Platform Migration and Deployment

BUSINESS CHALLENGE
For years, there has been little standardization related to the OS platforms that make up an organization's enterprise architecture. This leads to many issues and challenges in terms of patch management, system availability, node redundancy, and cost control. The push for a standardized OS across an organization is one of the most risk-laden projects a company can attempt. While the benefits are great, there is vast potential for adverse effects on operations, I.T. reputation, and confidence should any part of the project fail. Yet, despite this level of risk, many organizations attempt a platform migration without the end-to-end planning, management, or even a true understanding what steps are necessary to ensure success. This approach often leads to unnecessary delays, cost overruns, and frustrated users that, in the worst case, can result in the failure of the project.

COVESTIC'S SOLUTION
Covestic first determines which OS is preferable for standardization across the majority of the servers. Unix (Sun Solaris) has been an industry standard for years for reliability, security, and stability. Microsoft, with its Data Center, .NET and SQL Server platforms, now offers a large number of ready-to-use applications and high levels of scalability, reliability, security, manageability, and interoperability. Linux, a Unix-like operating system, is an attractive solution because it is low-cost, fully customizable, and has the ability to run a number of hardware platforms. The decision can only be reached after careful consideration and gaining thorough understanding of the business requirements. After the product selection process is complete, Covestic follows a proven step-by-step plan that begins with extensive lab testing prior to a pilot deployment to the enterprise network. In this pilot period, the hosts are monitored for overall health, stability, and errors. All configuration details, incidents, changes, and resolutions are reviewed and documented prior to mass deployment of the standard image. Finally, communication with all affected parties and adherence to an effective change control process will help ensure that everyone has access to current configuration details.

COVESTIC APPROACH
With an unbiased approach to vendor selection, we help you define the target architecture that will best suit your needs as well as estimating the total cost of ownership and return on investment. We then dig deep into every area of your I.T. organization: your applications, your data, what hardware you possess, how it all interoperates, and the capacity to which it is being used, and then determine how those areas will be affected by the migration. With these insights, we then develop a step-by-step plan to ensure efficient migration and detail known issues, activities, and system dependencies. We also consider and present any potential changes to your business processes that need to be made. We then work closely with your I.T. department and change control processes to ensure that the migration from the testing lab to the enterprise is as safe, clean, and cost-effective as possible to ensure a minimal disruption to your environment. When Covestic's engagement is complete, your business will have a standardized, utility-based server environment that is fully documented and much easier to predict in both financial and technical terms.