Progrow were looking for a Managed IT Support Service partner with a proven track record.
Progrow were running a Windows 2008R2 server on-premise that was reaching the end of life.
The server was also running Exchange for emails and the business wanted to migrate email to a more modern platform.
Additionally, Progrow wanted to improve how it backed up data onsite and offsite as the current solution was only based on network-attached storage (NAS) onsite. Staff were using old versions of Microsoft Office and outdated anti-virus software.
Progrow were also looking for a Managed IT Support Service partner with a proven track record. IT Champion were selected due to its reputation and ability to advise and help the business to upgrade its IT systems and provide day-to-day technical support.
Established in 2001 Progrow is the South West’s regional centre for hydroponics and specialist gardening equipment.
With one of the largest retail shops in England, their comprehensive range of products caters for the needs of a wide range of horticultural applications making it possible to grow virtually any type of plant.
They also run one of the UK’s most highly regarded e-commerce websites catering for mail order customers throughout the UK, Europe and worldwide. Their expert team aim to make their online shopping experience simple, efficient and as close as it can be to visiting them in person.
Their outstanding level of customer service combined with specialist knowledge and friendly advice is the reason why Progrow has become the number one choice for so many growers both amateur and professional.
A senior engineer was assigned to Progrow to ensure the migration and upgrade project was delivered with the minimum disruption.
IT Champion supplied Progrow with a strategy and costs to update its IT systems using industry-standard software and cloud services. The migration and upgrade work was finished on time and on budget. Once the work was completed, IT Champion delivered their Managed IT Service on-boarding process and commenced providing Progrow with fast technical support.
Highlights of the project included:
- Migrated email accounts from on-premise Microsoft Exchange Server to Office 365
- Setup new outlook profiles
- Set up Barracuda email security to replace on-premise GFI mail essentials
- Upgraded Microsoft Office versions where necessary (utilising Office 365 business premium)
- Replaced current server running Windows Server 2008r2 with a new HP Proliant running Windows Server 2019 Standard
- Moved all data across to the new file server
- Migrated server roles across to new Domain Controller
- Migrated data from NAS to a new server
- Utilised Altaro and the existing NAS storage for local backup
- Utilised Altaro and Azure storage for offsite backup
- Installed Webroot to replace Vipre anti-virus
“IT Champion talked and walked us through the project in hand. They advised us of any downtime.., which was limited due to proactive communication and likewise, they managed their workload around the operational times of our business. All aspects of their commitment, workload and timing were excellent during this project, cannot fault it. Another quality we perceive as part of their professionalism is aftercare and support. Always someone at hand to support any remedial work. This was extremely important to us as a business and should be for any business, highly recommend IT Champion.”
Simon Grose, Managing Director
Progrow
Industry sector
Horticulture
Location
Exeter and Plymouth
Date
June 2019
Company size
2-10 employees
