NextStep IT

Nextstep Case Studies

Nextstep IT’s relationship development efforts, project success rate, and business value delivered has our clients returning to us.  With new challenges, business initiatives and ideas, Nextstep IT clients become Nextstep IT partners.

Business Problem – Need for Outsource IT provide to manage small company

Small multisite company looking for a provider to completely manage their IT infrastructure and the following services:

• IT vision and strategy
• IT server administration (updating patches and monitoring servers)
• Obtaining expert support for clients IT infrastructure
• Gaining access to a true IT help desk to resolve user issues
• Remote and onsite support

Further, we recognize your critical success factors for this as:

• Lower total cost of operation for IT posture
• Freedom from the headaches associated with staffing a full time IT employee
• Providing a more proactive service then the current Time and Materials support model does not afford (e.g. installing software service packs and updates)

No case study available

No company link available

Business Problem – E-mail ineffective and too expensive

Messaging & Collaboration Practice

Nextstep IT client, Japan Entry, was relying on their Internet Service Provider (ISP) for all email capabilities.  Monthly costs were skyrocketing due to company growth and increased business reliance on email. Standard Groupware functions, like scheduling and calendars, were not available. And, the POP3 service allowed no centralized backup of this critical business tool.

The ISP monthly charges and the internal POP3 client support were dramatically decreased when Nextstep IT migrated the enterprise to a Microsoft Exchange email and groupware system. Business users enjoyed immediate capability, functionality, and security improvements, and the administrative staff was able to take advantage of shared calendaring and scheduling functions.

No case study available

No company link available

Business Problem – Network security in question

Security Practice

Nextstep IT client, Stratus Computer Systems, needed to ensure that its “Tier 1 Client” support network be secure.  The client needed an expert, objective opinion about three aspects of their support system.

• External vulnerability of public web servers
• External vulnerability of dialup servers
• Internal security stance of dialup servers

Nextstep IT was able to provide detailed analysis and executive summaries about the Security Audit performed in these areas.  Potential areas for risk were found and Nextstep IT delivered detailed accounts on how to secure them.

No case study available

No company link available

Business Problem – Business Growth outgrew Network Operations Capabilities

Network Operations Systems Practice

Nextstep IT client, Storigen Systems, realized rapid growth, which resulted in an unmanageable LAN.  For example, Storigen was adding 10GB of disk storage per month to house critical data, with no ability to effectively manage the new resources.  There was similarly no capability to manage or optimize network servers, peripherals, or the users’ activities. 

Nextstep IT designed and delivered increased capability with a Microsoft Windows 2003 Network Operating System (NOS,) a Microsoft’s Active Directory implementation, and a Storage Area Network (SAN) including centralized backup.  The client now has the ability to centrally manage and monitor new users, peripherals, storage use, and services.

No case study available

No company link available