Profile:
Their concerns include physical security of their equipment, bandwidth reliability and speed, as well as promoting environmentally friendly systems.

Executive Summary:
With ten locations and 3 to 4 workstations at each location, all 35 systems must access operational software that tracks all phases of the dry cleaning process including customer details. Capabilities of the software combined with network administration from 85Under will drive down costs and increase efficiency and profitability.

Solution:

• Consult with customer on exact needs
• Design and approve recommended solution
• Deploy a robust multi-site-to-site VPN connection to allow secure access to centralized servers and software in the 85Under data center using existing or improved internet connection
• Review server requirements for software system and consult with customer on configuration, pricing and options.
• Provision Leased Servers (or implement owned servers in Leased Space) for dedicated use
• Collaborate with vertical market software vendor on the implementation of software, database, backup strategy and thin client capabilities.
• Remotely deploy client side software to workstations and configure automated access to operational software.

Solution Stack:

Vendors:
Microsoft, Citrix, Trend Micro, Cisco and Intel

Products:
Windows Server 2003 Standard, Citrix Presentation Server, Cisco ASA, Intel Server Platforms

85Under Services:
Leased Servers and/or Leased Space
Online Backups

Summary:
The dry cleaning operation was able to save money and increase company-wide performance through the outsourcing of IT issues and the services available through 85Under. By choosing a data center that was naturally cooled, the company was also able to also satisfy their desire to help the environment.

Profile:
The data housed in each county office is critical and must be available, but each office operates a poorly funded effort to satisfy their IT needs, making due with aging systems and poorly performing networks. Unfortunately, each individual department budget is too small for any relevant improvement.

Executive Summary:
Each of six departments currently maintains an aging server, an inadequate DSL connection and an assortment of workstations, laptops, and printers. Every department could experience increased performance and reliability if they could combine their funds to share in the IT investment. Instead of surprise disaster response, a predictable cost model will be critical to satisfy the stringent government budgeting system in an environment where the leaders can change seats on such a regular basis. Constituents, as well, need to be comforted that their information will remain safe during any natural or man-made disaster.

Solution:

• Consult with each County Department on exact needs.
• Design and approve recommended solution to share costs and benefits
• Upgrade existing set of DSL connections to a reliable fiber optic connection to 85Under
• Implement smart switching to share and isolate the bandwidth using VLan technology
• Review server requirements and software application demands for each department, considering configuration, pricing and options.
• Provision Leased Servers, Leased Virtual Servers (or implement owned servers in Leased Space) for dedicated use at the 85Under Data Center. All departments may be able to share one or two high performing servers that will be refreshed on a predictable basis.
• Determine needed Intrusion Prevention, Spam/Antivirus Filtering and/or Content Filtering with Software as a Service.
• Collaborate with custom County Government application vendor on the implementation of software, database, backup strategy and thin client capabilities.
• Remotely deploy client side software to workstations and configure automated access to operational software.

Solution Stack:

Vendors:
Microsoft, Citrix, Trend Micro, Cisco and Intel

Products:
Windows Server 2003 Standard, Citrix Presentation Server, Cisco ASA, Intel Server Platforms

85Under Services:
Leased Servers, Leased Virtual Servers, and/or Leased Space
Online Backups
Software as a Service

Summary:
County employees in all departments were able to share an extremely fast connection to their servers and the internet, while keeping each office’s business private and accessible. During the next major snowstorm, county officials were able to access the data remotely from home, while the courthouse was without power. While county officials were voted into and out of offices, the county IT infrastructure remained reliable in performance and security while predictable in monthly shared cost.

Profile:
The clinic needs to modernize the way they handle their patient workload as well as their clients’ delicate medical records. By modernizing, they additionally run the risk of new liabilities surrounding patient privacy as well as creating an IT network infrastructure they are unprepared to manage. Government regulations will require them to make a move quickly.

