In This Issue:

Visual Data
Systems Seminar
Wilmington NC
September 22

About Us

Visual Data Systems is a leader in Internet marketing, technology consulting and World Wide Web design. As a pioneer in Internet business, we've logged more than a decade of achieving customer satisfaction and Internet innovation.

Visual Data Systems offers a wide variety of products and services that can be customized to fit your unique business needs. Let our experienced professionals polish your ideas and dreams to create your distinctive Internet presence.

At Visual Data Systems, there are no barriers. Just Innovations.

News & Events

Catch Visual Data Systems at the upcoming Conferences:

RMS Users Conference Wilmington, NC, September 22-24

Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA) National
Orlando, Florida October 11th - 15th

August 2003 • Volume 1, Issue 3

IT Infrastructure Explained

To operate efficiently and to remain competitive, your business needs to provide information to your staff, your homeowners, and your guests. The information is stored on computers, and is delivered through applications such as your Property Management package, your Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, Web pages, and e-mail. The "IT Infrastructure" comprises all of the underlying pieces that provide access to and delivery of your information, along with pieces to control access and protect that information.

These pieces, or components, include:

• Applications
  • Property Management
  • Shared Databases
  • Call Distribution
  • e-Mail
  • Web pages
  • IVR
  • Citrix
  • Etc.
• Servers that host the applications
• Server Operating Systems
• User Devices
  • PCs
  • Terminal Clients
• Printers
• Local Area Network (LAN) Hardware that connect the Servers, PCs and Printers
• LAN Software and Utilities that help the LAN devices to talk to each other
• Office Telecom Systems
  • Phone Switch
  • Voice Mail
  • Auto Call Distribution
• Wide Area Network (WAN) Hardware and Circuits that connect your main office to remote offices and the Internet
• Maintenance Systems that manage the infrastructure and minimize downtime
  • backup systems
  • UPS systems
• Security Systems
  • firewalls
  • Anti-Virus
  • VPN systems

The trick is to get all these diverse components to work together seamlessly to deliver the necessary information to each individual who requires it, regardless of his or her physical location - the local office, a remote office, a home office, or through your Web site. And this integration can be quite a trick!

The components are typically from multiple manufacturers that don't always play well together. Furthermore, pieces from the same manufacturer are often difficult to integrate. While you are in complete control of much of this infrastructure, contractors control some of it, such as Internet access and telecom circuits. The contracted components require additional management and coordination.

Yes, integrating the multiple products, multiple manufacturers, and multiple providers that your IT infrastructure depends on can be quite the challenge.

The goal of Visual Data Systems' IT Infrastructure Solutions practice is help you with this integration puzzle. We can optimize each piece of your IT infrastructure, coordinate your vendors, and integrate all of the pieces into a synergistic platform that satisfies your business needs and delivers your information quickly, easily, reliably, and securely. If you'd like assistance upgrading or tuning your IT infrastructure, or have any questions concerning how to get the most out of your IT infrastructure, please contact Tom Kaczmarek at 410.964.8665 x333 or tomk@vdsys.com.

About the Author: Tom Kaczmarek has contributed this article. Tom is Director of Infrastructure Solutions for Visual Data Systems and may be contacted 410.964.8665 x333 or tomk@vdsys.com.

Visual Data Systems, Inc.
10760 Hickory Ridge Road, Suite 312
Columbia, MD 21044

Phone: (410) 964-8665 ext. 215 • Fax: (410) 964-5668
Email: info@vdsys.com • Web: www.vdsys.com

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Copyright © 2003 by Visual Data Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.