Alder Grange School
Alder Grange School Achieves Modernised IT Infrastructure with Improved Efficiency and Performance
Tag: Cloud
Case Studies
The customer
Alder Grange School is a leading secondary school and sixth form centre in Rawtenstall, Lancashire.
Their business needs
Alder Grange School identified the need to modernise its ageing server infrastructure. The existing system, nearing the end of its support cycle,
suffered from slow processing speeds, inefficient power consumption, and outdated technology. Upgrading this hardware would not be a cost-effective
solution.
How we helped
- Deployment of Cutting-Edge Servers: NCS IT replaced the outdated servers with state-of-the-art models. These new servers boast the latest processors, high-performance drives, and energy-efficient power supplies, ensuring optimal performance and reduced energy consumption.
- Enhanced Resilience with Hyperconverged Infrastructure: leveraging StarWind technology, NCS IT configured a hyperconverged clustered
environment. This configuration delivers increased resilience and redundancy, safeguarding the school’s critical data and applications. - Streamlined Support with Extended Service Plan: a comprehensive 3-year hardware and software support plan was implemented, aligning with the lifespan of the new equipment. This plan provides the school with prompt and reliable technical support.
- Flexible Financing Option: to minimise upfront costs, the IT refresh was financed through a 3-year lease agreement with Bluestone Finance. This
approach allowed Alder Grange School to spread the investment over time, optimising their budgetary resources.
Technologies implemented
- StarWind HyperCoverged Appliance
- Support
- Consultancy
- Flexible financing options
Results
- Improved Performance and Efficiency – the new, high-performance servers equipped with the latest technology have significantly enhanced processing speeds and overall system efficiency.
- Enhanced System Resilience – the hyperconverged clustered environment provides increased redundancy and data protection, minimising the risk of downtime and data loss.
- Reduced Operational Costs – cost savings have been achieved through lower energy consumption thanks to the new, energy-efficient power supplies.
Additionally, the streamlined support plan helps optimise internal IT resources and has helped reduce internal support costs.
Testimonial
"NCS IT's expertise not only reduced our operational costs but also enabled us to migrate all services to the latest best-in-class technologies. The entire process was smooth and stress-free thanks to the fantastic team at NCS IT and their partners Dell, StarWind, and Bluestone Finance."
Paul Seery, Network Manager at Alder Grange School
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Case Studies
Affordable Windows
NCS IT Assists Affordable Windows Internal IT Team in Replacing Ageing System with StarWind Hyperconverged Infrastructure
The customer
With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Affordable Windows Systems Group is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of aluminium and PVCu windows, doors and conservatories. Based in the North West, the large company employs over 300 staff across 7 sites with their head office located in an advanced purpose-built facility in Blackpool.
Their business needs
The seasoned manufacturer has seen rapid company growth which has increased the need to update the company’s ageing infrastructure. Before working with NCS IT, Affordable Windows had a support agreement with another supplier which was no longer able to provide the solutions the expanding company required.
How we helped
NCS IT assisted Affordable Window’s internal IT team with replacing the existing Storage Area Network (SAN) system with a modern StarWind hyperconverged infrastructure and a new backup platform. This resulted in the creation of a highly available and ultra-resilient network for the company, designed to keep the system running through syncing and replication – if a failure is experienced. Next generation firewalls by leading vendor SonicWall were also installed as part of developing Affordable Windows’ disaster recovery plan.
Technologies implemented
- StarWind Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)
- Secure links to Microsoft Azure platform
- SonicWall firewalls
- Cloud backup platform agent Veeam
- Microsoft 365
- Mimecast to protect emails
- Cabling
- Extension to internal IT team to provide second line services
- 24/7 monitoring
Testimonial
"The team at NCS IT are really conscientious and great at sharing information with our smaller internal IT team - they have also provided us with a lot of excellent training."
David McVey - IT Manager, Affordable Windows
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Case Studies
M3 Project
NCS IT Supports Charity M3 Project with Move to Remote Working
The customer
Based in East Lancashire, M3 Project is a specialist charity that offers advice, support and accommodation to young people, aged 16-25, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Their business needs
As a people-based business with 8 employees, the charity has a fairly lean structure and therefore requires an external IT company to help them with all of their IT needs. Before the pandemic, the non-profit was office-based and therefore in March 2020, when the first lockdown happened, the charity needed to act quickly in order to continue supporting young people by supplying employees with remote working setups.
How we helped
Prior to the pandemic, NCS IT worked with the charity to move it to cloud-based reporting and accounting systems, with an office-focused IT system. As the charity’s employees made the move to working from home, the NCS IT team helped with the transition to a remote system in the Cloud which allowed staff members to share access to important documents and communications.
Technologies implemented
- Cloud Hosted Server
- Remote working setups
- Kit such as computers and laptops supplied
- Cloud file access via SharePoint and OneDrive as part of Microsoft 365
Testimonial
"We're a homeless charity and not experts in IT, so it's great to be working with an IT team that explains what we need and how everything works in an intelligible and jargon-free way. NCS IT are incredibly flexible and know how to interpret our non-techy requests."
Alan Dorrington - Charity Manager, M3 Project
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Case Studies
Quick Reach
Quick Reach Gains Infinite Scalability with Migration to Microsoft Azure Cloud Services
The customer
Founded in a dusty old warehouse in 2014, Quick Reach has rapidly become one of the top powered access companies with multiple branches across the UK and plans to expand even further.
Their business needs
As Quick Reach’s existing on-premise servers were at capacity, the growing company needed to modernise their IT infrastructure quickly to aid their expansion of more branches coming online and an increase in resources in their offering.