Executive Summary:
Pressure to comply with the most recent HIPAA regulations has caused the clinic to rethink their entire workflow and IT Policy. Immediate changes will include selecting and implementing a new EMR (Electronic Medical Records) system as well as a PMS (Practice Management System) to guide them towards more efficient, secure, and compliant patient handling. HIPAA, PMS, and EMR will require the network to be fast, secure, and reliable. The existing WAN (Wide Area Network) seems to be sufficient for branch to Datacenter connectivity. Additional concerns include regular reliable backups, network content filtering, redundant servers in case of failure, and the expertise to monitor and manage all of this new technology 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Solution:
Phase 1: Planning

• Consult with CEO and Network Administrator
• Design and approve recommended solution
• Consult with line of business software vendors to ensure compatibility of new solution.
• Consult with telecom vendor to optimize contracted services.

Phase 2: Infrastructure

• Procure, Build and Implement Intel Modular Server.
• Setup Modular Server with SAN (Storage Area Network) and server clustering and optional virtualization abilities.
• Setup Modular Server with one failover / redundant compute module (comparable to blade).
• Provision Leased Space for dedicated use at the 85Under Data Center.
• Setup Spam/Antivirus Filtering and/or Content Filtering with Software as a Service.
• Setup Managed Intrusion Prevention System (Managed IPS) with Tipping Point Security Appliance.
• Provision Pulse IPS Management to monitor, log and alert on critical security events.
• Provision Pulse 85 to monitor, log, alert and respond to issues.

Phase 3: Application Deployment

• Remotely deploy client side software to workstations and configure automated access to operational software.
• Deploy Electronic Medical Records on Servers and Client workstations
• Deploy Practice Management System on Servers and Client workstations.
• Deploy content filtering to ensure optimal staff utilization of the network.

Phase 4: Data Security

• Procure and deploy Double-Take Server Redundancy Software on Server located in secondary data center.
• Test server failover capability to satisfy Business Continuity Plan
• Implement separate SAN (Storage Area Network) for critical data backups and archiving.
• Perform external network penetration testing to ensure security and capability of Intrusion Prevention System and reporting

Solution Stack:

Vendors:
Microsoft, Double-Take Software, Trend Micro, Tipping Point, and Intel.

Products:
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, Windows Terminal Services with Microsoft Application Virtualization (Softgrid), Intel Server Platforms, Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Windows SharePoint Services (WSS 3.0), Trend Micro Worry Free Security Suite, Double-Take Software, and Tipping Point.

85Under Services:
Leased Space
Software as a Service
Pulse Managed IPS
Pulse 85

Summary:
While HIPAA compliance was an important goal, the clinic was able to realize tremendous cost benefit efficiencies by making this critical upgrade. The reliable 85Under data center will keep information secure and fast, while consistently available.

Profile:
She is having a difficult time keeping in touch with customers as well as tracking staff, appointments and transactions. Unstable residential electricity and bandwidth cause concerns for reliability to keep the operation rolling.

Executive Summary:
In order to resolve the customer communication issue and manage time better, Microsoft Outlook with Microsoft Exchange will be utilized. Because of the upfront overhead costs in owning such a server, subscribing to a hosted Exchange Service is the new best way to utilize this product for businesses of all sizes. A Hosted Exchange subscriber also maintains all of the great features that Exchange has to offer. Her staff will be able to access their email and appointments from any internet connection. Staff and customer information will be quickly available as well as critical reminders; helping each staff member through their day. In order to better manage transactions, Microsoft SharePoint will create an organized space to store documents critical to the business. Even non-digital data such as signed contracts can be scanned and made available through this powerful organizing tool. The documents will also be available from any internet connected system with proper security credentials.

