SOLUTION
We presented Truescape detail of our complete auditing process and the outcomes from that process. We then carried out a condensed audit, to suit their budget, and provided overview documentation of their network. In the process, we gained familiarity with their environment, which allowed us to provide additional support to their systems administrator.
Over time, with more involvement in their IT support, we recognised that significant changes would be required to eliminate the risk of any potential stability issues. Truescape requested we perform a risk assessment, which we completed identifying risks classified by severity. We were then requested to design a new solution, that would address stability of their systems, and shortfalls identified in their backups and disaster recovery systems.
We presented Truescape with a solution overview and project plan. Truescape had also recently invested in their systems and we needed to address any potential compatibility issues that could arise from the proposed upgrade in a cost-effective manner, without compromising system performance. We understood that to adhere to best practises, some of that investment needed to be re-architected involving significant and fundamental changes to the overall system. We covered off all the intricate questions and philosophy around the solution design. Our solution re-purposed recent investments in a way that achieved the aims of system stability, while also being financially sensible.
We scoped, quoted, and then implemented new servers to run the Hyper-V cluster. We seamlessly migrated from existing systems, utilising redundancy in connections to the existing Storage Area Network. We rebuilt one of the recently purchased Hyper-V hosts to replace the system in their disaster recovery environment. We moved Truescape from a system designed around servers duplicating their production environment, to a complete and secure offsite backups system, able to quick boot backup images as virtualised servers, for disaster recovery purposes. We consolidated and reduced the number of virtual servers operating from five to three, reduced third-party storage costs for existing partial backups, and added complete system backups and point in time restore to their capabilities.
We demonstrated the quick recovery of backup images as functioning servers, and addressed specific requirements such as the businesses ability to restore data themselves. We completed the project by providing extensive documentation on the new systems environment, network, and systems recovery.
