When moving to a new office, it is necessary to bring along computers, phones, servers, and other technological systems, which can be quite risky. For this reason, it becomes necessary to manage everything carefully. If there are any missteps on the way, it may lead to an extended downtime. Data loss can occur and may require thousands of dollars in recovery costs. Therefore, it is always better to have experienced movers in Stockport for the job. Experts recommend creating an IT relocation checklist to ensure a smooth removal process.
Checklist for IT Relocation
Planning and Assessment Pre-Move
First, it is better to create a cross-functional team comprising employees from facilities management, IT, and leadership. It is better to make an IT expert the team’s lead. Making an accurate inventory of the laptops, desktops, and other mobile devices, along with the switches, routers, servers, and firewalls. It is also important to monitor software licenses and configurations. Inventory ensures that nothing is ignored or lost on the way.
In addition to the existing location, it is essential to assess the new space’s infrastructure. It is better to have a proper set-up at the destination from day one. Cabling, wireless coverage, fire suppression, surge protection, and server room specifications must receive significant attention to avoid issues later. Deciding on the locations of these IT systems and server installations may help avoid issues on the day of the move.
To avoid issues later, experts recommend backing up all the data. By leveraging physical and cloud backups, it becomes possible to stay safe and secure. Taking snapshots of the configuration can help you restore everything quickly.
Contact the internet service providers and IT vendors at least 60 days before the move to update their records and schedule the installation. It may help avoid delays.
Prepare and Pack Everything
Before packing the items, it is better to level everything. On occasion, it may be better to utilise colour-coded tags. It may allow the movers to deploy everything faster. If anything is missing, it can be troubleshooted immediately.
Disconnecting the equipment from the server enables a complete shutdown. It is better to take an image of the cable setup to facilitate quick reassembly. For the safe removal of the IT equipment, experts may advise using hard cases, anti-bubble wrap, and padded cartons. Fragile items must not be stacked together. A tamper-proof container may protect sensitive and high-value items during transit. Old equipment must be decommissioned after the data has been extracted to the hard drive.
Relocation Day
Proper coordination of the movers ensures a smooth electronic relocation. Sharing data on the asset inventory and labelling system can make the moving process smoother. Supervising everything during loading can help prevent damage. For high-value items such as servers, using a climate-controlled vehicle with GPS tracking may be the best option.
Stockport Removals & Storage Ltd has a team of qualified professionals to help. With our experienced movers, office relocation should not be stressful. Book our service today!