Case Study: American Society of Agronomy’s Need for Data Center, Network Building and Internet Expertise

Background

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) is a forward-thinking international society dedicated to empowering scientists, educators, and practitioners in developing and applying agronomic solutions to feed and sustain the world. With a team skilled in building websites and databases but lacking expertise in connecting to the Internet, ASA turned to SupraNet for a comprehensive network solution.

ASA’s challenges included a need for robust connectivity with redundancy, support for numerous servers and databases, and a reliable partner for troubleshooting and guidance.

Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Data Center Connectivity and Support

ASA’s previous data center in Milwaukee offered no support or options for network troubleshooting. ASA sought a partner who could help map connections and provide hands-on assistance.

Solution: Collaborative Meetings and Detailed Planning

SupraNet conducted several collaborative meetings, developing a detailed project plan to map out ASA’s network connections. SupraNet provided critical support, including equipment setup and ensuring redundancy with two Internet lines. Colin Baker from SupraNet played a crucial role in this process, enabling ASA to get up and running with extremely minimal downtime.

Impact on Business

ASA avoided the need to hire additional consultants or employees, saving money and time. SupraNet’s built-in consulting services provided expertise and support, ensuring a seamless network setup and ongoing reliability.

Challenge: Failing Firewall

ASA’s firewall struggled with the increasing traffic and bandwidth demands, particularly with new content types like video. ASA needed a new firewall but required interim support.

Solution: Remote Hands and Equipment Lending

SupraNet provided remote hands and loaned backup equipment, ensuring ASA’s operations continued smoothly during the transition. SupraNet’s team manually powered on equipment and assisted with the firewall setup.

Impact on Business

ASA maintained operational continuity while finding a suitable firewall consultant and implementing a new firewall, minimizing downtime and ensuring the network met contemporary performance standards.

Challenge: Equipment Monitoring and Maintenance

Without having staff specifically tasked to maintain and monitor equipment, as well as needing to collocate computers, hardware can begin to fail without knowledge of the business.

Solution: Proactive Monitoring and Communication

SupraNet’s proactive monitoring alerted ASA to potential equipment failures before they became critical. ASA only needed to visit the data center quarterly or for specific projects, relying on SupraNet for ongoing support and troubleshooting.

Impact on Business

Proactive equipment monitoring by SupraNet prevents catastrophic failures, reduces staffing costs, and ensures smooth operations while reducing the need for frequent data center visits.

Overall Impact

SupraNet’s solutions provided ASA with a reliable, redundant network setup, continuous firewall support, and proactive equipment monitoring. ASA benefited from cost and time savings, operational continuity, and enhanced network reliability.

 “SupraNet’s support and expertise have been invaluable to us. Their proactive monitoring and hands-on assistance have saved us from potential crises and ensured our network runs smoothly. We couldn’t have done it without their help.”

 Ian Popkewitz, IT/Operations Dept. Director, American Society of Agronomy

Conclusion

The partnership between ASA and SupraNet highlights the critical role of a trusted and proactive partner in ensuring network reliability and operational efficiency. SupraNet’s customized solutions, hands-on support, and proactive monitoring enables ASA to focus on their core mission of developing and disseminating agronomic solutions, confident in the knowledge that their network infrastructure is in expert hands.