Introduction
The VITAL service creates an integrated computing universe in which companies are provided with full and audited licensing for:
• Microsoft® Office Professional
• Enterprise antivirus software (Network Associates AVD)
• Backup and data archiving (VERITAS).
The server hardware, licensing and administration associated with the implementation of the Microsoft® Exchange messaging platform are totally outsourced to MBD.
Security is taken care of by enterprise class firewalls with system security updates transparently deployed to all users.
Data is automatically backed up to a secure remote location and can easily be restored to your desired VITAL location.
When connected to the VITAL service, virus protection is always up-to-date and effective with no user intervention.
Your users have access to the messaging and collaborative tools delivered with Microsoft® Exchange® and Outlook® including Email, Calendars, Tasks and the groupware functionality.
Computers are remotely deployed and software is installed complete with the latest operating systems and applications.
Your users enjoy a fully managed desktop experience with applications, printers, shared network resources and user settings fully configured, as they log on at any workstation in any ‘office’ connected to your VITAL network.
Users are able to log on and work from any VITAL machine on your domain.
The user is presented with all of their applications, data and mail.
The provided software is always the latest version with deployments and updates taking only minutes (not hours) across all your computers.
Granting users access to their data and applications from multiple office locations is a simple and straightforward task.
User data and email is easily available from remote locations using either a web browser or remote access services.
VITAL takes the applications you already know and use, such as Microsoft® Word®, Excel® and Outlook® and makes them simpler to maintain without any loss in functionality or features. If required full support can also be provided for your custom applications and SQL solutions within the VITAL framework.
Connectivity
To access the services of VITAL, you connect to MBD’s secure, central data centre. The data centre handles many services including:
• Automation of your computer and application deployment;
• Backup;
• Email/groupware;
• Database connectivity; and
• Internet access.
There are a number of different options to connect your company to the MBD data centre and the choice is based on the most effective solution for you. We will work with you to decide on the best connection method and will manage the entire installation process.
You keep complete control over Internet access levels. These can range from full unrestricted access through to access to certain selected sites. Every user’s system gives them access to Internet Explorer 6. Should you wish to use non-standard Internet protocols and ports, for example, PCAnywhere or ICQ, we can offer full support. By channelling all Internet traffic through the VITAL data centre, we are able to offer you a level of managed Firewall security that is in many cases well in advance of any current deployment.
Connection Method A utilises an MBD secure Private Circuit DSL connection directly to the VITAL data centre. VITAL then becomes your ISP for users with the full protection of the VITAL firewalls in operation at the data centres.
Connection Method B is through a Virtual Private Network utilising a non-MBD connection but requiring the purchase of a Soho6tc firewall.
Backup
Many companies now find that they must specifically request offsite backup. Insurance companies have already started to base policy premiums on a matrix that includes the safety of a company’s critical data. Those with poor or incoherent backup strategies are increasingly being refused insurance.
VITAL includes secure offsite backup with up to 500Mb of data (Exchange data and file data) for every user with more capacity available for purchase if required.
VITAL makes backup easy to manage. Every night all data on your local server that has been amended in the preceding 24 hour period is uploaded to our central data centre using an automated element of the VITAL service. The data is then backed up onto high-capacity data autoloaders (secure devices within our data centre that are capable of storing Terabytes of data). The tapes are taken off-site to a secure location where they are kept with the data stored upon them available for restore for a period of up to 28 days.
MBD can provide further archives (monthly, quarterly, bi-annually or yearly) as requested.
Data can generally be restored within 2-4 hours should the requirement arise. Whilst a server is being rebuilt and the data recovered users that have Internet access can continue to work with Outlook Web Access and the group working functionality.
Security, Patches, Updates, Viruses
With the global increase in viruses, and outbreaks of hacking, the need to keep systems up-to-date with security and virus updates has become imperative. With VITAL, manual updates are a thing of the past. All security, virus checker and system updates are deployed automatically to workstations on boot up including the latest service packs. When a new update is released, we fully test it on a test system to check for stability. Once this has been completed it is deployed across all user systems. We get priority notification of any critical updates and in many cases we will have tested and deployed an update before it is available to the general public.
