplier.

Network Audits

We will supply a consultant on site for a day to gather information on your current IT equipment and then compile a report of:-

• Hardware location, identity, specification & usage
• Operating System, software inventory
• Anti-virus, OS & firewall security status
• Network, telecoms & internet configuration
• Current support contracts and suppliers
• Key security, resilience & licensing problems
• Advisable & most affordable upgrades and enhancements

Once received you will be free to use and act on the contents through us or with any other supplier of your choosing.

Network Design

Are you at the stage of moving from a few isolated computers to a network of machines with shared resources, common software and proper security? Or just expanding your current network?

We can help with identifying your requirements, specifying potential solutions & estimating costs for plan approval.

Installations

Computer Rollouts

Whether a single computer or large multi-site deployment we have experience in installing and configuring computer hardware, network cabling and various associated systems.

Operating System Rollouts

If upgrading existing equipment with upgraded operating systems then we can also assist.

Software Deployments

We can supply corporate scale software deployment technologies to networks of all sizes including centralised automated deployment which delivers pre-configured applications to your user's computers without anyone even being present.

Support

Adhoc Support

We can carry out one-off support of your systems including:-

• Telephone & email software support
• Site visits
• Printer repairs
• Computer repairs
• Network faults

Support Contracts

A more efficient and more cost effective option is to have a support or maintenance contract. A support contract has the benefits of:-

• Understanding & knowing your systems (via maintained network audit)
• Ability to respond without individual financial approval
• Reducing your labour costs (for those that can't afford fully updated systems)
  
• Or even better Fixed labour costs (conditional on fully updated OS and anti-virus etc.)

Even more effective are remote management & maintenance contracts (see next section)

Remote Management

Small to moderate networks often can not afford the dedicated in-house experienced resource required to ensure networks are maintained, supported and updated. But by remote management and maintenance contracts the support of your systems can be carried out by coordination, automation, and part-time use of our experienced staff.

Network maintenance tasks list can seem daunting. But in coordination with yourselves we can ensure that your network is more fully maintained with minimal effort on your part.

Change management

• Auditing your systems
• Recording new equipment
• Recording configurations and configuration changes
• Recording new users and relocations
• etc.

Defining & Enforcing IT Policies

• Computer usage & access policies
• Data backup policies
• Automated user configuration & restriction
• Publication & education of users

Updating security systems

• Automated patching of Windows
• Automated updating of Virus systems etc.
• Updating of servers
• maintaining backup schedules
  

Remote Monitoring

• Anti-virus reporting
• Software update reporting
• Remote auditing
• Server Event Log reporting
• Backup reports
  
• etc.

Contractual Maintenance

• Insurance renewal contacts & dates
• Supplier contract contacts & renewal dates
• Warranty expiration dates
• Software licence count
• Software support contacts & renewal dates

A remote management and maintenance contract will for even small networks help ensure that problems are avoided, and that when they do occur we will have the information to get them remedied as quickly and as proficiently as possible. Also our support charges can be reduced because we know that your systems are normally in a healthy state to start off with.

Please Note: Out sourcing such as described above does not remove your legal responsibilities over your network & business and can only work if you follow and enforce the policies and arrangement that are agreed.

Data Security

With today's heavy use of computers to run their businesses have you thought what will happen to that business should, for what ever reason, all your computer files are lost?

We can provide a range of disaster prevention and disaster recovery services to ensure that.

Anti-Virus & Malware

• Have you got a fully working and updated solution in place?
• Does it include Malware, Adware and other forms of intrusion and spying?

We supply carefully vetted products to protect your systems.

Hardware & Software Firewalls

Do you know that the early versions of Windows XP had Firewalls that were switched-off by default. Or perhaps you are disabling your own firewalls because you can not cope with the configuration nightmare.

Also do you realise the benefits of a central hardware internet firewall in addition the software firewalls that might be on your computers?

Hardware & Software Resilience

Protect your network from damage with:-

• Mains & Telephone filtering
• Un-interruptable Power Supplies
• Cloned Servers
• etc.

Remote Data Backup & Restore

One of the best solutions these days to data backup is to do it remotely over a broadband or network link. It provides a degree of security otherwise un-affordable to most businesses:-

• Data automatically held off-site (if your building burns down your data is safe)
• Held in secure, climate controlled, highly equipped facilities
• Does not require special backup hardware
• No need to upgrade backup hardware as your network grows
• Deleted or damaged information is available on demand

We have two carefully vetted suppliers of secure remote backup services.

Network Disaster Recovery

By a combination of services we can help ensure that, should the worst happen, your businesses network (and therefore the business it's self) can be restored including:-

• Replacement of computers & equipment (via maintained audits and copies of insurance details)
• Restoration of data and server software (via disk images and remote restores)
• Replacement of user's software (via centralised application/software deployment)
• Restoration of user's data (by ensuring user's data is held on the central servers)

No insurance can protect against the effects to your business & network of a stray match. But a most of it can be through a planned and carry-out recovery plan.