Focus On: Law Firms - NRI To The Rescue!
Scenario:
Law firms have been slow to embrace technology as part of their business strategy. Communication has traditionally been a paperbound process of faxes, overnight deliveries, and phone calls. One prominent Philadelphia-based law firm understood the benefits that technology could bring to the organization in the early 80’s and was one of the very first large law firms to make desktop computing available to all of its attorneys.
Today, technology is still a big part of the firm’s success. The constant uptime of servers is imperative to enable it to provide their researchers, attorneys, and clients access to critical information. Providing quick, easy access to information allows its attorneys and researchers more time to service clients and less time on non-billable tasks. To keep up with the growing needs of the organization, the firm’s IT department is always looking for new advancements in technology to improve overall operational efficiencies, security, and increase the availability of data to their users
Business Need:
The firm’s existing server management system utilized an analogue KVM solution implemented 10 years ago. During that time, its IT department had grown from 14 servers to more than 40 servers and several hundred users. The firm’s existing system provided only local access to its servers with no way of centrally managing the more than 40 servers in use. Each time a problem arose, an IT administrator had to physically go to each server, plug in a monitor and keyboard and try to identify which server was malfunctioning. In an environment where 24/7 data access is essential, the IT team was making trips to the office over the weekend or in the night at least twice a month to resolve server issues. The IT team knew it was time to make a change to its IT server management system, but it was not until another late night ride to the office and working until 2 a.m. to bring a server back up that the decision was made to call NRI first thing that morning.
Solution:
 NRI had supplied on-going technical support to the firm’s IT department for several years and was very familiar with its IT infrastructure. After discussing the firm’s growing server management needs, Jim Ianieri, NRI’s technology specialist, put together a plan, which included an existing solution the firm already had — Avocent KVM switches. After investigating, Jim found that there was nothing wrong with the existing Avocent KVM switches (or Cybex Corporation as they were called 10 years ago). The firm had simply outgrown them. The IT team also had spent about three months researching other KVM switch technology and arrived at the same conclusion: After 10 years, Avocent was still the leader in KVM switch technology and the best fit for the firm’s server management needs.
Results/benefits:
NRI’s recommendations and implementation of the Avocent KVM over IP switching solution has given the firm direct hands-on control and ability to monitor servers in all their locations—from their office, home, anywhere, anytime. This has resulted in improved uptime and has given the firm’s attorneys uninterrupted access to real-time critical information. In addition to the advantages in management, security, and time there are also savings in hardware, and man-hours, and a reduction in losses that are incurred when a server crash occurs. Not to mention the added peace of mind and sleep the IT team is getting. What can NRI do for you? Call 800-828-3333 for more information.
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