Network and SAN Upgrades in a Healthcare Facility
Introduction
A healthcare facility faced challenges with aging network and SAN systems. HawkPoint addressed these issues to ensure stability and improve efficiency. This document summarizes the projects, solutions, and resulting improvements.
Network Refresh: A New Era of Connectivity
Challenges Faced
Our clients faced significant challenges due to years of network neglect, with inconsistent configurations by various vendors fragmenting the system. Poor connectivity among Individual Distribution Frame (IDF) cabinets led to frequent interruptions, frustrating staff and reducing productivity. Outdated equipment contributed to slow PC speeds, struggling to meet modern demands. Additionally, the lack of redundancy, coupled with failing switches and routers, exacerbated performance issues and increased downtime, highlighting the network’s inability to handle growing operations effectively.
Solutions Implemented
We began by upgrading satellite locations and core infrastructure, laying a stable foundation for the network. Installing Cisco Meraki switches, routers, and updated Wi-Fi ensured seamless connectivity. Collaboration with maintenance teams was key to managing simultaneous ERM and phone system installations.
The healthcare facility also transitioned to the RingCentral phone system, replacing an outdated setup that caused frequent disruptions. This cloud-based system reduced hardware needs and costs while offering advanced features like voicemail-to-email, call forwarding, and mobile app integration. Its robust security ensured safe communication, and seamless integration with the upgraded network improved call quality and reliability
Innovations and Improvements
The network upgrade was completed with minimal disruption, stabilizing PC and IDF connectivity. New high-speed switches and routers enhanced performance, enabling faster data transfers and improved reliability, while eliminating fiber connections reduced costs. The upgraded network boosted the efficiency of key business applications like ERP, email servers, and databases.
SAN Upgrade: Redefining Data Management
Challenges Faced
The facility’s SAN (Storage Area Network) system, assessed in 2018, remained unreplaced until a failure forced immediate action. The outdated hardware, installed by various vendors, risked data integrity and security. Lacking reliable backup, the system faced slow retrieval speeds and limited scalability, hampering their data management.
Solutions Implemented
Our team proposed a virtual SAN solution, replacing the existing system with three Dell servers using RAID 5 with NVME drives, balancing speed and cost. We installed a Datto backup system, enabling local and offsite backups and virtualization capabilities. Data storage was restructured for faster retrieval and scalability.
Innovations and Improvements
The SAN upgrade streamlined operations by reducing server count and optimizing data usage. Enhanced network speed ensured minimal downtime, improving data retrieval and management. Reliable backups safeguarded their valuable information, providing efficiency and peace of mind.
Customer-Centric Approach
Understanding the Business
We worked closely with their team, aligning our strategies with their goals to ensure the upgrades addressed immediate challenges and future growth. By monitoring the upgrades’ impact, we minimized disruption while maximizing benefits.
Long-Term Benefits
They saw major benefits from these upgrades, including a 50% reduction in IT costs and improved reliability. Enhanced network and data management boosted efficiency, laying a strong foundation for future growth and technological advancement.
Conclusion
The facility’s IT transformation showcases Hawkpoint’s expertise in delivering innovative solutions and enhancing operational efficiency. Our approach ensured they overcame immediate challenges while preparing for future growth with a reliable IT framework.
Contact Us
For more information on how Hawkpoint can transform your business’s IT infrastructure, contact our team of experts.
