Demand by clients for increased data storage space in KwaZulu-Natal has led to Business Connexion - a top South African information and communications technology (ICT) company - completing an upgrade to its local computer facilities. Data centre disc storage space has increased to more than eight terabytes as a result.
The multimillion-rand upgrade has also provided the company, which supplies innovative technology-based business solutions from its regional headquarters at Umhlanga Ridge outside Durban, with the potential to further increase capacity to an impressive 16 terabytes.
Lex Stewart, regional executive: infrastructure services at Business Connexion`s KwaZulu-Natal regional office, explains that one terabyte equals a thousand, thousand million bytes, making the 16 terabyte potential a mind-boggling figure, certainly not common in the KwaZulu-Natal world of ICT.
Stewart says the upgrade was necessary as a result of growing client data storage requirements.
"In order to get the required performance and capacity, we upgraded both the main frame storage and the open system storage.
"Clients, such as Mass Discounters, wanted more information available to analyse and hone their business policies and strategy.
"This is vital to them as they must have the right item, at the right place, at the right price, at the right time," said Stewart.
Demand for data storage space at Business Connexion`s KwaZulu-Natal regional office is growing at a rate of about two to three terabytes a year.
The upgrade involved installing new equipment as well as moving data from the old disc technology to new disc technology in a way which did not disturb the level of service which the company provides to its clients. To avoid disruptions much of the work was done in the early hours of the morning. Strict planning and change control management was practised to facilitate the changes.
Stewart says the increase in capacity and improvement in response times since the upgrade have been significant.
Mass Discounters and McCarthy Motor Holdings are among the biggest of dozens of clients who use the services of Business Connexion to manage their ICT requirements.
"We supply computing in a manner similar to how Eskom supplies power - it`s on demand and you pay for what you use," adds Stewart.
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Business Connexion (Pty) Ltd is a leading black empowered integrator of innovative business solutions based on information and communications technology (ICT). With over 4 500 employees and a track record spanning 25 years, Business Connexion runs mission-critical ICT systems and manages products, services and solutions for JSE listed and key public sector organisations, parastatals and medium-sized companies. Business Connexion has a unique Solutions Integration Model that illustrates how clients are placed at the centre of all activities surrounded by expertise in four principal business areas: communications, technology infrastructure, outsourcing and business applications. In order to deliver a world-class service, Business Connexion has developed strong relationships and attained top-level certification with many of the world`s leading ICT suppliers.
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