How To Protect IT Assets During Office Relocation ?
Office moves have become increasingly common now a days. With a large number of expansions taking place in most businesses, the need for additional space and lower, operating costs has driven most business-owners to seek new and improved office spaces near restaurants, transit routs, or other commuter resources. IT assets such as servers, racks, fans, monitors, keyboards, phones, projectors and the kind need to relocated quickly, along with great care to minimize business downtime and damage to critical equipment. Following are some useful tips regarding the successful relocation of IT assets during a move:
1. Record and manage a proper Inventory
Conduct a thorough inventory of every piece of equipment that your company owns. Try and document where equipment was located before the move, and where it needs to be moved in the new space. All the phone, internet, and network circuits at the new location should be checked for proper functioning. Pay all your tie-offs at any lose ends in the old location by making a checklist of remaining utility bills that need to be paid or any discrepancies which can disrupt the move and hinder business.
2. Examine your inventory for any leased equipment
All technical hardware systems like printers, PCs, switches, servers, routers, UPS, voice systems, software and vendor contracts must be examined for title identity or lease ownership. This will help determine whether any upgrades or contract changes are required. Inform your data service provider for any installations and equipment set-up in advance to avoid any unnecessary delays.
3. Plan your equipment placement in advance
The placement of technological devices is critical. Factors such as location of the server room and any spatial, cooling, power and UPS requirements are vitally important. Be sure you carefully examine your business continuity plans. Lastly, agree upon a plan for how and who to alert in the rare case that equipment is damaged, lost, stolen, during the move.
The relocation IT assets and technical equipment require technical expertise, collaboration with your businesses IT department, and special care and moving equipment. If mishandled, things could get messy, as well as hinder your business. When dealing with equipment such as servers, computers and wires it is highly recommended you work closely with a licensed and insured office relocation services. This offers faster setup with easy, hassle free and smooth relocation.