What do you do when you are a small business that’s faced with an IT system crash? Not to mention that your bread and butter relies on having access to the data on those systems almost 24/7. That was the challenge Sherry Pritchett, owner of P&B Print and Design, faced not too long ago.
For anything that plugs in – I begin with Jeff!
Tell us a little about P&B Print and Design:
P&B is a small printing company in Round Rock, Texas that specializes in digital printing. We pride ourselves on developing long-term relationships with our customers and helping them understand the benefits of partnering with us on both the design and printing of their collateral pieces.
Why did you hire a managed IT services company?
I started working for P&B back in 2001, way before I took over ownership in 2014. During that time, the business suffered a couple of computer crashes. Losing data was always our biggest fear. So one of the first things I did when I took over ownership was to seek out an IT company.
I knew my current systems – including data storage – were old and dated. Honestly, I was worried about another crash and the resulting data loss. My customers rely on us having their files ready to go when they need reorders or tweaks made. We also rely on keeping our customer database up to date and available at any time. So I hired a company to help us out.
How did that relationship work out?
Well, my greatest fear happened…we had a crash. Despite all of the money I was paying this company, it was very hard to get them to help and I felt they were just scrambling. We didn’t have access to graphic files for days. When the systems were finally restored, it was in bits and pieces and they told me I was only going to get 65%. This was unacceptable.
Is this when you hired CMIT Solutions of Round Rock?
There is a yes and no answer to this question. Ha! I had met Jeff Floyd, owner of CMIT Solution of Round Rock, via a networking group we both belong to. Jeff was always very generous with his information and knowledge. Right after the crash, I reached out to Jeff because I was suspicious of the actions that were being taken by my IT company. He graciously helped me understand what was happening and gave me the right questions to ask this company.
Jeff’s understanding of the situation, command of the solution, and generosity of his time prompted me to get out of my contract and hire CMIT Solutions of Round Rock.
How did Jeff and his team initially help P&B Printing?
They immediately helped me pick up the pieces of crash, restore data, purchase new server, and implemented a solution to triple back up my data so if this should ever happen again, we will have next to no downtime (1-2 hours vs. days). With Jeff’s help I was 98% restored (not 65% like the original team predicted)!
Could you DIY your IT Systems?
At this point, I have enough knowledge to get things done. BUT, I need somebody who specializes in IT management and data security to DO IT RIGHT.
Jeff is my go-to for anything IT. He understands exactly what I need without overselling and he is there in a minute if I need him. His service is priceless.
Update: CMIT Solutions of Round Rock Saves the Day (Again)!
It’s hard to completely prevent a server from crashing; however, with the proper systems in place it’s easier (and faster) to recover when one hits. That’s exactly what happened to P&B Printing when their graphics server recently crashed. This time, my team had the company back up and running within two hours! The difference from their first crash (which took two weeks to recover from)? Proper systems, routine back ups, and regular montioring all done by my team. Watch the videos below to get more details.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!