This process helps to ensure that your company will not experience the devastating effects of not having applied a critical update or virus patch to servers or workstations.
Multiple Sites
If you are a multi-site/multi location company with staff ‘roaming’ between locations and needing access from external locations, the user benefits, and cost savings, provided by VITAL will be immediate.
VITAL makes it possible for you to connect all of your locations and act as a single entity operating a coherent email address policy, data access and public folders right across your entire organisation without the need to invest in the overheads of multi-domain controllers.
Your staff can log on at any VITAL machine, at any site within the company that is connected to the VITAL network. When you log on you will have access to all of your own data but all third party applications that have been integrated into the VITAL service will also be available. Even when travelling to remote sites you can be as productive as when you are in your own office. If your hardware fails, after informing the On-Site point of contact/MBD support desk, you can simply move desks and carry on working until it is rebuilt (about 40 minutes later). Any given user will only have access to their specific applications and data, so if they log on to a machine with access to a restricted program, the user will not be able to run that application.
Further advantages of this feature are experienced after a workstation failure as a user simply logs on to any other VITAL workstation on the network. The advanced management utilities within VITAL automatically deliver and install all applications and data that the user has been allocated.
This process is greatly speeded up by the use of onsite servers in every location but applications can be transferred between the connected offices on the WAN by using the available connectivity.
Remote Access
Secure and unrestricted access to your data from any location and at any time is now vital to all businesses. With VITAL you are never far from your data. We can provide full access to all your email/groupware information through a web interface, from your PDA (where compliant email syntax and network services are available), laptop, BlackBerry and mobile phone.
Laptop users have transparent access to their applications and data when they are away from their office. If they have access to a DSL link synchronisation can take place over a secure VPN connection, but is automatically synchronized when they return.
For users who require real time access to data, a VPN can be created from a laptop, home machine or when on-site with another company. This connection will securely connect you to the office just as if you were there. VITAL fully configures user’s laptops for these services. MBD can also provide home users with all the information required for self configuration so minimising set up and installation costs.
You can control which users have access to remote services and detailed activity logs are available if required.
Operating Systems and Programs
Getting your users’ hardware and applications working quickly, and ensuring that they continue to work, is our main priority. Once you have migrated your hardware and software applications to the VITAL service, installing your operating systems and applications is a quick and simple process. VITAL is designed to run operating systems and applications locally for speed and reliability, giving it a distinctive advantage over alternative terminal service (thin client) based solutions.
With VITAL your core operating system is either Microsoft® Windows® XP (preferred) or Windows® 2000 Professional, both highly secure and stable operating systems. They are automatically deployed by the VITAL infrastructure to your system along with the relevant applications. The entire process takes about 40 minutes.
In the unlikely event that a system fails and must be “rebuilt” your system is ready to go with no further drivers installation, user or domain configuration. Your applications are installed to your system the first time you log on. Every user can be allocated their own combination of software and this software will be available to them whichever computer they subsequently log on to.
The site’s allocated ‘Power User(s)’ can manage the allocation of software within the company through a simple web based interface.
The auditing of managed software licensing is handled for you by the VITAL service. You no longer have to worry about the time, and cost, of compiling software licence compliance audits for legal compliance and audits by FAST (Federation Against Software Theft - the UK Government backed body).
VITAL provides a large selection of software already integrated into the system but if the application you require is not available, MBD will be happy to integrate it into the service.
By moving to VITAL, you will also migrate, if you have not already undertaken your own implementation, to a Windows® 2003 Active Directory infrastructure.
Within this managed, secure and accepted industry framework all user permissions can be fully locked down and grouped according to requirements. Sensitive data can be kept from prying eyes and network security can be implemented with unique individual user log ons and strong passwords.
