To give some background, I first met Wayne Kenward
whilst he was doing some work for Whitegates Head Office
and subsequently I engaged him to do some minor set up
of a SonicWALL and provide anti-virus software on a
‘one off’ basis. I, suppose not dissimilar to many
others, I was of the opinion that I was too small to
warrant a full blown IT support contract and that it
probably would not be worth the investment, at that
time.
Several years on, we had enjoyed a steady growth within
our franchise business, which had grown from a few PCs
to fourteen within the premises on a cobbled together
network, without a server or support. Still contented,
as everything worked and it was not broken, so why fix
it? How naïve.
On the 5th October 2006 (our very own ‘Black
Thursday‘ as it is now known) we had a contractor attend
our office on behalf of our electricity supplier to
change our electric meter. Unbeknown to us, (and as it
transpired the electrician that attended!!!) we have a
three phase supply which, if not connected properly, has
the potential of putting 415v through every electrical
appliance in the building that is plugged in, even if it
is switched off!
And, that was exactly what happened.
From 10.30a.m. ‘Black Thursday’, 5th October,
2006 my office was, in effect, closed, fourteen PCs,
telephone system, fax, franking machine, photocopier,
printers, routers, switches, fire wall, you name it,
fried and dead to the world. My mood was not improved
along with my temper from the electricians parting
comments “ if it is any consolation…. I’m really sorry”
still resounding in my ears.
Disaster recovery kicked into place (like I had really
imagined this one) and through my franchise head office
I had managed to secure ten lap top computers on a
temporary basis. I then contacted Wayne for assistance
in setting up some kind of network and Internet
connection to get us operational at the earliest time.
The only problem was, I was in Bradford, West Yorkshire
and Wayne was in Lincolnshire with work commitments.
Having consideration to The Mountain and Mohammed, Wayne
agreed for me to meet him at his premises at the
earliest time I could get there with the lap tops and in
the meantime he would obtain the necessary switch,
SonicWALL and modem to enable him to start the
configuration.
Five laptops were collected from Morley, a pit stop in
Barnsley to collect another five and then onto
Lincolnshire to meet Wayne, where I arrived after
6.00p.m. in the evening. Wayne had already set to work
with the modem and SonicWALL and they were configured.
He then set about configuring all the laptops. Wayne
had also in the meantime arranged a download of my data
from my ASP software provider, wrote it to disc, so that
it was ready to install on the individual laptops, on my
arrival. Three and a half hours later, with only pit
stops for some exceptionally nice ground coffee as I
recall, I had a network ‘ready to roll’.
I left Lincolnshire, and Wayne in peace at about
9.45pm!! Back to Bradford to set everything up in my
office building into the early hours of the following
morning, but there was a ‘glitch’ as I was still not
been able to get an Internet connection. Home to sleep
for a few hours then back onto the telephone to Wayne
for telephone support at 8.30.a.m. in the morning.
Minor adjustments of settings that I had missed and hey
presto we had a network with Internet connection, the
first step to getting back to some form of a working
office within twenty-four hours.
It has to be said, without Wayne’s commitment and
willingness to put himself out at what has to be said
non-standard (unsociable) business hours, and put my
business first, it could well have been a week, to
getting my office operational.
Wayne and myself are in the process of designing a full
IT system which will take my business forward, safe in
the knowledge that I will have full support and not have
to experience another ‘Black Thursday’. It only remains
to say a big thank you to Wayne, and in closing I would
comment….
An incompetent utility supplier contractor estimated
cost £25,000 ……. Unparallel IT support PRICELESS.
Ian Hind
Proprietor
Whitegates, Bradford
