AFRIDATA specializes in delivering network integration services and solutions.

As your company grows, the need for an integrated technology infrastructure becomes more crucial. Global Markets create an increase in demand for services and solutions across time zones and international boundaries -- all within fixed deadlines and budget restraints.

AFRIDATA is a renowned leader in networked technology services and solutions. With a knowledge base of highly skilled and qualified System Engineers, AFRIDATA spans nationally across South Africa as well as other international markets. We have the people and expertise to plan, deploy, manage and maintain your information technology environment.

Whether you are seeking better control of your networked environment or you need practical solutions, whether complex or simple, we provide the answers with Enhanced Information Technology Services.

Our strategic enterprise link with Microsoft, Trend, Veritas, Thawte and the leading importers of Intel, Cisco, Hp, Dell, and Compaq, enable us to combine their industry-leading products and technologies with our services to implement next generation solutions. Specific offerings are targeted at customers who need to achieve a rapid, cost effective return on their investment and include the following:

Microsoft: Through a close relation with Microsoft, AFRIDATA has excellent insight into Microsoft strategies and future technology's.  Linux: AFRIDATA maintains constant review and implementation of the Linux Operating System for: File Servers, Mail Server, Firewalls and Proxy Servers.

Networking: At all levels of hardware, software and protocols, both for LAN's, WAN's and VPN's. AFRIDATA has the skill to implement and maintain 3 Com, Cisco, Intel, Netgear, Bay, Cabletron, amongst others.

Hardware: Via our strategic partnership with our local importers, AFRIDATA is experienced with the integration of high-end server technology to include: Compaq, HP, Intel, Dell, IBM etc.

Cabling: Cable infrastructure consulting and design and Site engineering with structured wiring, UPS etc.

System Integration & Installation: Engineering expertise both in our integration centre and in the field.

Planning and Assessment Services

The planning and assessment services which form part of the AFRIDATA offering. This focuses on establishing ways of managing or reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO), by means of a TCO assessment and by optimising the ability of a networked IT infrastructure to support business processes through a network assessment.

TCO Assessment

The TCO assessment seeks ways of increasing the usability and functionality of a customer’s IT infrastructure coupled with ways of reducing the complexity of the IT environment with a view to managing or reducing costs and maximizing the return on IT investments. It focuses on identifying ways in which IT investments can offer customers productivity gains, performance improvements and more efficient deployment of personnel.

The TCO assessment programme assists customers to evaluate their existing IT investments and find ways of maximizing the return on investment.

Essentially the programme will:

• Apply a TCO model to the customer’s organization
• Conduct requirement analyses which focus on identifying and leveraging existing assets, and maximizing the return on IT investment
• Suggest standards which meet customer needs and, if required, procure IT assets which enable standardization
• Design roadmaps which enable customers to take advantage of future technologies

Network Enhancement

This provides an analysis of customers’ networking infrastructures and seeks to maintain and improve data flow through networks by means of regular assessments. It focuses on identifying changes that may be required to network infrastructures in order to support new, more demanding applications such as Pastel Accounting and Messaging Systems etc.

It provides information relating to customers’ networks which seeks to expose existing and potential network problems such as bottlenecks and hot spots.

Through this information, it can assist customers to:

• Resolve existing and potential network problems
• Develop strategies for upcoming projects
• Develop network migration plans

Ultimately, this aims to:

• Maximize network uptimes
• Reduce network-related support requirements
• Increase end-user satisfaction by ensuring that customers’ network operations are optimised

Network Security Assessment

AFRIDATA’s Network Security Assessment service offers to audit the internal and external security of a network. It identifies points of weakness and makes recommendations on ways of making networks more secure. Network Security Assessment aims to:

• Identify and correct any weaknesses in a customer’s external security perimeter
• Ensure that all network objects inside and outside the perimeter support high security standards
• Determine the vulnerability to attacks from a compromised internal host
• Identify and correct major deficiencies and weaknesses as quickly as possible

Network Asset Discovery

AFRIDATA’s Network Asset Discovery service offers to track network assets and provide detailed network mapping and associated documentation. Network Asset Discovery aims to:

• Identify the elements in the network interconnect area
• Create a network object inventory and map
• Create a database for asset tracking
• Identify points of weakness/failure
• The planning and assessment components are also included and are designed to assess network security levels and determine which IT assets customers have at their disposal.

