Servers & Infrastructure
Infrastructure Changes, Planned Properly
When a server reaches the end of its life, storage runs out or you're ready to move to the cloud, we design and deliver the change as a scoped project.
What is Servers & Infrastructure?
Your infrastructure is the foundation your IT runs on: servers, storage, virtualisation and the cloud services that host your applications and data. Every few years, parts of it need replacing or rethinking.
Servers & Infrastructure is our project service for those changes. We design and deliver server replacements, virtualisation (running several servers as virtual machines on shared hardware), storage upgrades and moves to the cloud, planned around your business so disruption is kept to a minimum.
Each project has an agreed scope and price. Once it's complete, ongoing care of the new servers can move to Managed Servers.
Key benefits
- A design based on how your business actually uses its systems
- Scope and price agreed before work starts
- Migrations planned in stages and tested to limit disruption
- Documentation of the finished design
- A clean handover into ongoing management if you want it
How does it work?
Every project follows the same pattern: understand what you have, agree what you need, then change it carefully, one stage at a time.
Assess
We review your current servers, storage, applications, data, backups and licences, and talk to you about where the business is heading.
Design and scope
We recommend an approach, whether on-premises, in the cloud or a mix of the two (hybrid), and set out the scope, equipment or subscriptions needed, timings and price in a proposal.
Build and migrate
We build and test the new environment, then move data and services across in planned stages, with a rollback plan in case anything doesn't behave as expected.
Document and hand over
We document the finished setup, retire old equipment as agreed and hand ongoing care to our managed services if you choose.
- AssessCurrent servers, storage, applications and data
- Design and scopeOn-premises, cloud or hybrid, with an agreed price
- Build and migrateTested, staged and with a rollback plan
- Document and hand overWritten design and optional ongoing management
Technical scope
- Assessment of current servers, storage, applications and data
- On-premises, cloud and hybrid design options
- Virtualisation design and build
- Storage sizing for current use and expected growth
- Data and application migration in planned stages
- Testing before and after each migration stage, with a rollback plan
- Backup arrangements checked for the new environment
- Documentation of the final design and configuration
Typical projects
Server replacement
An ageing or out-of-support server is replaced with new hardware, or with cloud services where that suits the workload better.
Virtualisation
Several physical servers are consolidated onto fewer hosts as virtual machines, which can simplify maintenance, backup and recovery.
Storage upgrade
File and application storage that's full or slow is replaced or extended, sized for growth and planned with backup in mind.
Move to the cloud
Files on an office server move to SharePoint and OneDrive, or servers move to hosted virtual machines, with anything that stays on site connected properly.
Problems solved
Servers past their supported life
Out-of-support servers stop receiving security updates. A planned replacement removes that risk before it becomes urgent.
Storage full or slow
Running out of space disrupts work and backups. A storage project sizes capacity for where the business is going.
Too many physical servers to maintain
Each physical server needs power, space, warranty and maintenance. Virtualisation can reduce how many you run.
Unsure whether to move to the cloud
The cloud suits some workloads and not others. An assessment gives you a recommendation based on your systems and costs.
Worried about disruption
Staged migrations, testing and rollback plans keep the risk of disruption low and give you a clear timetable.
What's included
Included as standard
- Assessment of your current infrastructure
- Design recommendation and written scope
- Build, configuration and testing of the agreed solution
- Planned, staged migration of data and services
- Rollback planning for each migration stage
- Documentation of the finished design
Optional or scoped
Available on request and confirmed in your proposal; not part of the standard service.
- Supply and set-up of hardware through IT Equipment Procurement & Deployment
- Out-of-hours migration work
- Ongoing management of the new servers through Managed Servers
- Backup & Disaster Recovery for the new environment
- A Cloud Security Assessment once workloads are in the cloud
What's not included
- Server hardware, storage and networking equipment, unless agreed in your proposal
- Software licences and cloud subscriptions
- Ongoing management after handover, which is a separate monthly service
- Changes to third-party business applications, which may need the software supplier's involvement
- Work outside the agreed scope, which is quoted as a change before it starts
Timings and price depend on the scope agreed after assessment. Any change to scope during the project is agreed and priced before work continues.
Some business applications have supplier requirements that affect where and how they can run. We check these during design and may need your software supplier's input.
Who it's suitable for
- Businesses with servers approaching the end of support
- Offices running out of storage space
- Organisations considering a move to the cloud
- Businesses running several ageing physical servers
- Companies moving office or restructuring their IT
Pricing
This service is tailored to your business, so we confirm the price after a short conversation about your requirements. There is no charge for the conversation.
Use the quote builder to add Servers & Infrastructure to an indicative quote, or book a free security review and we'll recommend what fits.
Price
Price Based on Scope
Price to be confirmed following a review of your requirements.
What affects the price
- Number of servers and workloads involved
- Amount of data to move
- On-premises, cloud or hybrid design
- Hardware, licences and cloud subscriptions required
- Out-of-hours work to avoid disruption
- Testing and parallel running needed before switching over
All prices exclude VAT.
Add to Your QuoteFrequently asked questions
How is this different from Managed Servers?
Managed Servers is ongoing monthly care for servers you already have. Servers & Infrastructure is one-off project work to replace, redesign or move them. Many customers use both: a project, then ongoing management.
Should we move everything to the cloud?
Not necessarily. Some workloads suit the cloud; others are better kept on site because of cost, performance or software requirements. We recommend an approach based on your systems rather than a one-size-fits-all answer.
Will the migration disrupt our staff?
We plan migrations in stages, test before switching over and agree timings with you, including out-of-hours work where needed. Some short interruptions may be unavoidable, and we tell you about them in advance.
How long does a project take?
It depends on the scope: the number of servers, the amount of data and how much testing is needed. You get a timeline with the proposal, before you commit.
Can you supply the hardware?
Yes. We can recommend, source and set up equipment through IT Equipment Procurement & Deployment. Hardware costs are shown separately in your proposal.
Let's Secure Your Business
Find out how Pulsar IT can help protect, manage and improve your IT environment.