On-premises, in the cloud or both: the right place for every application.
What it is about
Every application in your business runs somewhere: your accounts, your ERP, the shared folders, the software of your sector. In the past, all of that sat on a server in a cupboard. Today, a lot can go to the cloud, but not everything belongs there, and not everything is allowed there.
The right choice depends on what the application needs, how quickly you must be able to carry on if it fails, and what it will cost in five years. We look per application, not per principle.
At the office, in the cloud or hybrid
| At the office | In the cloud | Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your own server in your building | Services such as Microsoft 365 and Azure | A combination: what has to stay local, stays local |
| Strong at | Fast access to large files, software that must run locally, full control | Reachable everywhere, no hardware to replace, grows with you | The best place for each application |
| Watch out | Hardware ages, backup and power cuts are your concern | A monthly cost, and dependent on your internet connection | Needs a clear plan, so the whole stays easy to follow |
| Typical for | Manufacturers, drawing and CAD work, older industry software | Mail, documents, collaboration, new applications | Most SMEs |
What we actually do
Supplying, installing and maintaining servers
Where your own server is needed, we supply solid hardware, including from Supermicro, sized for what has to run on it. We install and secure it, keep it up to date and plan its replacement before it reaches the end of its life.
Virtualisation
One physical server runs several isolated virtual servers: one for the accounts, one for the files, one for the industry software. That is more economical, and a problem in one does not affect the others. When the hardware is replaced, the virtual servers move across, instead of everything being reinstalled.
Migration to Microsoft 365 and Azure
Files to SharePoint and OneDrive, mail to Exchange Online, applications to Azure where it makes sense. We migrate in stages and test beforehand, so your people can simply carry on on Monday.
Hybrid setups
What has to stay local stays local, and is still reachable and secured like the rest. Your people sign in the same way everywhere, with one account.
Backup and disaster recovery
The most important question for every server: what happens if it fails tomorrow? We make backups following the 3-2-1 rule, with at least one copy outside your office and out of reach of ransomware, and regularly test that restoring works. For critical applications we agree how quickly they must be running again, and design the setup accordingly.
Two questions that decide everything
With backup and recovery, everything comes down to two questions. How much work can you afford to lose: a day, an hour, nothing? And how long may it take before you are working again: a week, a day, an hour? The shorter, the more it costs.
We make that trade-off together, per application. That way you do not pay too much for what can wait, nor too little for what must not stop.
A migration in five steps
- Inventory: which applications, data and users there are, and what they need.
- Plan: what goes where, in which order, and what stays local.
- Test: a pilot migration with a small group, so surprises come up early.
- Switch-over: usually outside working hours, with the old environment as a safety net.
- Aftercare: in the first days we are extra available, and afterwards we safely clear out the old environment.
Frequently asked questions
Should we replace our server with the cloud?
Not always. Mail and documents are often better off in the cloud, but some software and large files work better locally. We advise per application.
How long does a server last?
Usually five to seven years. After that, the risk of failure rises and the manufacturer stops issuing updates. We plan the replacement in time, so it does not become an emergency.
Is the cloud safe?
Microsoft’s data centres are better secured than a cupboard at the office. The weak point is usually access: passwords without multi-factor authentication or rights that are too broad. We take care of that. See Security.
So where is our data kept?
Microsoft 365 stores the data of Belgian businesses in European data centres, and in Azure we choose a European region. For backups outside the office, too, we choose storage within the European Union.
Partners for this service
What if your server fails tomorrow?
Together we look at what runs, where it runs best and how quickly you can carry on. You get a plan, not a sales pitch.