Case Study - Ampco Cloud Adoption Using Virtual Desktop

Ampco Contracting, a prominent player in the construction industry, needed to upgrade their application server's database to SQL Server 2019 to ensure continued support. Simultaneously, they were eager to embark on their cloud infrastructure journey, capitalizing on its numerous benefits. All of their application and database servers were hosted on-premises, and their first step was to migrate their critical "Foundation" application to Microsoft Azure, a powerful cloud platform. The "SERVER" component served as the SQL Database and File Server for the Foundation application. Ampco Contracting sought the expertise of Akins IT to facilitate this transformative transition.

Ampco Contracting faced a pressing challenge - the necessity to modernize their infrastructure by upgrading from an aging SQL Server 2012 database to SQL Server 2019. This upgrade was essential to meet vendor requirements and secure continued support. Furthermore, Ampco Contracting recognized the potential advantages of migrating to Microsoft Azure, such as scalability, flexibility, and cost savings.

Akins IT provided Ampco Contracting with a comprehensive solution to address their needs:

Azure Subscription Provisioning: Akins IT initiated the project by provisioning a Microsoft Azure subscription, laying the foundation for a robust cloud infrastructure.

Network Infrastructure Deployment: To ensure a seamless migration to Microsoft Azure, Akins IT deployed the necessary network infrastructure, guaranteeing a secure and reliable cloud environment.

Active Directory Extension: A pivotal component of the migration strategy was extending Ampco Contracting's on-premises Active Directory to Microsoft Azure. Akins IT deployed a Domain Controller to enable Azure resources to seamlessly utilize Active Directory services.

Lift-and-Shift Migration: The next step involved a "lift-and-shift" migration of the "Foundation" server, moving the entire server along with its applications and data to Microsoft Azure.

SQL Server 2019 Upgrade: Post-migration, Akins IT ensured that the SQL Server version was upgraded from 2012 to 2019, aligning with vendor requirements and enabling Ampco Contracting to benefit from the latest database features, enhanced security, and improved performance.

The implementation of Akins IT's solution yielded several positive outcomes for Ampco Contracting:

Active Directory Extension: The deployment of a Domain Controller in Microsoft Azure seamlessly extended Ampco Contracting's Active Directory services, simplifying access management and ensuring consistent identity and access policies across on-premises and Azure resources.

Meraki Integration: With the deployment of a Meraki vMX, Ampco Contracting established a seamless mesh VPN network, connecting their headquarters and all branch locations. Managing all network appliances through a single pane of glass streamlined operations and enhanced network security.

SQL Server 2019 Upgrade: The migration to SQL Server 2019 ensured that Ampco Contracting's "Foundation" application met vendor requirements, paving the way for continued support and enabling them to leverage the latest database features, security enhancements, and performance improvements.

Azure Business Continuity: Ampco Contracting's transition to Microsoft Azure enhanced their business continuity, availability, and resilience. Microsoft Azure offered scalability and redundancy, reducing downtime risks and ensuring uninterrupted operations.

Cost Reduction: The migration to Microsoft Azure resulted in significant cost savings as Ampco Contracting only paid for the resources they consumed, minimizing hardware costs and optimizing their IT expenditure.

In conclusion, Ampco Contracting's migration to SQL Server 2019 and Microsoft Azure marked a significant milestone in their IT strategy. It not only ensured their application met vendor requirements and harnessed cloud benefits but also set the stage for further cloud adoption and digital transformation initiatives. Akins IT's expertise and seamless execution led to a successful project, benefiting Ampco Contracting in various aspects of their IT infrastructure and operations..