Data Centre Security
Ensuring that your staff can operate and that your data is both available and safe are all of paramount importance to MBD. Our data centre is housed in a secure location with Telehouse Metro, London. This centre is specifically designed for mission critical computer hardware and services and it hosts the networking technologies of some of the world’s largest companies. Some of its many features include:
• Guaranteed power supplies with generator backup;
• Fire suppression systems that do not use water or other equipment damaging substances;
• Multi level security including visual recognition, CCTV and key card access;
• High power air conditioning capable of cooling the location if 33% of the units are off line;
• Resistance to bomb and terrorist attack;
• 24 hour monitoring of all equipment and services.
If you would like to know more about MBD’s data centre or Telehouse, we would welcome the opportunity to show you around and answer any questions you may have.
Support
VITAL provides an integrated support system allowing users to easily help themselves, or obtain network support. All users have access to an on-line system giving them the ability to change their passwords and view help and documentation covering all areas of the system.
Although site visits may sometimes be necessary, VITAL dramatically reduces the need for support engineers to attend site.
The VITAL system incorporates automated workstation and server rebuild in the event of failure. During a workstation rebuild a user can log onto any other VITAL machine and access all of their applications, mail and data.
If there is a problem that the Customer Point of Contact can not remedy, a simple and straightforward web-based interface is provided to log and manage support calls directly with MBD support staff. If you do not have internet access you can always phone the help desk to log the call.
In addition to supporting the VITAL network, MBD is available for ‘Change Project’ planning and implementation should the need arise.
Hardware Repairs
In the event of any hardware failure, MBD will administer the manufacturers or any other 3rd party warranty for you, providing we have been given full warranty details following an asset audit.
Alternatively MBD will procure a new system according to your requirements. If your hardware will run Windows® 2000 Professional or XP Pro within the VITAL minimum hardware specification and you have legally licensed software, MBD can help you experience savings by taking your existing equipment and migrating to VITAL.
The process of migration is handled as an implementation project, planned in advance with you to minimise downtime.
Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity
All companies need to have disaster recovery/business continuity(DR/BC) plans and VITAL allows many of the infrastructure aspects of such plans to be met easily and effectively.
Hard disk and data rebuild for servers can be easily deployed to new locations with temporary hardware being purchased locally should the need demand a full location move. Redundant laptops and relevant hard drives can be built with user data and couriered to the specified location to ensure downtime is minimal.
During all of this time all users will be able to log onto a web browser to access their mail, calendar and any data stored in the company public folders.
MBD has a wealth of DR/BC experience and should you require it, we are able to engage in full DR/BC planning and consultancy with any relevant parties (emergency services, landlords, hardware providers) to ensure that all of the legal and operational requirements are met.
DNS Records and Web Hosting
With the VITAL service, your company can also benefit from moving your DNS, MX and Microsoft (ASP) based websites onto the VITAL framework.
For a small annual fee per domain, we work in partnership with a leading domain host to ensure your domains and their associated records are:
• Registered;
• Correctly hosted;
• Forwarded to if required (Email and URL);
• Renewal notification is offered in a timely fashion.
We offer Microsoft® (ASP) based web space on our servers as part of the VITAL service.
4.0
MBD has launched support for Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) version 4.0. This major upgrade provides users with instant wireless email, coupled with on-the-move synchronisation of calendar, contacts, tasks and improved attachment handling.
A range of new form factor handsets are now available providing a smaller, more 'mobile phone like' user experience. These new handsets increase the usability and practicality of the Blackberry even further.
Users of MBD's hosted Exchange and full VITAL service can take advantage of these new services without the deployment costs and implementation complexities involved with an internal roll out.
SPAM Protection
MBD's VITAL service now provides advanced protection from bulk junk email (SPAM). MBD has implemented a Barracuda Networks hardware SPAM firewall. This device provides almost 100% SPAM blocking, out of the box, and generates very low rates of false positives (legitimate email that is treated as SPAM).
The Barracuda provides advanced per user configuration, allowing for personal white/black lists, custom SPAM scoring thresholds and intelligent learning techniques to allow it to "understand" the type of email a user receives. This is all accessed through a simple web interface.
The SPAM blocking features are available to all Hosted Exchange and VITAL users for a small additional per user per month charge.
