Cloud & servers in Wairau Valley
Some offices are better off with everything in the cloud. Others still need a server down the hall for software that won't run anywhere else. We help you pick the right mix, build it properly and keep it patched, monitored and backed up.
Onsite technicians cover Wairau Valley. Most problems are fixed remotely first; when a job needs hands, a technician comes to you.
Cloud & servers for Wairau Valley businesses
Wairau Valley is the North Shore's established trade and light industrial area, with showrooms, building suppliers, automotive businesses, wholesalers and service firms along Wairau Road and the surrounding streets. Much of it is low-lying, and the area was badly flooded in the January 2023 storms.
Flood risk changes how IT should be set up here: comms cabinets, servers and backup drives belong off the floor, and important files belong in cloud storage with an offsite backup, not only on equipment in the building. Trade counters and showrooms also need POS, quoting systems and Wi-Fi that keep working through a busy day.
We start by listing what the server actually does. Shared files usually move well to SharePoint and Teams, where staff can reach them from home without a VPN. Line-of-business software that needs Windows Server can move to an Azure virtual machine, or stay onsite on new hardware sized for the next five years. A small NAS can still make sense for large design or video files that are slow to sync. Often the best answer is a mix of all three.
Technicians attend Wairau Valley businesses for network, POS and computer work, and support everyday issues remotely. We can review where your equipment sits and quote changes to reduce flood exposure.
What's included
Azure virtual machines
Windows Server workloads moved to Azure, sized for the software that runs on them, with costs estimated before you commit and reviewed afterwards.
Server review
We map every role your current server plays, from file shares and print queues to scheduled tasks nobody remembers, before suggesting what should replace it.
New onsite servers
Hardware specified, supplied and built with redundant disks, remote management and a warranty that covers the years you intend to use it.
File server to SharePoint
Shared drives restructured and moved into SharePoint and Teams libraries, with permissions rebuilt and staff shown where their folders went.
Remote access
Secure ways to reach onsite systems from home, using Microsoft sign-in and multi-factor rather than open ports on the router.
NAS setup and care
Network storage set up with sensible shares, user permissions, snapshots and an offsite copy, plus firmware kept up to date.
Is it right for your Wairau Valley office?
This work is usually a fit if:
- Your server is out of warranty or running an unsupported version of Windows Server
- Staff struggle to reach shared files when working from home
- Your accounting, CAD or practice software needs a server to run
- You are paying for a server that mostly stores old files
- You have a NAS but nobody is sure how it is backed up
How getting started works
- Free IT health check. We look at your devices, accounts, backups and network and tell you what we find, in plain English.
- Clear proposal. A written monthly price per user and a list of any fixes, with nothing hidden.
- Handover. We collect admin access and documentation from your current provider and keep your team working.
- Day-one fixes. Security gaps, failed backups and urgent risks are dealt with first.
Cloud & servers in Wairau Valley: questions
Our business flooded in 2023. How should our IT be set up now?
Keep comms gear and any server raised well off the floor, store files in cloud services with an independent backup, and make sure staff can work from home if the building is closed. We can review your site and quote the changes.
Can you support our trade counter computers and POS?
Yes. We look after counter computers, receipt and docket printers, scanners and the network they use, and keep them separate from office systems. POS software support stays with its vendor, and we work alongside them.
How long does a file server migration take?
For a typical office, planning and copying happen over a week or two while staff keep working, and the final switch is done after hours. Larger or messier shares take longer; the timeline is in the written quote.
Should we move everything to the cloud?
Not always. Email and shared documents almost always belong in Microsoft 365. Some software runs better on a local server, and large media files can be slow to sync. We recommend what suits your software and your internet connection.
Will our folder permissions carry across?
We review them first, because old servers often have years of one-off exceptions. We rebuild them in a simpler structure and check them with you before the switch.
Is Azure more expensive than a server?
It can be if it is left running oversized. Azure is billed monthly with no hardware to replace, so we compare a five-year cost for both options and size the virtual machine to what you actually use.
More IT services in Wairau Valley
- Managed IT
- IT support
- Cyber security
- Microsoft 365
- Networks & Wi-Fi
- Internet & phones
- Backup & disaster recovery
- Email security & deliverability
- CCTV & access control
- Printers, copiers & scanning
- Laptops, PCs & devices
- Office moves & fit-outs
- IT strategy & consulting
- Co-managed IT
- Security awareness training