Managed servers

Today’s electronic offices are marvelous - except when the server’s down, the PC application is frozen, you can’t get on the Internet, your anti-virus definitions need updating, etc. Even when it’s all working, there’s routine maintenance. And when things break, you’ve got a dozen vendors to look-up because they specialize in one area only.

Further complicating issues, Microsoft has stopped supporting NT 4.0 environments, and if the system crashes, it cannot be rebuilt. The same holds true for Exchange 5.5...if it crashes, it cannot be rebuilt. That’s correct: Mailboxes cannot be restored to new versions of Exchange (2000 or 2003).

That’s why it makes sense to call the IT experts at CHR. Our technical experts can assess your current environment and suggest an upgrade and implementation roadmap if needed. We also offer a variety of services, including help desk support, onsite service plans, and data backup. There are also special server lease plans available, and/or we can provide procurement advice.

Our novel Server Solutions program lets you avoid upfront capital expenditures. Our plan includes:

	Install and configure our server at your location or our data center.
	Virus protection and updates to keep your data & systems secure
	Hardware replacement warranty
	E-mail SPAM and virus filtering
	Remote management and daily off-site mirror-of-server data
	Help Desk telephone support and escalation processes

-On-site support as needed

	Continuous monitoring of your systems and network
	Configuration management: We change and update users remotely
	Management of your Internet connectivity including firewall
	Quick and cost-effective implementation

A Houston-based financial services firm had to make a decision. Its NT 4.0 server that for five years had supported 15 users would not allow a contact management system upgrade.

The firm had wanted to upgrade for at least a year but delayed due to the $12,000-$15,000 upfront capital cost. Plus the client knew it was “exposed” because there was no viable network security policy in place, or a defined and consistent data backup/disaster recovery plan.

We conducted a TCO (total cost of ownership) with the firm’s owner. Metrics considered included:

	Actual initial cost of hardware, software, installation, etc.
	Incremental hard and soft costs necessary to support and utilize the new capabilities of the server and its software.
	Time allocated by employees (Business Development Director) to provide first-level support and back-up procedures
	Third-party hourly resources on an “on-call basis” of approximately $3000-$4000/year

Items not taken into consideration:

	Peace of mind with defined disaster recovery and network security procedures in place
	Productivity increases due to consistent virus protection and system performance improvements
	The time value of money on the initial savings

The net result over three year contract? The owner called it a “No-Brainer.”

	“Total fixed costs” over three years with G1 Sever Solutions was $16,200 or $5400/year
	“Total projected costs” over three years to buy outright and self-maintain was about $50,000 or $16,600/year
	The “cut-over” took only a day creating almost no business interruption.
	The firm saved at least $11,000 in upfront costs.

As for productivity:
“I’ve done more business development activity in the last two months than in the previous six months.”-Director of Business Development

Add in peace of mind from data backups and a hardware replacement warranty. Make the right decision for your firm.