Net56 structured a new network and restructured an existing IT network, resulting in significant cost savings as well as a stable, secure system.



Ames Department Stores, an east coast based company with 450 stores in 10 northeastern, mid-atlantic, and mid-western states and in Washington DC., bolstered its presence in those areas when it bought the 155-store Hills Stores chain in 1999. This procurement required the merging of systems, infrastructure and processes requiring an extensive review and evaluation of all aspects of the IT operations and infrastructure. Ames needed a comprehensive, cost effective network solution to communicate to stores as well as a more stable way to connect its corporate offices to outlying sites.


Ames turned to Net56 to provide an in-depth review of IT environments and requirements and to provide recommendations for improvement, cost savings areas and or redundancies in the current infrastructure, management and processes. Net56 restructured its existing backbone network and structured a new network providing a stable system platform. Net56's responsibilities included defining, resolving and documenting technical issues, processes and requirements for improving the system and design and implementation of the new system. Net56 analyzed current networking and enterprise computing from mainframe to satellite sites; analyzed bandwidth requirements for network computing in database access, messaging, network monitors, etc; reviewed network operating policies while detecting deficiencies and failures for 24/7 operations and in network security; analyzed current and projected workforce required for maintaining network reliability; consulted in all areas of enterprise computing, Intranets, Internet, Extranet, Networks, RAS, Security, LAN, WAN, Management, Support, E-Commerce providing cost analysis, network configuration strategy for improving current network; trained client staff on networking enterprise computing, while maintaining project management.

The IT Study solution uncovered a variety of opportunities for business improvements and cost savings measures. When Net56 restructured Ames existing network and structured a new network, it not only provided a stable system which was easier to maintain but also reduced cost and overhead. Net56 simplified the server set-up to save costs and built new servers, moving user data to those servers making the data more secure. Net56 reconfigured network routers and reworked applications for increased efficiency. Net56 identified excessive remote access costs through review of telecommunications support services and contracts; recognized significant excess network bandwidth which allowed Ames to reduce its connectivity requirements and resolved an issue of an over-utilized and inefficient WAN by increasing the speed 85 times with absolutely no increase in WAN costs and an overall decrease in labor costs. These initiatives alone saved Ames close to a million dollars each month.