Case Study: Offsite Staging for IT Infrastructure Projects

Introduction

Offsite staging involves setting up hardware and software in a separate environment from the main datacenter or production environment. This process allows for thorough testing, validation, and troubleshooting before implementing changes in the live environment, minimizing risks and ensuring seamless deployments. Below is a case study demonstrating the implementation and benefits of offsite staging at Acordis’ facility in Miramar, Florida.

Initial Challenges

• Resource Constraints: Limited resources led to delays as IT personnel were often shared across multiple projects and operations.
• Scalability Issues: The staging environment lacked the infrastructure to simulate production-like conditions accurately, including power, cooling, and network capacity.
• Maintenance Overhead: Managing the staging environment diverted critical IT resources from strategic initiatives.
• Space Limitations: Insufficient storage and workspace hindered staging activities.
• Inefficient Resource Utilization: High-skilled IT professionals spent time on low-impact tasks such as racking, cabling, and labeling.
• Logistical Challenges: Managing hardware orders and shipping between multiple locations became increasingly resource-intensive.

Solution: Offsite Staging Implementation

1. Provider Selection

The client evaluated multiple offsite staging providers and selected Acordis Technology Solutions for its comprehensive services, strategic location, cost-effectiveness, and integration capabilities.

2. Staging Environment Setup

• Assessment and Planning: Collaborated with the client’s IT team to assess current needs and address any gaps in the infrastructure.
• Environment Configuration: Designed the staging environment to replicate production conditions, including racks, power, and cooling systems.
• Secure Access: Provided both physical and remote secure access to support configuration and testing activities.
• Collaborative Workspace: Configured physical spaces to enhance team collaboration and streamline staging activities.

3. Storage Facilities

Acordis allocated dedicated storage within its 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse, ensuring easy access for hardware storage, retrieval, and disposal.

4. Logistics Support

Leveraged Acordis’ logistics resources to facilitate seamless material transfers between the client’s facilities and third-party vendors.

Results and Benefits

• Improved Resource Utilization: By offloading staging tasks to Acordis, the client freed up internal IT resources to focus on strategic projects. The logistics workload was also reduced, allowing the client’s team to prioritize fleet operations.
• Environment Availability: The offsite staging environment is maintained year-round, ready to support multiple projects simultaneously without additional costs.
• Scalability: The Acordis environment accommodates multiple simultaneous projects, ensuring that staging and testing are completed before production deployment.
• Cost Efficiency: The pay-as-you-go pricing model significantly reduced staging and maintenance costs. Additionally, repetitive, lower-skilled tasks were performed more cost-effectively, decreasing project implementation expenses.

Conclusion

Partnering with Acordis for offsite staging enabled the client to streamline its IT infrastructure deployment process, resulting in:

• Enhanced resource utilization
• Scalable and reliable staging environments
• Significant cost savings
• Accelerated deployment timelines

This case study highlights the benefits of leveraging Acordis’ expertise in IT infrastructure and logistics to enhance staging processes and optimize deployment workflows. By partnering with Acordis, businesses can achieve greater efficiency and reliability in their IT operations.For more information about our offsite staging and IT solutions, visit acordiscorp.com.