Case Studies

• Large Scale Data Center Implementation
• Office Relocation
• Business Continuity Planning / Disaster Recovery
• Managed Services
• Coordinator Service

Large Scale Data Center Implementation

Client: A Leading local Bank Branch with over 50,000 transactions per day.

Project: To implement an onsite data center solution that can cater for expanding IT infrastructure demands over the next few years. While decoupling IT functions from day-to-day business demands.

Solution: To deliver a complete data center solution the following tasks were completed:

1. Project plan including all steps and designs necessary to complete successfully the IT infrastructure fit out.
2. Site surveys and understanding with local staff to confirm all IT requirements with growth scale.
3. Detailed floor layouts or plans along with data center to cater all equipments including network, WAN, communication, Server, output production, etc.
4. Liaison with consultants to coordinate in line with equipment installations including UPS, Generator, transformers, Air Conditioners, flooring, lighting, security systems, etc.
5. Production of tender documentation for IT systems including cabling, equipment racks, network equipments, voice IP, SAN and server requirements, printers.
6. Task list and schedule for the installation and commissioning of IT cabling infrastructure and equipment rack jobs.
7. Schedule for installation of all IT equipments.
8. Budget production and cost tracking of all IT expenditure throughout project implementation.
9. Production of defects/snag list during implementation stage, and ensuring successful completion of all works including reporting of progress to client on a regular basis.
10. Delivery of all documentation.

Office Relocation

1. Project Plan - Preliminary project pan including all steps and designs necessary to complete successfully the entire infrastructure fit out in new premises including IT.
2. Project Budget - Production of project budget which was the main tool for cost management and control.
3. Project Risk - Definition of IT risks under the title (a) Identification (b) Quantification (c) Response Development & (d) Response control.
4. Change Control Process - Establishment of a change control process to track and incorporate changes to the scope of works, relocations schedule and costs.
5. Information flow - Establishment of the flow of information between all the team members taking part in the relocation project to ensure that all members were informed of all relevant aspects of the projects.
6. Resource Allocation - Resource planning to determine whether the IT skilled resources were available internally or whether external resources were required.
7. Requirement Analysis - This include the following tasks:

• Gathering of exiting definitions of requirements and current systems.
• Consolidation and incorporating these requirements with future requirements including ease of expandability, future growth, ability to incorporate future technology etc.
• Establishing consensus within IT and the Business on the strategic direction, specific suppliers and systems to utilize.
• Gaining approval for the strategic and practical directions for all new IT infrastructure systems being installed in the new office.
• Design Review - Implementation of new strategic technologies within the client's existing IT environment. The establishment of the new office was a very good opportunity to implement future strategic technology decisions for the client's core IT infrastructure.
• Request for Proposal - The process was the principal tool for vendor price negotiation. This details all materials and labour cost required to implement the IT infrastructure and the unit cost that could be used for any additional work outside the initial scope of work.
• Proposal Analyses - This process was completed by using an evaluation matrix to analyses the response to the proposal and for making a recommendation to the client for the supply of equipment and services.
• Procurement Coordination - Working with selected vendors and the client procurement department, the procurement process was monitored in order to prevent any potential delays to the project, which was critical when considering long lead items and where early installation was required.
• Liaison with Finance - Developed a budget and cost allocation model for expenditure incurred on all infrastructure works including IT.
• Implementation Planning - Submitted a detailed implementation plan for the installation and deployment of all IT infrastructure and all other systems that formed part of the scope of works for the IT infrastructure design and implementation.
• Site Coordination - All onsite activities of IT vendors including arrangements such as site access, scheduling for deliveries and procedures to be followed for building management.
• Site Inspection - Implementation of daily site inspections during the construction and fit out phase including ensuring all standards in the design and tender documentation were being adhered to.
• Inventory - Coordination and validation of all the systems inventory before each relocation.
• Move Coordination - Movement of all systems and user equipment to the new building.
• Reinstatement of existing premises - Management of removal of all not relocated IT equipment from old IT space.
• Handover Documentation - As part of the handover documentation the following standards were used:
  
  
  • AutoCAD for all CAD drawings
  
  
  
  • MS Project for preparing project plans
  
  
  
  • MS Visio for non-CAD drawings including rack layout templates.
  
  
  
  • MS Office Word and Excel for general documentation
  
  
  

Business Continuity Planning / Disaster Recovery

1. Establish and confirm a broad business continuity policy



2. Develop site specific BCP strategies



3. Deliver a BCP-DR solution



4. Implement testing of the delivered solution



5. Provide end-user training.

1. Establish and confirm a broad business continuity policy Multiple locations were considered, where this work defined audit, regulatory, and ethical commitments.



2. Develop site specific BCP strategies
   A review of local business group specific requirements was undertaken to determine the basic strategy, scope and schedule for a location specific BCP project. Strategic response considerations were addressed at this stage.



3. Organization and Confirmation a Project Existence
   Project establishment meetings, structure, reporting and deliverables were established at this stage. A staffing profile including business, technology, audit and legal considerations was also developed.



4. Initiation of Fieldwork
   Following the criteria set out above a Business Impact Analysis process was undertaken. Information collection, risk assessment, and preliminary Recovery Plan work was undertaken.



5. Solution Delivery
   Documentation of business recovery plans, technology requirements, preliminary design, issue of tender documents, budget approvals, contracts and build solution all formed part of this process.



6. Testing and Training
   This stage included the development of a process and procedure manual including the definition of testing and training profiles, and establishment of business processes to better support of recovery strategies.



7. Maintenance Schedule
   A process for the maintenance of the BCP plan was implemented. This was a key requirement for audit and regulatory commitments. This step provided a feedback loop into a Business Impact Analysis process for the continuous maintenance of the BCP-DR.

Managed Services

Coordinator Service