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Rolling Meadows, IL — Chicago-based investment consulting firm EnnisKnupp + Associates was experiencing hardware and software support issues with slow response times and inconsistent service. Consequently, Principal and Chief Operating Officer Greg Pritz decided to explore alternatives for infrastructure support as well as helpdesk, desktop and network services. After considering proposals from several firms, EnnisKnupp selected ABS Associates as its outsourcing partner. "EnnisKnupp serves institutional investors around the world in a financial capacity. Therefore, our business is data-driven, making technology-specifically network 'uptime' and data security-a key factor in employee productivity," said Pritz. "Not only did ABS's pledge to top-notch customer service put the company above other firms on my short list, but their 99.9 percent uptime during the past six years spoke volumes about the network reliability they would bring to EnnisKnupp." Awarding a contract to ABS for total managed services-including a Web-based help desk, remote and on-site level two support, network monitoring and support, and hosting at the ABS data center-was only the first step in transitioning EnnisKnupp to a new IT environment. First, both firms had to weather telecommunication issues and significant delays from suppliers and manufacturers. While teams at ABS and EnnisKnupp worked to migrate the infrastructure to ABS' SAS-70 verified data center, ABS' CNS group conducted a thorough IT assessment to document EnnisKnupp's processes and developed a proactive IT plan for moving forward. Also complicating the transition to ABS was the scheduled migration dates of March 10-11, 2007, the same weekend that daylight savings time went into effect. ABS took this hurdle in stride, acquiring patches from Microsoft to ensure Outlook calendars and other time-sensitive technologies remained stable. This was especially important for EnnisKnupp because auditors were scheduled to visit the company on March 12. "ABS provides a range of managed services, but more importantly, we consider ourselves to be a solutions architect firm," said ABS Chief Executive Officer Rosemarie Mitchell. "For every client, we consider specific needs and recommend optimal IT solutions, not cookie-cutter plans. That's why our team orchestrated a smooth migration for EnnisKnupp even with the challenges we faced." Now that ABS is fully on-board as EnnisKnupp's total service provider, end-users are happily experiencing increased up-time; proactive management of updates and patches; and a data-solution that archives e-mail and other information, making it easier to comply with on-demand requests from clients and governmental agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission. Even though IT services at EnnisKnupp are running smoothly, there is always more to be done. As part of its proactive approach, ABS has already made several recommendations including a full IT asset life-cycle management system. "The way ABS handled the challenges stemming from our transition only confirmed our faith in the firm's ability to positively impact our IT operations," said Pritz. "I truly look forward to working with ABS." About ABS Associates ABS Associates, Inc. is a leading provider of outsourced helpdesk, desktop, managed hosting, and network support and services. For more than twenty years, ABS certified support professionals have expertly delivered IT solutions, helping hundreds of companies control capital expenses and support costs, improve company focus, and increase end-user productivity. ABShelp™, the company's web-enabled knowledge center, allows client firms from around the world to optimize information technology as it relates to their unique businesses. For more information, please visit http://www.abs-inc.com. |
