Computer Outsourcing for Mid-size Companies

With the majority of business networks, 64-bit processing is a giant untapped resource. Intel and AMD, the leading CPU chip makers, have been delivering 64-bit capability in their commodity processors for years, with the result 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 continue to host 32-bit software platforms.

The main reason for this widespread reluctance to join the 64-bit revolution is that the real benefit for updating existing systems has appeared to be modest in comparison to the work needed. There is no automatic path to migrate from a 32-bit to a 64-bit operating system. The enhancement demands a clean install, which means reinstalling current programs, backing up and restoring data files, and configuring new drivers. This demands thoughtful planning to carry out efficiently. Meanwhile, most desktop productivity software are currently offered only in 32-bit editions, so what's the advantage?

Advantages of Moving Up to 64-bit Processing
The advantages of 64-bit over 32-bit processing may seem subtle and hard to quantify, but they are significant. The memory partitioning techniques utilized by 32-bit OS platforms are essentially an engineering afterthought that undermines system stability. RAM-hungry applications are sometimes not allowed to access existing RAM because the O/S cannot assign it effectively. This can be the cause of software shutting down or running fitfully even when a machine appears to have ample available RAM. Also, 64-bit software platforms allow far more physical RAM than 32-bit systems and process twice as much data per clock cycle. You can also go from one memory-intensive program to another faster when you are using a 64-bit environment. Basically, 64-bit processing makes environments more reliable, more expandable, and more efficient, which makes companies more productive.

Microsoft's x64 Software
Microsoft's “x64” software works with the 64-bit processors used in virtually all computers now deployed in office networks. (Microsoft's "Itanium" support is restricted to a few advanced processors and is intended for applications that require massive multi-processing.) Prior to the availability of Microsoft Office 2010, most Microsoft client programs such as 2007 Office and Visual Studio 2005 were offered solely in 32-bit editions, which can nevertheless be used on x64 platforms. The new generation of Microsoft Office 2010 offers dramatic improvements. For example, Microsoft Office Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit version that allows you to create spreadsheets with enormous databases that are not limited to the 2-gigabyte file size that hampers 32-bit releases of Microsoft Office Excel.

Microsoft has developed native x64 versions of many Microsoft Server platforms, including Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and 2005, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Commerce Server 2007, Microsoft BizTalk Server, plus Operations Manager. Microsoft Windows Server x64 versions are priced identically to their 32-bit counterparts, so ordinarily it costs nothing more for 64-bit server software or machines.

For client computers, Microsoft supplies Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-cost x64 versions that provide advanced dependability, scalability, and performance. Like all upgrades from 32- to 64-bit operating systems, the upgrade can't be carried out without effort. Every desktop PC and server needs a clean installation that entails reinstalling applications, saving and recovering data files, and installing 64-bit drivers. On the other hand, for typical in-place desktop PCs, and for every PC powered by Microsoft Windows XP, any version of Windows 7 or Windows 8 will require you to perform a "from scratch" installation. This being the case, there has never been a better opportunity to upgrade to 64-bit computing on the workstation, since it will involve little extra effort.

How Progent Can Help Your Business to Upgrade to 64-bit Processing
Besides helping you to evaluate the practical benefits, expenses, and technical risks attached to migrating to 64-bit computing, Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers can help you design, document, carry out, manage, and repair a system-wide move to 64-bit server and desktop operating systems and applications. Progent can help you test your 64-bit infrastructure to verify that it supports all of the important 32-bit applications that you want to retain plus the new 64-bit versions of applications you wish to install. If adopting Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is part of your 64-bit upgrade plan, Progent's Windows 7 engineers, Windows 8.1 migration consultants, and Windows 10 planning and migration consultants can assist your company to decide which desktop computers and applications can or ought to be retained, and outline an upgrade procedure that is the least disruptive to your network productivity.

Other ways Progent's consultants can assist your business to upgrade to x64 computing include:

• Progent's expertise delivering remote network consulting and troubleshooting can save you time and expense over the course of your x64 migration, and Progent's background cooperating with internal support staffs and delivering technical information transfer to them can increase the effectiveness of your network support team.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network consultants can verify that your network architecture is configured to accommodate your 64-bit computing environment, that it is easy to track, administer, and troubleshoot, and that it offers a high degree of security and reliability.

• Progent's disaster recovery consultants can help you in creating and testing a business continuity plan that incorporates your x64 servers. Progent's Microsoft certified Microsoft System Center SCDPM engineering professionals can help you to configure System Center System Center Data Protection Manager to provide automated remote backup with the capability of rapid data restoration.

• Progent's CISSP and GIAC certified network security engineers can help you create a company-wide security plan that deploys some of the new protection technologies incorporated into 64-bit server platforms. Progent can also provide security vulnerability checking to assess or validate your network's adherence to mandated security standards.

• Progent's virtualization engineers can help you utilize 64-bit virtual server technology to save money on hardware resources, simplify management, improve reliability, cut colocation costs, and reduce recovery time in case of a catastrophic breakdown.

• Progent's live online training classes can help get your network support staff and your office workers up to date rapidly and affordably by providing interactive online virtual training specialized for your network environment and business procedures.