IT Pro Momentum Program Results – Anon Company 10

Public disclosure of your name and company name allowed? No

Objectives of the project:   Centralize and consolidate server functions currently running on several desktop-class machines.

Are you piloting or deploying the products?   Pilot

Products used in the project (all that apply):   Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, MS Accounting (existing)

Project description:   Original plan was to demonstrate that moving several server functions, such as the MS Accounting database, email server, etc. from an assortment of desktop-class machines to a true server environment would save both time and money. This would free up the local IT support person to proactively improve the network, rather than constantly having to spend so much time maintaining/repairing it. The plan was to migrate email, then printer/network management, then the MS Accounting database.

It has become obvious that, although the owner was very enthusiastic at the outset, needed infrastructure improvements (particularly electrical circuits) have eroded this somewhat.  They should have been done anyway, but have reduced the available budget for new hardware.  So we're focusing on the MS Accounting database first, so that existing problems will be resolved.  If we cannot migrate the other functions this year, they can wait until later.  A further complication is that the owner decided to take this 'opportunity' to rebrand the site, but that's another story...  :) 

The IT Pro Momentum program has been great- without it, we probably would never have even suggested this improvement.  After purchasing the necessary hardware, and licensing the software for the production environment, I think any savings for the next year or so will be a wash (excluding the electrical work).  And the project should recoup even those costs right away, considering the added value the IT support tech will bring.