From over 80 applications to 27. With business continuing across 28 branches.
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
START NRW
THE TASK
Consolidate an organically grown IT estate and reorganise operations.
OUR CONTRIBUTION
Rationalise the estate, build the new platform and take responsibility for infrastructure operations.
THE OUTCOME
From over 80 applications to 27. START NRW retains control of its IT.
THE PROJECT
Starting point and requirements.
START NRW is a regional staffing provider with 28 branches. The project redesigned both its architecture and operating model.
The IT estate had grown over many years. As experienced employees left, undocumented knowledge was lost. START NRW used this moment to redesign its architecture and operating model.
NON-NEGOTIABLE REQUIREMENTS
IT governance stays in-house. Sysfacts takes responsibility for infrastructure operations.
IMPLEMENTATION
What Sysfacts took on.
Inventoried, assessed and rationalised the estate, providing the basis for the new architecture
Built a new platform across two fire compartments. It is hosted in a data centre but remains owned by START NRW
Sysfacts handles patching, monitoring and platform maintenance. Business-level IT direction remains in-house
Reconstructed knowledge held by former key staff and documented it in operating procedures
AFTER THE PROJECT
What changed for the client.
OUTCOME AND OPERATIONS
Fewer than 100 application servers and more than 100 orphaned service accounts were cleaned up. Evidence for ISO 9001, SCP, AZAV and data-protection audits is available directly from the system. Knowledge and procedures are documented rather than dependent on individuals.
PROJECT DATA
applications, previously over 80
27
branches without interruption
28
Technical context +
01
A grown IT estate
The environment served 28 branches with more than 80 applications. The project included cleaning up systems and service accounts and reconstructing undocumented operational knowledge.
02
New platform
The target environment uses VMware vSphere with vSAN across two fire compartments. The infrastructure is hosted in a data centre and remains owned by START NRW.
03
Networking and backup
Juniper switches provide the network infrastructure. Sophos XGS firewalls operate in an HA cluster. Veeam Backup & Replication handles data protection.
04
Operational responsibilities
Sysfacts handles patching, monitoring and platform maintenance. START NRW retains business-level control of its IT. Procedures and responsibilities were documented so they no longer depend on individual knowledge.
INSIDE THE PROJECT
BETWEEN THE RACKS AT START NRW IN DUISBURG
Crane operations during decommissioning work at START NRW.
View of the crane operations from the roof.
“We wanted to consolidate without giving up control. That is exactly the approach Sysfacts took with us: we still own the infrastructure, and our people manage it themselves. Information we used to assemble laboriously for audits is now traceable.”
Melanie Korth Commercial Director, Authorised Signatory · START NRW GMBH Translated from German
