Oakland Firm Reduces In-house IT Staff, Out-sources Maintenance

Things just weren't getting done properly in the IT department at this downtown Oakland company.  When the file server unexpectedly ran out of disk space and crashed, it was time to rethink how they were maintaining their IT infrastructure.

BOC Staff Bring Experience From Many Networks

A limitation for companies exclusively using in-house IT staff is that these staff typically have experience limited to the one network of their employer.  

In contrast, BOC staff cumulatively maintain dozens of networks on a daily basis.  BOC has seen all the problems that arise and knows how to deal with them.  More importantly, BOC has developed standardized practices based on these experiences to avert problems. 

BOC Conducts Routine Maintenance Activities

BOC began visiting the company on regularly scheduled days.  BOC immediately implemented our Server Tracking Database to monitor critical server functions.  Included in this process is a regularly updated graph showing network storage utilization.  Using linear regression techniques, BOC can project network-storage utilization months and even years ahead.  Additionally, deviations from the expected utilization provides an indication there may be a problem with how storage is being used.  BOC has used this technique to discover SPAMMING activity on Email servers, for example. 

BOC Builds a Continuously Evolving Knowledge-Base for Each Client's Network

Using the BOC on-line work order system BOC-Central, the company no longer wonders what IT is accomplishing.  Managers and in-house IT personnel enter all the company's priorities for IT work in BOC-Central.  BOC maintenance staff then address each problem and document when the work was completed and what solution was employed.  This work becomes a permanent record searchable by both the Company and by BOC technicians.  Should a problem re-occur, little time is spent remembering how to resolve it.  A quick search through BOC-Central retrieves the resolution from the last event. 

BOC Maintenance Cuts Labor Costs

Because BOC staff are accountable for all their billed time, they work very efficiently.  Should the allocated hours prove to be too few or too many, BOC works with the client to adjust the scheduled visits accordingly.  The company has found that using BOC for maintenance has reduced IT costs while greatly improving the quality of service.  Network stability has improved dramatically to virtually 100% uptime.  And having tools to monitor and account for all IT activities provides control and piece of mind.