Colocation Facility Upgrade

This past weekend we completed a successful migration to our new colocation facility in Santa Clara, California.

We are excited to inform all our customers that we are now in a SAS 70 Type II compliant datacenter. Why is this important? This ensures that we have the most adequate controls and safeguards in place when it comes to hosting and processing data that belongs to our customers.

Each business is unique in their size, industry, requirements, growth goals, etc.  To our customers with 5 users, 50 users, 500 users and more, we strive every day to improve our service offerings so that you can take advantage of the latest technologies available to help your business grow. 

For our customers undergoing HIPAA or SOX compliance, we're now putting more measures in place for InfinIT to be your trusted IT partner. 

InfinIT-Microsoft Partner Case Study: Essential Business Server 2008

• View full case study published on Microsoft website
• Download printer-friendly version

INFINIT CONSULTING
IT Services Provider to Increase Account Sizes by 75 Percent with Server Software

InfinIT Consulting wanted to help its customers upgrade their network infrastructure to address their performance and security concerns. The firm chose Windows Essential Business Server 2008 as a perfect option for midsize businesses needing an advanced, yet affordable infrastructure solution. The server software helps InfinIT streamline administration, enhance security, reduce help-desk call volume, and increase account sizes by 75 percent.

Business Needs
Silicon Valley–based InfinIT Consulting is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner that provides managed IT services for small, midsize, and enterprise businesses across a range of industries. The firm’s goal is to “empower businesses to embrace the potential of IT.” To this end, InfinIT implements and manages technology solutions that support its customers’ business needs and ongoing growth.

Many of the firm’s small business customers relied on the Windows Small Business Server suite of server products as the foundation for their network infrastructure. But as a consequence of rapid growth, many customers outgrew the licensing requirements and capabilities of the product. Jerod Powell, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of InfinIT Consulting, explains, “When a company approaches 75 users, we need to help them progress to the next level. They need to implement a more formalized, policy-driven infrastructure.”

Compass Components, an engineering, manufacturing, and component distribution company based in Fremont, California, is an InfinIT customer that exactly fit this bill. Compass was approaching the 75-user limit on Windows Small Business Server 2003. “Compass needed an infrastructure that could support its planned growth to 250 users with sophisticated security and desktop deployment tools, and a platform that could support our administrators’ advanced skills and our ability to deliver sophisticated infrastructure capabilities,” says Powell.

With Windows Essential Business Server 2008,
we can increase the size of a customer account by 75 percent.
-- Jerod Powell | Principal and Chief Executive Officer, InfinIT Consulting

 

Solution
In 2008, InfinIT began to implement Windows Essential Business Server 2008 for its midsize customers. Windows Essential Business Server 2008 is an enterprise-class server solution that packages management, messaging, and security software in one product, priced for midsize businesses.

Compass Components was one of the first InfinIT customers to transition from Windows Small Business Server to Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium. InfinIT implemented the software on four Dell PowerEdge server computers in less than three business days. “Our customer’s accolade was, ‘I can’t believe there was so little downtime,’” says Powell. InfinIT used the Preparation and Planning Wizards in Windows Essential Business Server 2008 to ensure that the Compass network environment was properly configured before installing the software. “The wizards helped us deal with potential issues ahead of time,” says Powell.

While the solution is hosted in a Compass Components data center, InfinIT can use the Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Administration Console to monitor and administer Compass servers and workstations. In a single view, staff can view system health, monitor security, and manage settings in real time. “We could just as easily host the solution for a customer in our own data center,” explains Kirsten Barrera, Director of eMarketing at InfinIT Consulting. “We have tremendous flexibility with the product, and therefore, so do our customers.” 

Windows Essential Business Server 2008, because it includes Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Standard e-mail messaging and collaboration software, Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server, and Forefront Threat Management Gateway technologies, allows InfinIT to provide Compass with powerful, flexible messaging options while also delivering higher security. “We can be much more granular in our management now. We are working with multiple layers of security, and services running on isolated machines,” explains Powell. “Windows Essential Business Server 2008 also allows people with advanced skills to manage a customer’s environment through scripts and automation. It’s very flexible, and allows us to do integration work with other systems in our customer’s environments.”

Benefits
With Windows Essential Business Server 2008, InfinIT helps businesses implement advanced IT infrastructure solutions, plays a key role in supporting the network, builds trust with its customers, and increases its own revenues.

Sophisticated, Streamlined IT Management
Customers rely on InfinIT to ensure that their IT infrastructure is stable and reliable and that it provides the tools they need to work productively. “Windows Essential Business Server 2008 helps us deliver a security system that customers can count on, and there is very little administration involved,” says Powell. “And the integrated management tools help us deploy a standardized desktop configuration. This is essential to our ability to proactively manage a customer’s environment.” Finally, the remote access capabilities available in Windows Essential Business Server help enhance people’s work experience and reduce help-desk call volumes. “Remote messaging with Exchange Server 2007 is easier to manage, and more robust. We haven’t received a single performance-related complaint and help desk call volume decreased by 20 percent after the upgrade.”

Increased Revenue
InfinIT can increase the size of an account from 75 to 300 users for a customer that used Windows Small Business Server. “With Windows Essential Business Server 2008, we can increase the size of a customer account by 75 percent, yielding a potential revenue gain upwards of $22,500 per month with our CompleteCare+ managed services offering,” explains Powell.

Barrera adds, “Because Windows Essential Business Server 2008 is delivered as part of our suite of managed IT services, our customers pay one price, per user, per month for end-to-end network support. The customer can control their IT budget, and we in turn gain an ongoing revenue stream and the ability to support the customer to our fullest capabilities.”