Additionally, AFRIDATA offers services which provide a common operating environment design which is typically centred around Microsoft, Intel-based and Cisco technologies

Integration and Deployment Services

The integration and deployment services which form part of AFRIDATA’s offering, focuses on the implementation of networked IT infrastructures which leverage the benefits of today’s technologies and offer customers a path to a common operating environment.

The two key strands to these services are Windows 2000 migration and desktop transition services. These services seek to provide customers with a seamless transition from complex heterogeneous IT environments, typically consisting of a variety of different technologies, to common operating environments which are centred around Microsoft and Intel-based PC server technologies. The objective is to provide customers with more manageable IT infrastructures which address TCO concerns.

The integration and deployment offering also includes services which focus on areas in which demand is growing rapidly, namely:

• network migration
• enterprise messaging
• provision of secure intranet and extranet infrastructures

Enterprise Messaging

AFRIDATA’s enterprise messaging integration and deployment services aim to enable organizations to leverage employee and corporate knowledge by providing access to information that facilitates global teamwork.

AFRIDATA offers planning and implementation services centred around Microsoft messaging systems to provide the basis for enterprise messaging and collaboration. Additionally, it offers a set of migration services that allow customers to switch from Linux mail, cc: Mail, Lotus Notes or/and Microsoft Mail to Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Outlook. AFRIDATA also emphasizes its ability to roll out secure messaging infrastructures on a global basis.

AFRIDATA’s enterprise messaging solutions include:

• Communications requirements and architecture analyses to assess e-mail design and implementation.
• Consulting on security issues such as firewall requirements and potential security breaches.
• E-mail volume assessments, and forecasts of system capacity and capability
• Integration of messaging solutions with other systems through the use of mail gateways and mail application program interfaces (APIs).
• Design and consulting on external/internal communications networks or Internet communication to determine how Internet and messaging technology can meet business needs cost-effectively.
• Installation and configuration of standard messaging applications, fax servers, mail gateways and servers.

Network Migration.

AFRIDATA’s network migration services focus on facilitating the transition to a common operating environment from more complex heterogeneous environments. By leveraging its established methodologies and processes together with the importers of Cisco, Intel-based PC vendors and Microsoft, it seeks to create a holistic approach to the creation of a network-centric common operating environment.

Network migration services include:

• Network design, which involves the development of contingency plans, a review of network alternatives, and the creation of a migration plan based on vendor integration plans and client network requirements.
• Configuration and staging.
• Installation and testing.
• Training.

Management and Maintenance Services

AFRIDATA provides a comprehensive range of support and management services that seek to ensure that customers’ networked IT environments operate effectively. These services that are typically the cornerstone of AFRIDATA’s services offerings in the sense that, based on the relationship developed with customers through providing these services, AFRIDATA then becomes well positioned to facilitate migration to a common operating environment.

Constantly measuring and monitoring SLAs often further strengthen AFRIDATA’s relationships with customers. These relationships also help AFRIDATA improve the quality of its services delivered to particular customers through a deeper understanding of their business goals.

Management and maintenance services include help desk services, asset management services, network management services, remote desktop and systems management, TCO management, multivendor support, refresh services, and disaster recovery services.

Help Desk Services

AFRIDATA’s help desk services offer customers a single point of contact for all desktop- and network-related issues. It focuses on the support of the most commonly used hardware and software products.

A number of help desk support options are offered including:

• Support 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
• Multilingual support.
• The verification and tracking of calls throughout the problem resolution process.
• Automated dispatch of on-site support.
• Monthly reporting, which is designed to analyse help desk utilization and identify ways in which user self-sufficiency can be enhanced.
• Desk side support and management when required.
• Asset Management.

Asset Management

AFRIDATA’s asset management services seek to provide customers with an accurate inventory of available IT resources. This service tracks and, if required, controls asset additions, moves, modifications and deletions.

Asset management services include policies and procedures to:

• Maintain IT technical standards
• Manage the acquisition, delivery, installation, integration and disposal of IT assets
• Manage additions, changes and deletions
• Cascade usable assets and retire those which have become redundant
• AFRIDATA’s asset management services can be complemented with a variety of services including independent product evaluation, and flexible financing for clients which choose to transfer assets to AFRIDATA.

Network Management

AFRIDATA’s network management services aim to ensure that sufficient resources are deployed to optimise the performance of customer networks. These services can be provided either on-site and may also involve the transfer or management of customers’ personnel.

