Key Business Challenges
A growing Private Non-Operating Charitable Foundation wanted to consolidate its multiple Colorado offices into a single building. The foundation needed a full-service IT solution provider to implement an IT infrastructure for the new facility from the ground up.
Sales/Engagement Process
The foundation had an existing relationship with another IT firm, but a lack of responsiveness on the part of this provider – along with the full portfolio of services offered by GTRI – made the organization reconsider. Over the course of nine months, GTRI held a series of discussions with the foundation to explore IT infrastructure solutions. The discussions culminated in a meeting at GTRI with experts present from business units across the company, convincing the foundation of GTRI’s ability to deliver a comprehensive solution.
GTRI's Solution
Based on the business requirements established during the lengthy sales process, GTRI developed a detailed proposal for a multi-faceted IT infrastructure enabling voice, wireless, security, file storage, printer sharing, e-mail, and calendaring functionality.
The GTRI solution comprised five core components:
- Voice infrastructure. GTRI deployed a voice communications system for approximately 35 VoIP handsets. Configured to interact with the foundation’s e-mail platform, the system monitors user availability status and offers call routing functionality. The voice infrastructure includes:
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager Business Edition (CUCMBE) to provide call processing for the VoIP handsets
- Cisco Unity Connection for voicemail and integration with e-mail servers
- A voice gateway router to pass calls to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
- Cisco Presence to track end user status
- Cisco Mobility to route calls to individual mobile phones
- Wireless local area network (LAN) infrastructure. GTRI conducted a wireless site survey to determine optimal access point (AP) placement, then installed Cisco Aironet 1250 series access points with 802.11N capability. GTRI also configured and installed a Cisco 2106 Wireless LAN Controller to manage the access points and support advanced mobility services, including secure guest access, voice over WLAN, and extended security.
- Wired LAN infrastructure. To provide wired connectivity for the foundation’s servers, firewall, wireless access points, and print servers, GTRI installed Cisco 3750E switches with Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities. The increased PoE wattage powers the foundation’s LCD telephones and its 802.11N access points. The 3750E switches also offer Quality of Service (QoS) functionality, which prioritizes VoIP network traffic and ensures high-quality audio for voice conversations.
- Security infrastructure. GTRI implemented a Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS) Solution Engine, enabling the foundation to centrally manage device administration and network access. GTRI also installed a Trend Micro anti-virus scanning and protection solution and a Cisco ASA5510 Security Plus appliance for use as a firewall.
- Application servers. To enable file storage, print, and directory functionality, GTRI assembled and installed a Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition application server that acts as a domain controller for Windows Active Directory. And to support e-mail and calendaring capabilities, GTRI implemented Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and a second Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition application server. GTRI also migrated the foundation’s e-mail from its existing provider.
As part of the overall project, GTRI provided a detailed design of the complete solution, an implementation plan, and final as-built documentation. GTRI also delivered comprehensive project management services for the engagement, including weekly status meetings, and provided user training on the new infrastructure to the foundation’s administrators.
Benefits
GTRI successfully designed, architected, and implemented a comprehensive IT infrastructure within the foundation’s tight deadline for opening its new facility. GTRI’s project management and administration skills were critical in completing the highly complex project on time and within budget. And the project demonstrated GTRI’s breadth and depth as a strategic solution provider; in addition to demanding expertise in unified communications, security, wireless and wired networking, and server configuration and implementation, the solution required an exhaustive skill set that included strategic planning, design, configuration, implementation, training, and project management.
