Case
Studies
Database
Design, Implementation & Administration
PrimeWest Property
Management Company:
PrimeWest was very frustrated that they could
not find a better way to track their work orders. They were trying to track
their workers, the status of their projects and all the scheduling for over 1,600
apartments using an Excel spreadsheet. When they called us in, they literally
had about 20 pages of this spreadsheet posted on their wall. We suggested
creating an Access database to track all of this activity and to produce simple,
easy-to-read reports. We were able to deliver the database to them within
one week at a very reasonable cost. Within one week of using the new database,
PrimeWest was able to identify over $6,000 in savings that they were able to take
advantage of immediately.
Testing/Disaster Prevention & Recovery
Orange County
Medical Billing Company:
Our client retained us to install a new
server when their existing 7-year old server could no longer satisfactorily handle
the load placed on it by their workers. We agreed to move the tape backup
from the old server to help save the client money. Prior to taking any server
down, we always test the backup as a matter of policy to make sure that all data
can be recovered in the event the server fails to start back up after being taken
down. When we attempted to test the tape backup, we discovered that they
did not have any backup software on their server, meaning that for 7 years, they
had faithfully put blank tapes in the drive every night and removed the same blanks
tapes the next morning every day - NOTHING had ever been written to any of the
tapes. They were extremely fortunate that they never had a major loss of
data during that time period. Many people assume that if their server has
a tape backup installed, their data is safe. We always test the tape backup
by both backing up some data and then restoring it as well. This extra testing
step does not occur to most people, but it becomes essential if you ever have
a major data loss. Once you've lost data is not the time to be discovering
if your tape backup works properly.
Secure Remote Access
WorldWide Preferred
Publishers Service:
Worldwide contacted us because they had
six remote offices that needed to enter orders onto their server. They having
each office write up their orders by hand and then each remote office had a two-hour
window twice a week to dial into the server using a modem to input their orders.
If anyone ran late, all the other offices were knocked off schedule. We
suggested that they upgrade their old UNIX server to a Linux server, add
a Windows server for their other office functions, and procure a DSL connection
to provide enough bandwidth for all their remote users to use their server concurrently.
We were then able to allow all of their remote offices to log onto the Linux server
simultaneously and input orders as they came in. Also, we were able to set
up a secure VPN connection to their Windows server so their accountant can keep
their financial records up to date from her own office. Productivity subsequently
soared at both the main office and all the remote offices.
More
Studies up on Request |