AFRIDATA’s network management services aim to:

• Provide remote system management to monitor systems continually
• Respond to network events and rapidly resolve problems
• Manage performance and capacity planning
• Manage telecommunications carriers, pricing and line performance
• Manage user registrations, backup and security
• Provide coverage options, including shift, continuous and scheduled monitoring
• Provide comprehensive periodic reports and recommendations which seek to optimise network performance

Install/Refresh

Desktop and systems management includes technology refresh services which are designed to ensure that customers use the latest and most appropriate technology to meet business requirements.

AFRIDATA’s Install/Refresh service is targeted at corporate environments where technical support is scarce. AFRIDATA offers to install new equipment, de-install old equipment, transfer data, and familiarize the customer with its new hardware. It also offers to orient customers on basic operations within Windows 95 and Windows NT. The service is offered on workstations, desktops and portables, and network devices.

The service is segmented into the following categories:

• PC installation and test. This offers to unbox and set up PCs, connect components and attach the machines to networks. Additionally, it offers to test that a PC environment is operating effectively using AFRIDATA’s diagnostics, conduct an anti-virus scan, and initialise Windows 95/98, Windows NT or/and Windows 2000.
• De-installation and packaging old PCs. This offers the disconnection of old PC and network components, as well as the boxing of PCs using material from new PCs, which it will transport to a central location on the customer’s site.
• Hardware orientation. This offers instructions to customers on system components including the power switch, reset button, monitor controls, front panel indicators and controls, diskette drives and operation, keyboard layout, mouse controls, input/output ports and connectors, and cover mounting screws and latches.
• Windows 95/98, Windows NT and Windows 2000 orientation. This involves instruction on program functions including starting applications and system shutdown, accessing program groups and program items, viewing and alternating between groups, customizing the Start menu, managing and browsing files from My Computer and Windows Explorer, using the Find program to locate files and folders, adding printers, display resolution, and running the ScanDisk program.

Multivendor Support

AFRIDATA’s multivendor support offerings are centred around break/fix support. Data relating to break/fix support can be integrated into help desk and asset databases to enhance other services offerings such as asset management, help desk support and network management. It has the ability to deliver break/fix support services for a wide variety of different technologies. It also provides warranty services on behalf of many hardware vendors.

Its multivendor support offerings can be split into three categories, as follows:

Software support, which includes:

• upgrade and bug fix capabilities
• problem condition reporting to the software vendor
• proactive management of software vendors to address customer needs
• technical expertise
• established escalation procedures
• Single Point of Contact (SPOC)

Warranty services, which include:

• call receipt and warranty validation
• fault isolation and dispatch
• hardware maintenance and repair
• logistical support services
• defective part return and component-level repair
• subcontractor management
• specialized programs in support of manufacturers’ products

Hardware maintenance, which includes:

• preventive and remedial diagnosis and repair
• a choice of service levels
• extended hours of cover
• a scheduled service
• return to depot services
• component-level repair
• equipment advanced exchange program
• complete spare parts availability.

Additionally, AFRIDATA offers an ongoing TCO management service which is designed to ensure that the TCO does not escalate without an equivalent increase in the value provided to customers by their IT expenditure.

Networked Technology Financial Services Solutions

Customer-facing industries are challenged with increasing demands to remain competitive. They need business solutions that enable them to respond to customers' growing demands for services, and they need to provide those services when and where they are required.

To achieve this, they need control over their networked computing environment and they need to harness the power of electronic distribution channels such as the Internet to communicate with their customers one-to-one.

AFRIDATA supports the need for advanced solutions and diverse services. Count on us to deliver solutions that bring you closer and closer to your customers.

We design the networked computing infrastructure. We install it. We manage it. And we work diligently. To satisfy the most important customer of all. You.

Business Consulting

Design, Installation, Deployment, and Integration
Maintenance, Technical Support, Helpdesk
License Microsoft Products
Sale of Computer HW - System Builder

Hosting Solutions

AFRIDATA provides high level hosting facilities for our clients. Services such as Web hosting, Mail hosting and FTP hosting are provided with secure and stable servers. Firewalls protect the client information and backup's are done on a 24 hour rotation basis. Secure certificates are also available for the client that needs secure and encrypted communications. AFRIDATA also handles the registration of national and international domain names and control them locally on DNS servers.

Linux

We provide Linux samba, mail, web and security servers and the necessary support on these machines.

Microsoft Products