Network Support

Keydata Solutions Limited provides companies requiring expert levels of IT support without the costs associated with running such an operation in-house. We supply support services and systems advice how you like it, whether this be working remotely, onsite or a combination of both. Depending on the level of support you require, we offer service level agreements to be on site or provide remote assistance within set timescales during working hours or even 24 hour around the clock support if required.

Our IT Support services cover the following key areas:

Server Operating System installation/configuration

There are fundamental basics to adhere to when installing a new operating system, even before installation disks are inserted. BIOS settings might need adjusting and RAID settings configured to increase resilience and redundancy, taking full advantage of hardware potential. Certain programs and applications also perform better when installed on separate partitions of different RAID types, for example Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server. We can configure and install a verity of operating systems dependent on client requirements to ensure server system foundations are stable and dependable. Keydata Solutions Limited also provides advice on systems design; visit our network design section for more information.

Hardware and software upgrades

Hardware and software serving multiple users on a network should always cater for reliability and performance. Whether clients are looking to upgrade existing products or invest in new, Keydata Solutions Limited has vast experience in tried and tested equipment and applications that cover these important factors. For pioneering applications which have not yet undergone vigorous public testing, we have labs setup to load and scrutinise applications checking reliability and integrity before applications are installed on mission critical systems.

Firewall installation/configuration

Firewall systems secure networks from unauthorised access and also protect against assaults such as denial of service attacks where hackers try to flood a system in the attempt to overload it. As well as protecting against external attacks, firewalls can also restrict access to external resources which staff might try accessing. This could be particularly useful to restrict non-work related websites from being accessed during working hours, or providing internet access to users that require it.

We can configure a selection of hardware and software based firewalls ranging in functionality, from basic router firewalls to multi-layer software firewalls which provide packet, stateful and application layer filtering.

Anti-Virus installation/configuration

Choosing an anti-virus solution can be a daunting task, there are vast amounts of solutions available always offering better protection and performance from the next. We then have solutions for desktops, file servers, email servers and even mobile phones. Keydata Solutions Limited has considerable understanding of anti-virus solutions, their effectiveness, ease of administration and performance impact on systems.

For networks, administration consoles can be utilised allowing administrators to deploy and monitor systems from a centralised location. This can also be used to provide a unified source for workstations to download the latest definitions directly from the network rather than saturating the internet connection unnecessarily. We can configure anti-virus systems to provide the necessary amount of protection without compromising or needlessly inconveniencing workstation users.

Anti-Spam installation/configuration

Spam, like viruses, is another one of those internet annoyances. Without an adequate anti-spam solution in place, wasted hours quickly accumulate that staff spend deleting spam related emails. Worse still is the recent risk of phishing type emails tricking users into supplying confidential information to hackers for malicious use.

We can advise and supply workstation and server based anti-spam solutions which block almost all junk email while still maintaining a very low false positive rate. The effectiveness of these anti-spam solutions is down to their use of detection centres and content analysis engines which expose and block spam emails before they get chance to flood staff mailboxes.

VPN connectivity setup

With broadband now widely available, coupled with employees that desire a flexible working environment, Virtual Private Networking is a system that allows users to securely connect to the office network from home to work remotely.

Most PC’s and laptop’s today have VPN connectivity support built in, meaning once the server and/or firewall has been setup and configured to support VPN, very little ongoing maintenance is required. We support a wide verity of hardware and software based VPN systems, from in-built operating system applications to dedicated Cisco VPN security appliances.

Program deployment

Installing common applications and programs onto all of your employee workstations can be a tedious and time consuming task when upgrades are released or new machines are joined to the network. To save time and increase efficiency we can configure servers to automatically deploy and install set applications to workstations on the network. Such applications might include Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader and Microsoft Outlook, to more specialist programs dependent to your industry like Goldmine CRM or MicroStation for CAD.

As well as program deployment, we can also configure servers to govern workstation settings, which for example could restrict access to features or programs, automatically configure Outlook to spell check emails before they are sent or even set the background image on the desktop.

Workstation installation/configuration

Keydata Solutions Limited can prepare workstations ready for use on a company network. We can install and configure a range of operating systems on 32-bit or 64-bit platforms, and for clients reluctant to use Vista; we can install XP and source required drivers to maintain full functionality.

PDA and mobile systems integration

Most modern PDA and mobile devices now synchronise emails, calendars and tasks with Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Exchange allowing employees on the move to remain updated and connected to the office.

We can install, configure and support most of the latest handhelds including iPhone, BlackBerry and Microsoft Windows Mobile devices that connect either by wireless, 3G or GPRS.

Internet connectivity

The two main broadband types available today are ADSL and Cable. ADSL speed is dependent on your distance from the telephone exchange; the further away you are the slower and less reliable the connection becomes. Cable broadband uses fibre optic connections making location irrelevant. If your company relies heavily on remote access services, a faster connection will provide quicker access for more users. Where ADSL or cable connections are inadequate, we can recommend SDSL or leased line solutions which provide greater connection speeds along with increased quality and built-in redundant alternatives.

Network cabling

A poorly designed network can have serious implications on performance, reliability and future developments. We work closely with network engineers to design, cost, implement and maintain solutions coving all CAT5e, CAT6 and fibre connectivity requirements. This covers all aspects of network infrastructure installation from network points and trunking to patch panels, server racks and switches.