June 1 2008

Gateshead firm Knowledge I.T. is blazing a bright trail when it comes to designing and delivering innovative, added value solutions for private and public sector organisations. The company has started to implement a three year strategy which sees it supplying a fully integrated and managed I.T. service to Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority (DDFRA)

Knowledge I.T’s expertise and track record in delivering major public sector contracts has been a key factor in designing and implementing the DDFRA’s contract, which involves a full review of current usage and technology and support for the authority’s entire domestic network.

The work will deliver major benefits including an improvement of the authority’s current systems - the provision of a service desk to manage the DDFRA’s network requirements will be an integral feature of a vastly enhanced infrastructure.

Chris Banks, service support area manager for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue, said: “We receive approximately 19,000 emergency calls each year, resulting in over 9,000 incidents. It is therefore vital that communications networks are fit for purpose and reliable.

“The new managed services provided by Knowledge I.T. allow us to provide a reliable and modern I.T. service that will be integral in providing an efficient and continuously improving service to our communities.”

The DDFRA employs nearly 700 staff in the North East operating from 15 fire stations strategically located throughout County Durham and Darlington. Previously, the DDFRA relied entirely upon in-house expertise for the maintenance and support of its busy networks and server infrastructure, but made the strategic move to outsource these to Knowledge following a review of activities. Chris Banks again: “The move provides great value for money, allowing us to call on a greater range of technical expertise than could be provided by an in-house team.”
 
Knowledge I.T. has also been responsible for upgrading DDFRA’s data storage and back-up facilities, as well as providing up-to-date security solutions including both anti-virus and spam filtering software.

David Bennett, Knowledge I.T’s project manager for DDFRA added: “Due to the demanding ICT environment of DDFRA, it was important to spend time with Chris and his management team understanding their business strategy.

“The approach enables us to understand the operation and the demands placed upon it both internally and externally. We’re then able to create an added value solution that meets current needs yet has enough inbuilt flexibility to ensure it can be cost effectively adjusted to cater for future ICT changes.

“Acknowledging DDFRA’s commitment to continual improvement, we will continue to assess their individual business needs to ensure that we are providing the best fit-for-purpose ICT solution to meet any business challenges they may encounter.

“The contract will eventually see a replacement of the IP and station connectivity facilities and, following completion of migration to the new systems, DDFRA will fully reap the benefits of their investment in a state-of-the-art ICT environment.”

DDFRA and others are just some of the clients expected to benefit from Knowledge’s new North Tyneside Data and Business Recovery Centre. This facility enables organisations to safely and securely store off-site data, back-up copies of electronic documents and other important commercial information.

Customers can access and retrieve these easily should anything like a flood, fire, human error, terrorist attack or computer virus destroy the original electronic version, enabling them to get their business back up and running as soon as possible.

Security is a top priority at the Data and Business Recovery Centre, with physical, electronic and biometric systems conforming to the global standard for information security management systems (ISO 27001) which underpins the facility’s advanced protection measures.

State-of-the-art fire detection, suppression and energy efficient environmental systems have been incorporated, while a dedicated electricity sub-station and back-up generator will enable the site to continue to function during a National Grid power failure. Other on-site facilities include personal access suites, DR recovery accommodation, business services and on-site parking.

Knowledge I.T. also offers a range of communications technology to businesses throughout the North of England, including IP telephony, ICT, data storage, internet services and disaster recovery. It was the first North East service provider to unite all business communications into one package, allowing companies to replace multiple suppliers with one provider and just one bill.

Knowledge I.T’s growing customer base extends to 250 of the biggest organisations in the North of England, including Durham City Council, The RVI Hospital, Mamas and Papas, Newcastle and North Tyneside PCTs and Northumberland Care Trust, Cardinal Hume Catholic School and the Springfield Motor Group.

For more information please call us on 0845 142 0020 or CLICK HERE to complete our online information request form.