Lighting company deploys SQL server to improve data infrastructure
Multiple databases means data needs to be updated and reviewed in a variety of locations. Read more to learn how this lighting technology company engages Baker Tilly to set up its SQL server applications to streamline data in an efficient way.
Client background
This client is an international leader within events, providing lighting technology to theatre and architectural industries with innovative solutions and products.
The business challenge
The client faced several infrastructure challenges as they worked to upgrade their IT systems. They operated numerous Structured Query Language (SQL) server applications, which required careful planning for a successful migration to a virtualized environment. The primary concerns were ensuring that the new servers were configured efficiently and following best practices for disaster recovery.
In addition to setting up the virtualized environment, the client needed to prioritize solutions that would ensure critical applications remained available to their clients even during disaster recovery events. However, the client lacked the expertise on how to optimally structure the new server environment to support both business continuity and high availability during recovery scenarios.
Director of IT[Baker Tilly] was willing to take the time to learn about us as an IT team and as a company. They tailored their approach to our technology needs and in-house skill sets. The result was a SQL upgrade project that was on time, on budget, and completely painless.
Strategy and solution
Baker Tilly helped the client develop a digital transformation road map to transition to a virtualized server environment that would optimize performance, security and disaster recovery processes. Our strategy involved a thorough assessment and implementation of best practices for SQL server management and disaster recovery planning. Key components of our solution included:
- Database assessment and prioritization: We conducted a detailed review of all databases to assess their importance for the client’s business continuity. Based on this assessment, we identified mission-critical databases that needed to be prioritized for disaster recovery.
- Server configuration and virtual host division: Baker Tilly then designed a server architecture that divided the database servers between two new virtual hosts. This configuration was optimized to ensure that the most critical applications had the necessary resources and redundancy to minimize downtime during recovery.
- Migration and report integration: We supervised the migration of the client’s databases and reports to the new system, ensuring that the transition was seamless and that no data integrity was compromised. This included setting up failover solutions to maintain business continuity.
- Education and knowledge transfer: To ensure long-term success, we provided comprehensive training on the new system architecture, covering database maintenance, migration scenarios and best practices for ongoing server management. This empowered the client to take a more proactive role in managing their database infrastructure and ensured they were better prepared for future challenges.