GoSkills- Sector Skills Council for Passenger Transport
The background
GoSkills is the Sector Skills Council for Passenger Transport and provides business support, advice and guidance and a range of other services to employers, operators and self-employed drivers on skills, learning and training across the passenger transport sector.
The passenger transport sector includes a range of industries: Aviation (airlines, airports and ground handlers), Community Transport, Bus and Coach, Tram/Light Rail, Chauffeurs, Taxi/PHV, Driving Instruction and Transport Planners. GoSkills has a comprehensive employer data which is now housed on its main server, which needs to be secure and accessible to range of people and provide an number of different functions.
The Brief
As a new business start up, GoSkills required a full IT installation, from the purchasing of PCs, Servers printers and scanners through to the provision of networking solutions, remote access and wireless solutions.
As a company that is fully reliant on it's IT provision in order to carry out the day to day running of the business, as well as requiring secured remote access to files stored on the organisation's server for staff working within the regions and nations of the UK, it is essential that GoSkills has immediate access to IT support staff should there be any difficulties or problems with their system.
As an organisation that deals with companies' confidential information, it is of paramount importance that the GoSkills server and entire system is fully secure and is protected against the possibilities of viruses, spam and malicious attacks.
The Solution
After sourcing and purchasing high specification laptops and desktops for all the GoSkills team, Real Point Business Technology was asked to install a reliable and secure server. As well as providing a central storage for documents, the server would also house a central email system, providing a shared contacts database, shared calendars, shared mailboxes and remote access.
The laptops and desktops that had been distributed to staff had all been installed with Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Microsoft Office 2003 for email so it made sense to install the server with Microsoft Exchange 2003. This would provide server software that was fully compatible with the software on the individual computers and could provide seamless integration between the two systems.
The server was also equipped with Windows 2003 Server edition, enabling a user friendly interface and a secure provision for the VPN (virtual private network), which would allow members from the GoSkills team to access the shared information hosted on the server and download it to any location.
The server would be used to house confidential information and personnel data so it was vital that it was fully secured and password protected, restricting access to selected users.
Antivirus, anti spam and email scanning have become business critical solutions in recent years so Real Point installed a centrally managed antivirus, anti spam and email scanning solution to protect GoSkills staff from theses prevalent threats.
Real Point also installed the accounts package requested by GoSkills on to the server so that those dealing with the business accounts could access the software either from the office or when working from home.
With all this business critical information stored on the server, it was paramount that there was an efficient and reliable back-up system implemented with the server. The back-up system would ensure that all data stored on the server was regularly saved and could be recalled at any time should there be a problem.
GoSkills has a head office function that supported by a team of business advisers across the UK, so it was important that they are able to access the documentation stored on the server from wherever they are, whether they are visiting a client, working from home or sitting in the office.
To facilitate the home workers productivity, Real Point was asked to provide and set-up broadband internet connections for each user -- providing quick download times without tying up their phone lines.
The broadband at home also meant that Real Point were able to establish remote access capabilities with the home workers computers. Therefore should a need for support arise Real Point can access the computer without having to be on site -- enabling quick access to solve the problem no matter where the need arises.
The Verdict
From a standing start, GoSkills has now been equipped with laptops, desktops, a fully functioning server and software that enables them to share information across the UK securely and safely, whether it be email, contacts documentation or virus updates.
The on-going IT support provided by Real Point ensures that GoSkills will have access to support, either over the telephone or via the internet.
"When we first arrived at Concorde House GoSkills had two laptops and one printer, we now have a mixture of over 25 laptops and desktop computers all supported by a central server. Real Point has provided an excellent service in purchasing, installing and maintain our IT capability, we are very pleased with the continuing support that we have received from everyone."
Mark Jefferies -- Marketing and Business Development Manager - GoSkills