OSK Accountants - Server Virtualisation

OSK implements centralised data storage and server virtualisation with IT Force

Customer Background

Since 1985 OSK Accountants have been providing quality and professional business advice to businesses. OSK Accountants Dublin are one of Ireland's leading firms of accountants and auditors and offer expertise in auditing and accountancy services, business advisory, accountants for contractors, company secretarial, small business support, taxation, payroll, bookkeeping and management accounting.

 Business Situation

OSK identified that their current IT System was reaching limits from a couple of fronts. For example:

  • Their database system was running out of storage space and was not sufficient for current requirements i.e. email
  • This was slowing the performance of their system down, causing end user frustration
  • All servers were out of warranty and over 4 years old

 

This was the impetus behind OSK’s decision to implement the server virtualisation solution with centralised storage proposed by IT Force.

Joe Molloy, Managed Services Director, IT Force and Dylan Byrne, Partner, OSK

Pictured: Joe Molloy, Managed Services Director, IT Force and Tadhg O’Sullivan, Managing Partner, OSK

Solution

IT Force implemented a server virtualisation solution with centralised storage to OSK to replace and upgrade OSK’s IT Systems.

Technologies Implemented

IT Force utilised the following technologies:

  • Microsoft Hyper-V
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Microsoft System Centre Management suite
  • Data Protection Manager
  • Virtual Machine Manager
  • Dell 3200 iSCSI hardware platform

 

Benefits

The server virtualisation and centralised storage solution caters for OSK’s future needs for additional virtual servers, giving them the assurance that no additional physical servers need to be procured. The servers implemented have adequate capacity to allow all virtual machines to be run on one server with no drop in performance. The additional disk capacities allow OSK to maintain data and give them scope to grow. In addition, OSK can now back up the entire server farm in near real-time and in the case of site failure they could restore key systems in a matter of a couple of hours. The Key Benefits are:

  • Reduce server footprint from 5 to 3, resulting in saving energy and reducing power costs
  • Additional disk capacities increases storage space
  • Vastly increases performance speed resulting in greater efficiency with end users and better end user experience
  • Provides an online data back-up solution and steps towards a Disaster Recovery plan with great recovery timeframe should a “disaster” occur

 

"As part of IT Force’s on-going process of managing our ICT system and requirements, they advised that we opt for a server virtualisation solution as it made the most economic sense. We now have increased our data storage capacity allowing our business to grow while reducing our server footprint. IT Force has acted as our virtual IT department for 7 years and have always understood our business needs," explains Dylan Byrne, Partner at OSK Accountants. 

“As we carry the responsibility of being OSK’s IT service and business partner we feel that OSK now has a dynamic, flexible and easier to manage IT infrastructure which we can stand over. The solution makes the most business sense for OSK – providing them with greater storage and efficiency allowing their business to grow, while at the same time saving money on energy costs,” explains Joe Molloy, Managed Services Director at IT Force.

For more information on our services visit our Server Virtualisation page.