Client Overview
Our client is a well-established and respected highway construction company providing specialized waterproofing and infrastructure services to contractors of all sizes—and with an expanding project load, they needed a more scalable and strategic IT solution. At the time of engagement, the company was relying on a part-time IT resource, which created gaps in responsiveness and long-term planning.
Initial Challenges
- Ongoing IT issues that reduced productivity across the organization
- A deeply tangled folder structure with thousands of duplicate folders accumulated over time
- Long-term employees had adapted to the disorganization, but new staff found it confusing
- Risk of serious operational errors in a construction environment, such as: outdated insurance certificates that could cause project delays and create compliance issues.
- Cluttered file systems made onboarding more difficult and increased miscommunication
- An aging server nearing storage capacity
- Part-time IT support lacked the resources to: resolve systemic issues and keep pace with growing project demands
- An outdated, local backup system reliant on: external hard drives and tape backups
- Backups were not securely isolated, leaving data vulnerable to: physical disasters and ransomware attacks
- Critical business data faced a heightened risk of loss or compromise
Decision-Making Process
After undergoing personnel changes, the company recognized that their current IT setup was reactive and insufficient for their needs. They were looking for a strategic partner who could offer proactive support, standardization, and long-term solutions. Our structured Technology Success Process and ability to align IT to business outcomes appealed to their leadership team.
Our Approach
Once engaged, we began with a comprehensive IT assessment to pinpoint inefficiencies and align the client with a standardized IT framework tailored to their needs.
Key improvements included:
- Server Migration: We upgraded their server infrastructure to enhance storage capacity, reliability, and overall system performance.
- Proactive Monitoring: Implemented monitoring tools that track system health and resolve issues proactively before they impact users.
- Duplicate Folder Cleanup: To tackle their major pain point, we developed a custom script that identifies and isolates duplicate files and folders. These were relocated to a read-only archive, allowing access if necessary but preventing further edits, which reduced clutter and freed up valuable storage space.
Additionally, recognizing their vulnerability to data loss, we implemented a full cloud-based, off-network backup solution. This backup system is completely separate from the internal network, protecting data from ransomware and cyberattacks by preventing unauthorized access or deletion of backup files (immutable). This ensures their critical data is securely stored and easily recoverable, significantly reducing the risk of permanent loss.
Results
- Increased Efficiency: Employees now access the correct files more quickly without second-guessing.
- Improved Organization: The duplicate folder issue, long considered “just how it is,” was resolved permanently.
- Storage Optimization: Significant savings on storage space and backup costs.
- Stronger IT Partnership: The construction firm now has a trusted IT partner actively supporting growth and operational stability.
Protect What Matters Most with Sorbis
Curious if there’s a better way to manager your business technology? Reach out to Gene gaugust@sorbis.com and discover how Sorbis can benefit your business.
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