Alliance Solutions can provide consultancy and design services at the very beginning of a project to help identify requirements and help keep costs under control.
Careful planning of a project whether it be a network or bespoke software solution can save large amounts of time and money when the project is implemented.
We can assist you to ascertain what solutions would best suit your company and there are a number of key factors for consideration:
- What software systems and applications are you running or planning to use?
- Is your workforce located on one site, multiple office locations, here in the UK or also abroad?
- What percentage of your staff is mobile staff or home office workers?
- Are you using web-based applications, Intranets or CRM Systems?
- Has your company got or considering a VoIP telephone system?
- Are you looking for a backup or Disaster Recovery solution?
- Would you like to have your equipment and services hosted/cloud based?
The cost of consultancy need not be expensive. In fact, for many network solutions our initial advice is free.
Before carrying out any work on a network it is important to know what equipment is already in use and how the network is configured.
Alliance Solutions carries out IT audits for new customers to ensure that we can complete any required work with the minimum of disruption. In addition, it means that we can offer a far superior level of support should we be required to support the network.
After an IT audit has been completed, a site document is produced that gives detailed configuration information for the network. This document becomes the main reference document for the network.
Even when documentation already exists, the audit process often shows up changes that have been made but have not been recorded.
Many audits show up problems that may have been affecting a network for a considerable length of time. Often these problems can be resolved without the need to change any equipment.
One more important point: If you ask us to carry out an audit of your network and then choose us to support your network, the audit is normally free!
The design of a simple single-site network can often entail no consultancy costs at all.
Alliance Solutions has a range of standard small business solutions that satisfy the vast majority of single-site network requirements with up to 50 users.
For larger sites or multi-site networks, there is a little more work involved when it comes to analysing the amount of data that needs to move between sites. This can have a major impact on the design of the network. Alliance Solutions have extensive experience in network design. Getting this right at the beginning can save substantial costs later.
The Main Elements
The network design includes the specification of network switch equipment to connect the computers on the network together with any wireless networking requirements.
The type of Internet connection is also critical as are the associated firewall(s) to protect the network from unwanted Internet traffic.
Often there is a requirement for remote computers to connect securely to the network and this must also be planned for.
The roles of network server(s) must be planned including backup protection and anti-virus solutions.
Alliance Solutions can also provide a single point of contact for all your IT product and solution requirements. As we are completely independent of suppliers, our consultants give unbiased objective advice, regardless of whether the equipment is purchased through us or directly from the supplier.
We can help advise you on IT equipment pricing trends and help you to plan future expenditure so that you can maximise the return on your IT investment in terms of increased productivity and avoid the common pitfalls where expenditure can be wasted.
• Software licensing – We can manage complex software licensing contracts to secure the best deal for your business
• Portfolio management – Helping customers define and implement hardware and software standards and so drive down the cost of IT ownership and support
• Vendor management - We negotiate with vendors to secure the best terms and conditions for or customers
• Procurement and pre-delivery configuration – Administering the ordering and supply of desktop hardware and software, including bespoke configuration
• Leasing & financing – We offer expert advice on financing services to improve an organisation’s cash flow while allowing them to take advantage of the latest technology.