Organisations are finding Data Platform Modernisation projects can deliver significant value by enabling IT cost reductions together with improved service levels and increased agility.
Table of Contents
VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS
CLIENT CASE STUDIES
DB Administration, Security and Compliance for First Distribution
First Distribution’s Database Administration, Security and Compliance needs lead it to trusted advisor, Ascent Technology. For any large organisation, Database Administration (DBA) is a vital part of maintaining their Data Platform Operations effectively. As it has...
Ascent Technology helps Bidfood SA migrate to Microsoft Azure
When Bidfood SA chose to modernise and migrate its data platform to Microsoft Azure, it turned to Ascent Technology for help. In a world that is digitally transforming, it is more vital than ever to an organisation’s success to utilise the latest platforms to drive...
Ascent Technology helps migrate Phumelela Gaming to Azure
A Windows Server and SQL Server consolidation, optimisation and migration to Microsoft Azure enables the company to reduce costs, modernise its data platform and boost its innovation capabilities. As an operator running two distinct betting businesses, Phumelela...
CAMPAIGNS
Database System Health Check Service from Ascent Technology
A Database System Health Check assesses if your Database is running optimally, and can help diagnose challenges before performance issues, and/or down time affect your users. That’s where Ascent's Database Health Check Service comes in. Our Database Health Check...
Database Security and Compliance with DB Shield
The growing number of threats to databases and unauthorised access to the data within, is clearly creating on-going headaches for CIOs. Solving these headaches may not be easy, but by asking the right questions, CIOs can begin to overcome their Database Security and...
Database Administration and Support Service from Ascent Technology
Economic volatility is driving a greater number of organisations to consider cost cutting measures and to implement consolidation procedures. This situation is further compounded by the growing skills shortage that makes it more difficult for businesses to acquire and...
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Microsoft Data and Analytics Partner of the Year Finalist
Ascent Technology continues its strong showing in the Microsoft Partner of the Year awards, as a finalist in the Data and Analytics Partner of the Year award. Finalist Data and Analytics Partner of the Year "It is always gratifying to be recognised by Microsoft as one...
NEWSFLASHES
Ascent Technology’s clients benefit from Data Platform Modernisation
Facing platform ‘end of life’ issues together with increasing pressures to digitise processes, increase profitability and innovate on product and service, organisations are finding Data Platform Modernisation projects can deliver significant value by enabling IT cost...
Ascent Technology’s clients benefit from Database Administration Outsourcing
Ascent Technology's proven database services model enables clients to Co/Outsource the daily maintenance, management and support of their database environments on a 24/7 basis. The active monitoring, preventative maintenance and management ensures optimal performance....
FROM THE DESK OF THE MD
From the Desk of the MD – January 2019
The start of another year inevitably brings with it the promise of change, and in wishing all our clients a happy New Year, we would like to suggest that 2019 is going to be a year of considerable and exciting change. After all, not only do we have what are sure to be...
Ascent Technology puts TransUnion Auto on the road to further success
TransUnion Auto is fast becoming the standard of vehicle intelligence in South Africa. The only provider of current market values of used vehicles in the country, TransUnion supplies this essential information for the buying and selling of vehicles, as well as operates an online auction portal. Known as TradeXchange, the portal allows dealers to reduce the time vehicles spend on their floor, while obtaining the best possible price, thanks to national exposure.
With its unique market niche, it is unsurprising that the company experienced rapid growth. This, in turn, led to stability challenges within its IT infrastructure. These challenges meant that TransUnion had to deal with unacceptable levels of downtime and the attendant customer dissatisfaction. The company therefore contacted its hardware technology partner, Dell for help. In turn, Dell called in one of its Preferred Professional Services Partners, in the form of Ascent Technology.
“Effectively, what TransUnion required was a partner that could not only help with its existing challenges, but that could also plan a strategic technology roadmap for the future. Such a partner would need to play a trusted advisory role and bring a deep understanding of complex database environments to the table, and it would need to have skilled and experienced personnel and a strong technical focus,” says Kriben Reddy, Technical Manager of TransUnion.
Reddy indicates that the most immediate challenge facing TransUnion was its need for high availability for its entire system. After all, if the system was down, the company was unable to do business.
“Because the organisation had experienced such strong and rapid growth, it needed its entire database environment to be overhauled, to bring it in line with the growing business requirements. As database administration specialists, Ascent was brought in by Dell to focus on the key issues of performance and scalability,” he says.
“TransUnion was running Oracle rack clusters, with an applications server operating the online vehicle auctioning portal. While this was certainly the key application for our business, we also required high availability for our business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) portals as well,” adds Reddy.
Through the consolidation and upgrading of the company’s Oracle database environment, Ascent was able to help TransUnion address the challenges created by the rapid growth. In particular, Ascent was able to take a snapshot of where the organisation was, thereby enabling a seamless migration to the upgraded Oracle technology environment.
“We have partnered with Dell on many occasions, when the company has required the kind of specific skills we can provide. As a Preferred Professional Services Partner, we also offer the kind of industry credibility TransUnion required. Perhaps most importantly, we were prepared to not only assist them with their immediate needs, but were willing to develop a roadmap for the future – and then walk that road alongside them. This is something we have many years of experience in doing,” says Johan Lamberts, MD of Ascent Technology.
“We were involved in upgrading their entire Oracle stack. This included database software, clustering and applications servers with portal and PHP. The latter was, in fact, a double upgrade across two different versions of the software. In addition, we implemented grid control for the monitoring and administration of the architecture moving forward.”
Lamberts says that Ascent delivered on all TransUnion’s requirements. These included improved performance, increased uptime and better availability. Thanks to the consolidation, management and performance monitoring the company delivered, TransUnion has also realised increased cost savings.
“We have a long history of working with Dell and this project once again emphasised the symbiotic nature of our relationship. Because our two organisations work so well together, we were able to deliver on all the requirements, thereby offering genuine value to the customer.”
“This was something we certainly achieved with TransUnion, where we were able to play the role of trusted advisor and partner. By delivering strong service level agreements, coupled with a strategic roadmap for the future, Ascent has clearly delivered to TransUnion’s satisfaction. This is evidenced by the fact that we are jointly identifying further projects that will enable us to add even more value for TransUnion in the future,” he concludes.
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