Computer Outsourcing for Medium-size Businesses

For most office IT systems, 64-bit computing is a great untapped power source. Both Intel and AMD, the leading CPU chip makers, have been delivering 64-bit capability in their mainstream CPUs for years, so that all types of business computing hardware including notebooks, desktop computers, high-powered workstations and advanced servers already have the ability to operate in 64-bit format. However the majority of these devices continue to run 32-bit operating systems.

The main cause for this widespread hesitation to participate in the 64-bit millennium is that the real benefit for updating existing computers has seemed to be small in comparison to the effort required. There is no seamless process to migrate from a 32 to a 64-bit OS. The enhancement demands a clean install, which means reinstalling current programs, backing up and recovering data files, and installing new 64-bit drivers. This demands careful planning to do economically. Furthermore, most office productivity software are still offered only in 32-bit versions, so where's the benefit?

Advantages of Moving Up to 64-bit Computing
The advantages of 64-bit over 32-bit computing may appear to be subtle and hard to quantify, but they are significant. The memory management schemes utilized by 32-bit OS platforms are essentially an engineering afterthought that limits stability. Memory-hungry applications are often unable to access existing memory since the operating system cannot assign it effectively. This can be the cause of programs shutting down or performing erratically even though a machine appears to have plenty of available memory. In addition, 64-bit software platforms support far more addressable RAM than 32-bit systems and process twice as much data per clock cycle. You can also go from one RAM-hungry program to another faster when you are running in a 64-bit environment. Fundamentally, 64-bit processing makes systems more stable, more expandable, and faster, which makes businesses more competitive.

Microsoft's x64 Support
Microsoft's “x64” technology works with the 64-bit processors used in virtually all servers and desktop PCs currently installed in office IT environments. (Microsoft's "Itanium" platform is restricted to special high-end Intel and AMD CPUs processors and is designed for applications that require large-scale multi-processing.) Prior to the availability of Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft client applications such as 2007 Office and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 were available only in 32-bit editions, which can still be run on x64 platforms. The latest generation of Microsoft Office 2010 delivers dramatic improvements. For example, Office Excel 2010 is offered in a 64-bit version that allows you to create spreadsheets with huge datasets that are not restricted by the 2-Gbyte maximum file size imposed by 32-bit releases of Microsoft Office Excel.

Microsoft offers native x64 versions of many Microsoft Server System products, such as Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and 2007, Microsoft Commerce Server, Microsoft BizTalk Server, plus Operations Manager. Microsoft Windows Server x64 editions are priced the same as their 32-bit editions, so in most circumstances you pay nothing extra for 64-bit server software or hardware.

For client computers, Microsoft supplies Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-cost 64-bit editions that offer advanced dependability, capacity, and performance. As with all migrations from 32-bit to 64-bit platforms, the upgrade can't be carried out without effort. Every workstation and server requires a clean setup that involves reconfiguring applications, backing up and restoring data files, and configuring 64-bit device drivers. On the other hand, for most current workstations, and for every PC running Windows XP, the 32 or 64-bit version of Windows 7 or Windows 8 will require you to carry out a clean installation. Consequently, there will never be a better opportunity to migrate to 64-bit computing on the desktop, since it will require little extra effort.

How Progent Can Assist Your Business to Upgrade to 64-bit Computing
In addition to assisting you to evaluate the practical benefits, costs, and technical risks associated with upgrading to 64-bit processing, Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you plan, document, carry out, manage, and repair a network-wide migration to 64-bit server and desktop operating systems and applications. Progent can help you pilot your 64-bit environment to make sure it supports all of the key 32-bit programs that you intend to retain as well as the latest 64-bit editions of applications you plan to install. If moving to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is included in your 64-bit migration plan, Progent's Windows 7 experts, Windows 8.1 migration consultants, and Windows 10 testing and upgrade experts can help your company to decide which workstation computers and programs can or should be retained, and outline an upgrade procedure that is the least disruptive to your business productivity.

Additional ways Progent's consultants can help you to migrate to 64-bit computing include:

• Progent's expertise delivering online network consulting and support can save you time and expense over the course of your 64-bit migration, and Progent's background working with in-house IT staffs and providing technical knowledge transfer to them can improve the effectiveness of your network support team.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network consultants can make sure that your network architecture is optimized to accommodate your 64-bit processing environment, that it is simple to track, administer, and troubleshoot, and that it provides a high degree of security and robustness.

• Progent's business continuity consultants can help you in developing and validating a disaster recovery plan that incorporates your 64-bit servers. Progent's Microsoft certified Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) support experts can help you to configure System Center SCDPM to support near-continuous online backup with the capability of rapid system recovery.

• Progent's CISSP and GIAC certified network security specialists can assist you create a comprehensive security strategy that deploys some of the new protection mechanisms incorporated into x64 servers. Progent can also carry out network security vulnerability checking to evaluate or confirm your network's adherence to industry or government security requirements.

• Progent's virtualization engineers can show you how to utilize 64-bit virtual server solutions to conserve equipment, streamline administration, improve dependability, lower hosting costs, and reduce recovery time in the event of a disaster.

• Progent's live online training classes can help get both your network management staff and your office workers up to speed rapidly and affordably by providing online virtual training customized for your network requirements and business processes.