Solution:

• Discuss available online services to resolve her needs.
• Help customer to subscribe to Software as a Service (SaaS) solution: Microsoft Hosted Exchange 2007
• Help customer to subscribe to Software as a Service (SaaS) solution: Microsoft Hosted SharePoint
• Spam and Antivirus Filtering is included with Hosted Exchange.
• Remotely assist with setup of Laptop, Desktop, and Smartphone for use with SaaS applications.
• Training for customer on use of SaaS applications and Spam Filtering.

Solution Stack:

Vendors:
Microsoft, Trend Micro, and Barracuda Networks.

Products:
Microsoft Hosted Exchange 2007, Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services (WSS 3.0), Trend Micro Worry Free Security Suite

85Under Services:
SaaS – Software as a Service

Summary:
Even though the agent’s business only employs a small staff, 85Under helped them to operate more reliably and efficiently, allowing them to focus on what they do best – Real Estate.

Profile:
First, their geographical location has made it difficult to hire and retain qualified technical talent. Secondly, government regulatory compliance and competition for customers require that they remain diligent in the pursuit of cutting edge IT implementation.

Executive Summary:
The FDIC has indicated that banks must consider, among many other aspects: Business Continuity Planning, Internal and External Threats, Risk Assessment, Risk Management, Risk Monitoring and Testing.

According to the FDIC reference Handbook, there are many reasons that outsourcing IT could benefit banks including: Gain operational or financial efficiencies, Increase management focus on core business functions, Refocus limited internal resources on core functions, Obtain specialized expertise, Increase availability of services, Accelerate delivery of products or services through new delivery channels, Increase ability to acquire and support current technology and avoid obsolescence, and Conserve capital for other business ventures.

The Regional bank wants to begin operating as quickly as possible and is prepared to rely on 85Under for critical services. Required aspects of the service will include: 24/7 Network Monitoring, Data Backups Monitored including test data restores, Network Security and Content filtering by Tipping Point, and Server redundancy by Double Take.

To reduce the headache of managing email, Microsoft Hosted Exchange 2007 will be implemented.

Because of the hiring difficulties, all IT at the bank facility as well as bank data housed at the 85Under data center will be managed completely under a Pulse 85 managed IT Contract.

Solution:
Phase 1: Planning

• Consult with CEO
• Design and approve recommended solution.
• Consult with line of business software vendors and core processor to ensure compatibility of new solution
• Recommend telecom vendor to order voice and data communication services

Phase 2: Infrastructure

• Procure, build and Implement two servers for Application and File / Print functions
• Provision Leased Space for dedicated use at the 85Under Data Center
• Provision Software as a Service (SaaS) solution: Microsoft Hosted Exchange 2007
• Setup Spam/Antivirus Filtering and/or Content Filtering with Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Setup Managed Intrusion Prevention System (Managed IPS) with Tipping Point Security Appliance
• Provision Pulse IPS Management to monitor, log and alert on critical security events
• Provision Pulse 85 to monitor, log, alert and respond to issues

Phase 3: Application Deployment

• Remotely deploy client side software to workstations and configure automated access to operational software
• Deploy Microsoft Outlook on Client workstations
• Deploy content filtering to ensure optimal staff utilization of the network

Phase 4: Data Security

• Procure and deploy DoubleTake Server Redundancy Software on Server located in secondary data center
• Test server failover capability to satisfy Business Continuity Plan
• Implement separate SAN (Storage Area Network) for critical data backups and archiving

Summary:

During the FDIC audit, the regional bank was reassured that outsourcing their critical IT needs was the right approach. The auditors reviewed the Pulse85 contract and service level agreement (SLA) which satisfied compliance for many audit items. The ability to review all of the service tickets and maintenance logs also provided clarity in compliance. Staff members from 85Under were available to meet with the auditors and answer questions as well as present performance, security and reliability reports. The systems engineer acted as a ‘Virtual Chief Technical Officer’ for the bank throughout the process. In addition to the success of the audit, the bank’s well managed network is now able to serve the staff and customers alike using the fastest, most secure, and most stable processes possible.

FFIEC Info Base on outsourcing Technology Services