How we helped
As Quick Reach had already been a client of NCS IT for a long time, providing a managed service and full helpdesk support, our team was able to implement a plan immediately with a full understanding of the company’s existing systems.
We migrated and decommissioned Quick Reach’s on-premise servers, located in various offices and connected to depots around the country, and moved the firm onto a full cloud solution run entirely on Microsoft’s cloud platform Azure – with the addition of the world’s largest mail platform Microsoft 365.
This provides full flexibility and the ability for Quick Reach’s systems to grow with infinite scalability. It also offers full resilience as Quick Reach’s various office IT systems are no longer dependent on any other office – if a branch system experiences a failure, the other branches will continue to work unaffected.
Technologies implemented
- Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft 365
- Cloud backup
- InspHire server running Microsoft SQL
- Teams
- Multi-factor authentication
- Full helpdesk support
- Monitoring of all systems
Testimonial
"With our business rapidly expanding, we need an IT provider with a flexible approach and the right solutions. NCS IT has the skills, capacity and technology to continue to grow with us, and our system migration from on-premise to cloud has shown their ability to do so successfully, on time and on budget."
Joanne Anderson - Financial Director, Quick Reach
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Case Studies
Excotek
NCS Supports Excotek Transition from Sister Company + Modernises IT Infrastructure
The customer
For over thirteen years, Excotek has supported the operations of global digital service providers by providing vendor and supply chain agnostic technology solutions from its headquarters in Padiham, Lancashire.
Their business needs
After transitioning away from its sister company, Excotek’s team required the ability to outsource some aspects of the company in order to maintain a lean environment. This included a third-party IT company to provide support, services and the skillsets to ensure business continuity. With the head office based in Lancashire, it was essential for Excotek to choose a nearby IT company in order to make visits to the site, such as to provide staff training, more accessible when required.
How we helped
After carrying out a full audit, NCS was tasked with taking over the pre-existing infrastructure and updating the firm’s systems with the servers especially requiring an update. New SQL servers, software with the primary function of storing and retrieving data, were additionally provided to cater for the firm’s new accounting application and web-based customer portal – innovating both the company’s and their world-leading clients’ experience.
Working with NCS means Excotek now has a reliable extension of its team, ready to support the company with whatever it requires – whether that’s supporting the remote management of staff laptops, providing SharePoint training or ensuring the company has the processes in place to achieve Cyber Essentials certification.
Technologies implemented
- Servers hosted in data centre
- New SQL & Active Directory Servers
- Microsoft 365 and SharePoint set up and training
- IT Support & Helpdesk
- Cyber Essentials qualifications
Testimonial
"Choosing to work with NCS has been very effective. Tasks are completed in an efficient and timely manner and the level of help and advice has been excellent. I’m very, very happy with the service that we've received so far."
Mark Wood - Chief Technology Officer, Excotek
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Case Studies
Buckhurst Plant Hire
Growth and Improved Communications for Buckhurst Thanks to Remote Access Offering by NCS
The customer
Founded in 1993, Buckhurst Plant Hire operates nationwide, with over 70 staff, supplying a range of hire equipment across three divisions: plant hire, utility plant hire and transport. The company’s head office is based in Rossendale, Lancashire, with additional depots in Leeds, Bathgate and Aberdeen.
Their business needs
Prior to working with NCS, Buckhurst was operating on an outdated IT infrastructure which prevented further growth due to its limitations in speed, reliability and accessibility. The depots were operating on their own individual networks meaning there was no coordination or communication across the company.
How we helped
We recommended a 4-phase process to be complete over time for Buckhurst that included initiating remote access to allow depots to share resources, reviewing cabling and upgrading broadband and existing servers.
Not only has the new IT infrastructure improved communication throughout the plant hire company, it also supports its plans for future growth and expansion. After competition of the project, Buckhurst opted for a support package to make the most of NCS’ knowledge of their new system should any problems arise.
Technologies implemented
- Remote access with new remote desktop server
- Updated cabling
- Fibre broadband
- Microsoft 365 Email
- SQL server
Testimonial
"I chose NCS as the right solution was offered at a good price. It gives us greater peace of mind knowing they are local to our head office too."
Lee Gansler - Managing Director, Buckhurst Plant Hire
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Case Studies
Briggs Automotive Company
Briggs Automotive Company Goes Remote with NCS IT Cloud Solutions
The customer
Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) is a British car manufacturing company based in Liverpool. Founded in 2009, the company is responsible for developing the Mono, the world’s first road-legal, lightweight, high-performance sports car.
Their business needs
Like most companies around the world in 2020, BAC had to adapt and become more flexible with their IT systems to enable employees to work from home, in order to stay safe and follow government guidelines during the pandemic. As the company continuously develops new innovative tech within the automotive field, it was also important to keep the company’s intellectual property secure whilst sharing remotely to employees and stakeholders across Europe.
How we helped
Working as a key technology consultant, NCS IT established a secure VPN infrastructure for BAC staff to be able to work remotely during the pandemic. We also liaised with cloud backup provider Acronis to create a full backup solution for all on premise and cloud workloads and developed the Acronis Cloud File Share to assist in moving large data assets around Europe securely and efficiently.
Technologies implemented
- VPN infrastructure
- Acronis Cloud Backup
- Supply of hardware
- Helpdesk support
Testimonial
"NCS are our trusted delivery partner for all of our Acronis services, allowing us to make use of the latest cloud technologies and keep BAC cyber secure."
Mark Rayner - Co-founder, Briggs Automotive Company
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