Network Outsourcing for Medium-size Companies

With most office networks, 64-bit processing is a giant untapped resource. Intel and AMD, the leading CPU chip makers, have been delivering 64-bit ability in their mainstream processors for years, so that all types of business computing hardware such as notebooks, desktop PCs, high-powered workstations and advanced servers already possess the ability to run in 64-bit mode. Yet the majority of these computers still run 32-bit operating systems.

The primary cause for this widespread reluctance to join the 64-bit millennium is that the real benefit for upgrading in-place computers has seemed to be modest in comparison to the effort required. There is no automatic process to upgrade from a 32 to a 64-bit OS. The enhancement demands a clean install, which means reinstalling current applications, saving and recovering data files, and configuring new 64-bit drivers. This requires thoughtful planning to do economically. Furthermore, most desktop productivity software are currently offered only in 32-bit versions, so where's the benefit?

Benefits of Upgrading to 64-bit Computing
The advantages of 64-bit vs. 32-bit computing may appear to be subtle and hard to quantify, but they are significant. The RAM memory management techniques used in 32-bit systems are essentially a technical band-aid that limits system stability. Memory-hungry applications are sometimes not able to utilize free RAM because the O/S cannot allocate it efficiently. This can be the cause of software freezing or executing fitfully even when a computer appears to have ample unused memory. Also, 64-bit software platforms allow far more addressable RAM than 32-bit systems and process twice as much information per clock cycle. You can also go from one memory-intensive application to another more quickly when you are running in a 64-bit system. Fundamentally, 64-bit computing makes environments more reliable, more scalable, and more efficient, which in turn makes businesses more competitive.

Microsoft's 64-bit Computing Initiative
Microsoft's “x64” technology works with the 64-bit processors found in virtually all servers and desktop PCs now installed in office networks. (Microsoft's "Itanium" initiative is limited to special high-end CPUs and is designed for environments that require large-scale multi-processing.) Prior to the availability of Microsoft Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft desktop programs such as Microsoft Office 2007 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 were offered only in 32-bit editions, which can still be run on x64 platforms. The latest family of Office offers significant enhancements. As an example, Microsoft Office Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit edition that permits you to build spreadsheets with huge databases that are not restricted to the 2-Gbyte file size that hampers 32-bit releases of Excel.

Microsoft offers native x64 editions of many Microsoft Server System products, including Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and 2005, Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft Commerce Server 2007, Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006, plus System Center Operations Manager. Windows Server 64-bit editions are priced and licensed the same as 32-bit counterparts, so ordinarily it costs nothing extra for 64-bit server software or hardware.

For client computers, Microsoft supplies Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-cost x64 editions that provide high dependability, scalability, and performance. As with all upgrades from 32- to 64-bit platforms, the move up can't be carried out without effort. Every desktop PC and server needs a clean setup that involves reinstalling application software, saving and restoring data, and configuring 64-bit drivers. In fact, for typical in-place workstations, and for all PCs powered by XP, even the 64-bit release of Windows 7 or Windows 8 requires you to carry out a "from scratch" installation. This being the case, there will never be a better time to upgrade to x64 computing on the workstation, since it will require little extra effort.

How Progent Can Help Your Business to Migrate to 64-bit Computing
In addition to helping your organization to understand the business advantages, expenses, and technical risks attached to upgrading to 64-bit processing, Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers can help you design, document, carry out, administer, and troubleshoot a network-wide migration to 64-bit server and desktop operating systems and business applications. Progent can help you test your 64-bit infrastructure to verify that it supports all of the important 32-bit applications which you want to retain as well as the new 64-bit editions of applications you plan to run. If adopting Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is included in your x64 upgrade strategy, Progent's Windows 7 engineers, Windows 8.1 migration consultants, and Windows 10 evaluation and upgrade experts can help your company to decide which desktop hardware and applications can or should be retained, and outline a migration process that is the least disturbing to your network operations.

Other ways Progent can help you to migrate to 64-bit computing include:

• Progent's experience delivering remote computer support services can save you effort and money over the course of your x64 migration, and Progent's experience cooperating with in-house IT personnel and delivering technical knowledge transfer to them can increase the efficiency of your network support staff.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network engineers can verify that your network architecture is optimized to support your x64 computing solution, that it is simple to monitor, administer, and repair, and that it provides a high degree of data protection and fault tolerance.

• Progent's business continuity consulting professionals can help you in creating and testing a workplace recovery strategy that incorporates your 64-bit servers. Progent's Microsoft certified Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) consulting professionals can help you to configure Microsoft System Center SCDPM to support automated remote backup with the capability of rapid data recovery.

• Progent's CISSP and GIAC security specialists can help you create a comprehensive security strategy that implements some of the powerful security mechanisms incorporated into 64-bit server platforms. Progent can also provide security vulnerability testing to evaluate or confirm your company's compliance with industry or government security requirements.

• Progent's virtualization consultants can help you use 64-bit virtual server technology to leverage your hardware, simplify management, enhance fault tolerance, cut hosting expenses, and reduce restoration time in case of a catastrophic breakdown.

• Progent's online training classes can help get your network support team and your desktop employees up to date rapidly and cost-effectively by delivering online virtual training customized for your network requirements and operational procedures.