Challenge

Womens Health Centre Rockhampton is a small not for profit operating in the important field of confidential counselling and advice services to people facing life challenges in the Central Queensland region. Dealing with the outcomes of poverty and violence in society is not glamorous and at the time of our engagement the centre’s funding was barely sufficient for the dedicated team to accomplish more than the core of their mission. In the middle of this situation the centre’s central server started to fail and the incumbent service provider issued a quote for $45,000 for its replacement. This sum was beyond budget but the failing server created user frustration across the site and the situation was becoming critical. Compounding this central issue was the age of the centre’s laptop and desktop fleet, lack of warranty and repair schedules and no clear plan for the future.

Solution

When Digital Dexterity were approached for assistance our focus was on stability and cost. The cost of a replacement server was not viable and, in our opinion, an unnecessary proposal. Through a series of meetings and education sessions Digital Dexterity proposed moving the centre to the Microsoft Azure Cloud Environment. This suggestion removed the need for the server expense without losing any function and took advantage of Microsoft’s generous credits for NFPs. The executive team agreed to our proposal and over a long weekend Digital Dexterity’s technical team transitioned the site to Azure and decommissioned the physical server. After a week of onsite support and training the team at Women’s Health made the small adjustments necessary in their work and enjoyed the improvements in data availability.

Outcomes

The use of Microsoft credits worth $3500 USD was a game changer for Womens Health. From the prospect of an unfeasible $45,000 outlay, Digital Dexterity provided a virtualised environment which in the first twelve months was cost neutral. This major cost saving and Womens Health’s decision to engage Digital Dexterity as their Managed Service Provider allowed a strategic plan to be implemented which worked within the centre’s budget. Within eighteen months Digital Dexterity brought improved internet services, upgraded core networking, transitioned users to Office 365, implemented VOIP telephony and, most pleasingly, were able to upgrade every user device in the organisation. Now the Womens Health Centre has a stable cost-effective and productive environment which is supported by Digital Dexterity’s technical and business support teams.