Strong Microsoft Support
InfinIT enjoyed strong support from Microsoft as it began to implement this new solution. “We were deploying Windows Essential Business Server 2008 as soon as it was available,” explains Powell. “People can tell whether or not you really know a product. The support we received from the Microsoft product team gave us confidence and helped drive down the cost of implementation, which helped us build trust with our customers.”

InfinIT-Microsoft Customer Case Study: Essential Business Server 2008

• View full case study published on Microsoft website
• Download printer-friendly version

COMPASS COMPONENTS:
Manufacturer Keeps Costs Low, Ensures Business Continuity with Server Software

Compass Components experienced rapid growth and sought the best IT infrastructure to meet its needs. It deployed Windows Essential Business Server 2008, an advanced server solution that helps it enhance security, streamline IT work, and ensure high uptime for services. Compass implemented the software for 30 percent less than it would have spent on stand-alone products.

Business Needs
Compass Components, an engineering, manufacturing, and component distribution company, builds cabling systems and electromechanical assemblies for the transportation, medical, government, and semiconductor industries and distributes components to original equipment manufacturers.

Even during the recent economic downturn, Compass continued to expand its operations; orders, and revenues, stayed high. Compass added a manufacturing facility and 100 employees in 6 months. It relied on Windows Small Business Server 2003 to run its network infrastructure, but it quickly outgrew the product. Thomas Maurer, Vice President of Operations at Compass explains, “We needed more processing power and to migrate from a single-server environment to ensure uptime.”

With Windows Small Business Server 2003, messaging, security, and database technologies were consolidated on a single server. If one service needed to be restarted, all services became unavailable. “Employees need to stay productive,” says Maurer. The company relies on several methods to share information with customers, including e-mail and file uploads to Internet-based file transfer protocol sites. “If they can’t use e-mail, they need to be able to use the Internet or work with information in databases,” he explains. “One lost day of work can result in a week’s delay to production time. This means delayed revenue and alienated customers. We cannot afford a complete loss of business.”
 
Compass was also in the process of upgrading its enterprise resource planning (ERP) software from Epicor, which connects with Microsoft technologies such as the Microsoft Office system and the Microsoft SQL Server data management software. “We needed a more robust infrastructure to support these technologies,” explains Maurer. “And we needed to find it at the right price; we don’t have the deep pockets of an enterprise-size business, but we need to function with comparable sophistication.”

 

"Windows Essential Business Server 2008 includes all the components we need to help prevent business losses.
And, it’s an integral part of our strategy to advance our technology and expand our IT infrastructure."
-- Thomas Maurer | Vice President of Operations, Compass Components

 

Solution
In 2009, with the help of InfinIT Consulting, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Compass implemented Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium, an enterprise-class server solution that packages management, messaging, and security software in one product that is priced for midsize businesses. The solution runs on four Dell PowerEdge server computers. Deployment was completed in less than three business days. “We experienced mere minutes of downtime,” says Maurer. “We were impressed by InfinIT’s deployment skills.”

The solution is hosted in a Compass data center, but InfinIT, as the company’s managed IT services provider, uses the Administration Console in Windows Essential Business Server 2008 to administer Compass servers and workstations. The system provides automated server and desktop deployment capabilities through Microsoft System Center Essentials 2007.

The solution also provides a robust messaging environment with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 e-mail messaging and collaboration software and the Remote Web Workplace feature of Windows Essential Business Server 2008, which enables remotely located Compass employees to access resources with just a Web browser and an Internet connection. “Remote users are happy with the newer version of Exchange Server and Remote Web Workplace. They feel like they are at their desk in the office,” says Maurer.

The solution also provides enhanced security with Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server and Forefront Threat Management Gateway technologies. “And, the messaging software runs on its own server, so it’s easier to protect the environment, and to control user accounts,” adds Jerod Powell, InfinIT’s Principal and Chief Executive Officer. 

Benefits
With Windows Essential Business Server 2008, Compass has achieved a robust, cost-effective infrastructure; enhanced security; and improved business continuity.

Robust Infrastructure, Lower Cost
Compass has a sophisticated server infrastructure that provides messaging, management, security, and database technologies that interoperate with its ERP software and provide ample room for growth. Had Compass invested in stand-alone products, it would have spent U.S.$30,000 more on software, hardware, and consulting fees. “Windows Essential Business Server 2008 is a cost-effective system that helps us manage users efficiently. We get the benefits of a larger company’s infrastructure without high costs,” says Maurer.

The solution also streamlines administration. “We used to spend a great deal of time deploying new desktops and updating software,” says Maurer. “With Windows Essential Business Server 2008, deployments and updates are managed centrally. No more walking between workstations with a CD in hand.”

Better Security, Reliability
The built-in security technologies of Windows Essential Business Server 2008 help Compass ensure that business data is protected. With a dedicated security server running enterprise-class firewall technologies, malicious software protection, and proactive alerts, InfinIT reacts nimbly to potential threats. 

Remote users also access the Compass environment easily and safely. “We work with the military, and it is critical to have thorough control over our employees’ actions to ensure that data is protected,” says Maurer. “At the same time, employees have a better experience.”

Better Business Continuity
For Compass, productivity losses can result in a direct loss of revenue. “Any slowdown to business is significant,” says Maurer. By moving to the next level of IT infrastructure sophistication, Compass has reduced its risk of losing work hours due to technical issues. “Windows Essential Business Server 2008 includes all the components we need to help prevent business losses. It’s an integral part of our strategy to advance our technology and expand our IT infrastructure. We’ve been able to streamline processes and management without having to design a system from the ground up.”