SCS * IT Solutions for Business

A big part of our work in providing IT solutions for businesses is the installation and configuration of their office networks.

We cater for all aspects of this, from providing the cabling infrastructure, networking hardware and Internet connectivity to the PCs, servers and printers.

Our servers and PCs are mostly based on Microsoft Windows technology, using products such as Windows 7, Server 2008, Exchange Server, SQL Server and Small Business Server.

No two networks are the same so we take the time to discover a client's individual needs and tailor the solution accordingly.

Take a look at the Solutions menu above for more information on what we can offer.

We partner with various companies including Microsoft and Dell to help provide the best solutions, but we remain independent and are not tied to any particular manufacturers. See the Partners page for more details.

Virtualisation

Many companies, espeically in the medium to large brackets, are moving to virtualised servers and even client PCs.

Virtualisation is a great way of consolidating many machines and functions into a physically smaller, more effiecient system.  Cost savings can be realised in space, power consumption and heat extraction. Great versitility and fault tolerance can be achieved with multiple servers and Storage Area Networks.

An example of platforms that allow businesses to easily enter the world of virtualisation is the Dell vStart series - a vStart 500 system is shown on the right.

In today's world, remaining connected is becoming ever more important for businesses and their employees. Whether it be email, the web, the company network, Instant Messaging... being in touch and up to speed can make all the difference.

At SCS we can provide a variety of solutions to connect businesses to the Internet and to enable remote workers to connect to the company network.

• ADSL : With a greater reach than ever before and speeds increasing as new technology such as Fibre To The Cabinet comes online, ADSL is the primary method for many businesses to access the Internet. We provide a variety of ADSL packages including the use of ADSL2+ and Fibre-to-the-Cabinet technology and enhanced upstream rates (subject to location). Line bonding is also available to achieve even greater performance.
• SDSL : For situations where bandwidth needs to be more reliable in both directions, such as when using a VPN or Voice over IP, an SDSL connection may be appropriate.
• Leased Lines : For the ultimate in reliable connectivity with dedicated bandwidth, a leased line may be what's required. Both copper and fibre-based technologies are available.
• Wireless : In some locations, business can get Internet access via a high speed wireless connection.

• Fail-over and load-balanced connections : For many businesses, having multiple Internet connections is becoming more attractive, offering increased bandwidth and reliability.
• Remote Access Solutions : We offer a variety of solutions for mobile workers, homeworkers and any staff who need to access company resources whilst out of the office.
• Internet Access Control : Increasingly, business want to control their employees' access to the Internet. We can provide various solutions, including blocking access to certain websites or services, controlling access based on the time of day, or allowing access to permitted sites only.
• VPN connections : Multi-site businesses and remote workers can benefit from having Virtual Private Networks, allowing data to flow between locations and giving access to remote resources.

SCS can install a range of cabling and other infrastructure solutions for both data and voice applications.

Services include:

• Category 5+ unshielded or shielded cabling
• Fibre-Optic cable runs
• Comms cabinets
• Patch panels, cable management etc.
• Trunking & Conduit
• Exterior cabling
• Underground and suspended cable runs
• Wireless solutions
• Network testing and diagnosis

Full testing is carried out on all installations and all work is guaranteed.

A great many businesses like to keep their email solution in-house. There are varying reasons for this including:

• Greater control
• The ability to integrate 3rd party solutions into the email system
• A preference for keeping all company data under one roof
• In some cases, a reduction in overall cost.

Drawbacks of an in-house email solution include the maintenance, connectivity and backup overheads and the office being a single point of failure.

See our Hosted Email section for alternatives to onsite email.

Microsoft Exchange

A very common way of handling emails for companies both small and large (and still the best way for many) is to have a Microsoft Exchange Server in-house, often as part of Microsoft's Small Business Server. Together with the Outlook email client, this has great benefits in terms of features and the ability to configure it to a client's exact requirements. SCS has many clients running Microsoft Exchange in various configurations.

Advantages of using Microsoft Exchange include:

• Very wide support for both Exchange and Outlook worldwide. So much so that Outlook is the accepted 'standard' email client for many businesses.
• Excellent scalability with enterprise features such as clustering and integration with Voice-over-IP systems.
• More than just email. Exchange manages the calendars, contacts and tasks for staff and iOutlook ntegrates directly with other Microsoft Office applications.

Add-ons

We can provide solutions based on Exclaimer Products, including the excellent Mail Disclaimers which allows you to add disclaimers, images, user-specific text and much more to your emails, all controlled and enforced centrally.

Other Options

There are other onsite mail servers besides Microsoft Exchange.  We are happy to work with these if required and are always looking at the other solutions that are in the marketplace.  Indeed, we have implemented alternative solutions in situations where Exchange may not be appropriate.