In the early 2000s, we took on a firm of solicitors based in Ayrshire. When a company approaches us to take over their support, we begin with a full assessment of their existing IT infrastructure. With this client, we found that ALL of their data, client records, and accounting information was stored on a hand-built server with a single hard disk. Which is the IT equivalent of running your Jaguar on skinny bald tyres.
We recognised the age of the equipment and the vulnerability of the client’s data, identifying that their entire business continuity rested on a piece of equipment that cost less than a new car tyre.
We often use the car analogy to explain how important it is to assess the risk to the business when choosing an IT system. While people are often willing to spend thousands a year on a company car and would not dream of running it on cheap low grade running gear, they wouldn’t prioritise spending on vital computing equipment - the equipment on which their business survival depends.
With that we encouraged them to replace the entire server with something more substantial.
CDS will always recommend server equipment that is robust and manageable so that, in the event that there is a problem, we can resolve any issues and minimise downtime. We recommend a proactive approach and so provide regular server checks to ensure everything is operating optimally and securely.
Several years after the CDS server went in, we identified a failed disk during a maintenance check. As our servers are installed with additional disks and power supplies to protect against system failure, operations continued as normal while we were able to amend the issue. We reported the problem, agreed the solution, ordered and installed the replacement disk on site, and resolved the issue without losing the client a single minute of time.
Had the client remained on their existing system, a failure was around the corner. They would have lost all access to their data and accounting system, any new work would be stored locally, on their own PCs, which would increase the chance of data loss, and CDS would have restored whatever data was retrievable. This would have cost the client days in reduced operations, and potentially a great deal more in data lost.
Like so many IT Success Stories, our client would never know how much trouble could have been had, if they couldn’t rely on CDS to offer advice and maintain their server. Choosing our services ultimately saved thousands of pounds in costs and time during this one incident. We will always take a thorough, proactive, and preemptive approach, so that our clients can rest assured that CDS has their back.
Whether your business is looking to install a new server, or replace or maintain an existing system, CDS can manage every aspect—from procurement to installation, including data transfer, software integration, and complete setup. We have provided server maintenance to SMEs across the UK for over 30 years.
Choose CDS for Minimal Risk, Minimal Stress, Guaranteed IT Success.
