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CCHA - Managed Services
Through server co-hosting and virtualisation, expanded Citrix implementation and fully outsourced IT support, Montal improved CCHA's business efficiency and cut their IT costs.
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The Organisation
Efficient, caring and responsive, Croydon Churches Housing Association has its roots and its 
culture firmly implanted among the communities of South West London. With around 1400 properties in just three London boroughs, CCHA maintains the kind of close relationship with their residents that sets them apart from larger organisations.
A focus on delivering outstanding Customer Service is at the core of CCHA’s organisation and, in recognition for their excellence in this area, they were awarded “Best Business for Customer Service” at the prestigious RBS South London Business Awards in May 2009. With this ethos underpinning all their operations, CCHA perfectly understood the role that efficient and effective IT plays in their continued ability to deliver the high level of service they had become so renowned for.
The Business Need
To improve efficiency and operational effectiveness, CCHA took the decision to consolidate staff from their three main offices into one, unified premises. As their systems were due for an upgrade, this relocation provided the ideal opportunity to redesign CCHA’s IT and communications architecture, tailoring it to the new location’s needs to maximise business agility, introduce efficiencies and increase cost-effectiveness.
The project scope extended from solving the lack of space for server storage and advising on the best telephony system, to redesigning the entire internal infrastructure.
In short, CCHA needed a complete technology overhaul.
Why Montal?
Through their existing provision of IT support and advice, Montal had already established a strong, collaborative working relationship with CCHA, along with in-depth knowledge of the organisation’s infrastructure and a high level of mutual trust.
Having already proven their reliability, professionalism and technical excellence – including a valuable ability to explain IT issues simply and clearly to non-technical personnel – Montal was a clear choice.
Furthermore, Montal’s 24 years of industry experience, combined with their constant attentiveness to the latest IT developments and a long history of managing complex, multi-platform projects, ensured they were best placed to deliver the optimum solution on all levels.
Montal’s Approach
In order to fully understand the project’s requirements and build the right relationship with CCHA’s project team, a Montal Senior Account Manager was involved in all relocation planning meetings from the very start. He then worked closely with a dedicated Montal Technical Specialist to design the most appropriate technical solution.
Montal maintained a constant on-site presence throughout the relocation and project implementation, ensuring the Go-Live deadline was met and that any issues that arose were resolved immediately.
The Solution
1. Server Co-location and Virtualisation
To address the space and environmental issues at the new office, Montal recommended moving CCHA’s servers off-site and co-hosting them at a Data Centre. Using VMware Virtualisation technology these numerous servers were consolidated – a process which extensively mitigated the otherwise high costs of co-location, as well as improving server performance and manageability. The significant energy savings gained from Virtualisation also made it a far greener solution.
2. Email Security and Continuity
Montal also recommended the Mimecast Unified Email Management system, providing all vital email management elements within one efficient and cost effective web-based solution. This not only facilitated a seamless transition from the old system with continuous email uptime, but also ensured that the security, business continuity and disaster recovery requirements - essential to all businesses today - were met.
3. Communication and Telephony
Montal evaluated and selected a new telephony provider for CCHA who introduced the organisation to a cutting-edge new communication solution with countless benefits. To guarantee uninterrupted communication with CCHA’s 27 remote sites, Montal liaised with all external parties to manage the installation of new lines before the relocation started.
4. Infrastructure Design and Installation
Montal delivered a complete new IT infrastructure designed by technical experts with a real understanding of CCHA’s business needs and the way they worked as an organisation. Existing Citrix implementation was expanded, with all users moving to a thin client environment to create a uniform user experience and improve user support. All new site links, routers and the thin client environment were installed and fully operational in advance of the move, ready to welcome CCHA staff to their new premises and minimising operational disruption.
5. Complete IT Outsourcing
CCHA were so impressed with the level of service and expertise Montal displayed during the project that they took the decision to outsource all of their IT management to Montal, who now provide all helpdesk support and manage their IT systems completely.
An Unbeatable Result
CCHA told us that Montal surpassed their expectations in terms of professionalism and efficiency. They were so impressed that they outsourced all their IT management to Montal, who now provide a fully Managed Service.
Montal’s IT Partner approach means that, although Montal manage all CCHA’s IT, they still feel as though they have their own, personal IT Manager and in-house team.
Chief Execuitve Ozay Ali told us,
“The helpdesk is fantastic – very responsive, nothing gets lost, they always get back to us and they are very solution-focused. Any IT issues have been immediately dealt with and the Montal team has made what could have been an extremely troublesome transition seamless. The cost reductions achieved associated with IT have been significant.”
