CONSULTING SERVICES

Intelligent Technology Solutions consultants have expertise in a broad range of specialized infrastructure expertise. So whether you require assistance in optimizing one specific area of your network environment, or expertise in developing an enterprise network strategy, Intelligent Technology Solutions can provide the expertise that you need to be successful. 

Audit Report
In order to make improvements in your infrastructure and to get the most out of your network assets, it is essential to understand the infrastructure capabilities and assets you already possess. Whether your project entails a complete new enterprise-wide network strategy such as physical infrastructure (network segments such as: FDDI, Ethernet, WAN (Frame Relay, ATM, Token Ring)) or one specific component (such as hubs, switches, routers, and Storage, Servers from leading manufacturers. Intelligent Technology Solutions recommends taking stock of your network infrastructure. Our Audit Report provides you with a clear picture of your current network processes, current staff skill (readiness) level, and a complete inventory of your network assets. 

The audit includes analysis of known issues, processes, procedures, current infrastructure, performance information, and strategic direction. Areas encompassed in the audit include management, operations, administration, and network functions. Intelligent Technology Solutions' Planning Assistant Tool facilitates the collection, documentation and analysis of the data, and defines the relationship between the applications you support and the assets you have on hand to support them (such as tools, utilities, right networking components, and others). At the completion of the Audit Report, clients receive a formal report focused on prioritized risks and problem areas that could result in network loss. 

Depending on the scope of your project, the capabilities of Audit Report will help you answer such questions as: 

• For your current assets, what are the performance metrics, throughput capacities, volume capacities, and feasible upgrade/migration options? 
• Which current manual processes could be improved through automation? 
• Which current availability requirements are not being met, and why? 
• How many applications are really being used? 
• What security measures are in place, and are they sufficient? 
• Do I have the right staff level and mixture of skills to handle current operations?
• Can new processing and capacity requirements be assimilated without experiencing service disruption? 

Requirements
While your network management strategy should be focused on stabilizing your current network environment, it should also support your organization's business plans and goals. Acquisitions and mergers, new projects, new technology, consolidation of network infrastructure, data warehouses, exponential data growth, cost of ownership, and resource issues — all of these factors must be considered when assessing your network requirements for the future. In performing Requirements, Intelligent Technology Solutions consultants review your business plan, potential bottlenecks in your current architecture, processes for defining/implementing new initiatives, and SLA processes. From this review, we create a concise statement of your network availability and protection requirements.  Assessed areas include: 

• Availability; 
• Disaster recovery; 
• Event monitoring; 
• Error handling and report distribution/usage; 
• Growth projections; 
• Future projects that can affect network requirements 

The outcome of this analysis includes a high-level definition of your current and future network requirements, outlined in a document that can be shared with users, managers, and vendors. 

Requirement Analysis
Given the complexity of your network and its many options, understanding your requirements is crucial to success, Requirement analysis may involve a simple interview with your network manager or may involve meeting with individuals in multiple areas of your organization. 

Building on Intelligent Technology Solutions' Audit Report and Requirements Services, the Requirement Analysis creates your action plan for improved network management. During the Requirement Analysis, Intelligent Technology Solutions will identify gaps between your current capabilities and business requirements, as well as areas that need to be improved or expanded to meet future requirements. We also review your current level of documentation and staff skills to determine training and documentation improvements that would benefit your organization. Finally, opportunities for cost savings are also identified. 

As part of its formal report, Intelligent Technology Solutions consultants outline a practical set of architecture, technology, and/or optimization actions to help you bridge the gaps. These actions address necessary hardware and software improvements, as well as administrative, process, operational, and policy changes that could benefit your environment. The key findings in each of these areas are reviewed for risk, impact, and return on investment. The resulting list of recommendations is prioritized to help you realize significant benefits as quickly as possible. 

Report Cards
Gaining a handle on your network management operation can be an overwhelming task. Most organizations find it difficult to absorb the network management challenges they currently face, let alone find time for adequate future planning. This can result in reliance on biased recommendations from vendors who are focused on selling specific products. Intelligent Technology Solutions's Network Management Report Card service provides an objective, high-level review of your current network management environment. It highlights current strengths and weaknesses, including where you may be at risk and where you should focus your limited network dollars first for the greatest impact. The service helps you tackle that hard-to-answer question of where to begin. 

The Report Card service begins with preliminary information gathering, as well as on-site orientation, interviews, and data collection. All aspects of enterprise network are reviewed, including technology infrastructure, processes, and staffing/organizational metrics. Findings are then compared to best practices models, and a formal report is prepared. We will also determine whether your existing staffing allocations and organizational model offer proper alignment with your existing infrastructure, and whether they are adequate to support our recommended improvements. 

Intelligent Technology Solutions consultants deliver their findings via the Report Card, which includes an assessment of the organization's ability in each of the major network management areas. The Report Card also includes recommendations on which steps are most crucial to protecting data and business continuity. 

Analysis Impact
Adding new network technologies can bring many benefits. These include increased availability, performance, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. But if these technologies are not planned for sufficiently — including an analysis of costs and benefits — or if they are not implemented with adequate expertise, they can actually have an adverse effect on your network operation. Intelligent Technology Solutions's Analysis Impact service helps you fully leverage new and evolving network technologies while significantly reducing associated risks. 

During the analysis, Intelligent Technology Solutions consultants thoroughly evaluate the impact that new technologies such as LAN or WAN/MAN will have on your environment. The final report will detail: 

• How the technologies would be used 
• Potential benefits 
• Processes required for successful assimilation of the technologies into your existing architecture 
• Effect on total cost of operations 
• Critical success factors 

The Analysis Impact is a cost-effective method of reducing your risks, thereby avoiding mistakes that could negatively impact your bottom line and ability to meet SLAs.