Unprecedented growth in the networking market in the KwaZulu-Natal region, together with the establishment of a managed private network remote management centre in Durban, has prompted the DNS Group to establish new premises in Westville, just outside Durban.
The new premises, which effectively doubles the available floor space for DNS, was opened recently by the Deputy Metropolian Mayor of Durban, Councillor Mveli Mavundla.
Gavin Labuschagne, DNS Networking MD in KwaZulu-Natal says the move to new premises has come at strong growth phase for DNS.
The DNS Group, a Dimension Data Holdings subsidiary, has opened an additional remote management centre (RMC) in KwaZulu-Natal to complement its Gauteng-based facility. The purpose-built centre is situated at the new Durban branch office of DNS KwaZulu Natal in Westville.
The RMC is designed to remotely manage and monitor all aspects of customer networks, as well as service delivery. This Managed Private Network (MPN) service was pioneered in KwaZulu-Natal by DNS.
"Through our MPN concept, we are able to take over the day-to-day running of the customer`s network, right down to the smallest operational activities," says RMC regional director Jay Reddy.
"This entails the establishment of a strategic business relationship with our customers, in which DNS assumes complete responsibility of their IT infrastructures and their operational efficiency.
"In establishing this relationship, we discuss the strategic requirements of the business - particularly in terms of the performance and reliability of the network - and work towards meeting these needs in the light of their immediate and long term impact on the customer`s current and future business goals."
Reddy says that in launching the MPN initiative - which goes some distance beyond the conventional outsourcing model - DNS has given its customers the opportunity to break away from the traditional "break-fix" cycle they previously adopted towards network and system management. The result of this is a new "keep-it-working" ethos that delivers constant IT "dial-tone".
"We believe users need to adopt a significantly more aggressive stance towards service because of the spiralling cost of network downtime," he says.
"Previously, support organisations were contracted on their ability to react swiftly to problems and correct faults within a given period of time. Service level agreements were then signed to reinforce this situation.
"By utilising the DNS MPN service, network functions are carefully monitored and trends which may impact on uptime in the future are highlighted, creating a situation in which preventative action can be taken to obviate network failures and costly downtime," he says.
DNS KwaZulu-Natal MD, Gavin Labuschagne, says customers linked to the MPN service are being asked to invest, not in a traditional service level agreement (SLA) with DNS, but in an uptime level agreement (ULA).
"We are so convinced of the viability of this strategy for KwaZulu-Natal businesses that we have invested considerably in the technology, skills and infrastructure necessary to establish our MPN operation in the province."
Since first piloted three months ago, DNS manages more than 2000 desktops and 100 servers in KwaZulu-Natal. Labuschagne says these figures could double within six months as the MPN service grows in acceptance and skills shortages become more crucial.
"Skills are critical to the well-being of corporate computer infrastructures," he stresses.
"However the shortage of skilled technicians in South Africa is being compounded by the increasing complexity of modern computer network infrastructures, carrying converging voice, data, video and Internet traffic.
"Faced with the task of managing growing company-wide networks, our customers are turning to DNS to assist them overcome skills shortages and move away from the in-house, systems-based approach they previously adopted.
"As recently as a year ago, many company executives were strong in the conviction that, because information processing is central to their businesses, the management of the IT environment from within their organisations was a key requirement.
"But this thinking has changed dramatically, as technical staff shortages have blunted their ability to keep pace with new generation technology, and senior executives move to focus on core competencies in order to maintain a competitive edge in business," says Labuschagne.
"There is an increasing strategic reliance on information technology companies search for competitive advantages through the adoption of a range of new and innovative solutions, many of which are Internet based.
"To overcome these problems, many forward-looking companies - led by a leading financial services organisation in KwaZulu-Natal - have outsourced their IT requirements, and even their entire IT infrastructures."
Labuschagne adds that by outsourcing their IT needs, companies will always have the services of leading-edge IT solutions that match, and keep pace with, their evolving expectations in areas such as the creation of virtual communities, on-line supply chain management, JIT asset management, and other ground-breaking electronic business services."
Looking to the future, Labuschagne says DNS will be using its RMC infrastructure to provide training, on a wide range of applications and platforms, to its customers.
"It is an added flavour to the MPN service and one that will be well received by customers who will benefit from not having to send staff off-site for training, with the consequent loss of productivity."
In addition, DNS is poised to implement its Web-based RMC2 model in KwaZulu-Natal.
"This allows RMC-linked customers to gain a detailed, live overview of their networks, from a resource utilisation perspective, at any time by logging onto the DNS website," he adds.
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