Hyper Converged Infrastructure
Howells
Streamlining Data Management and Reducing Costs
Howells
- Industry: Architecture, Engineering & Construction
- Size: 100-200 Employees
- Annual Revenue: £1 Mn
- Locations: 2 Sites
Solution
- Implement two-tier data centre model
- Deliver hyper-converged performance tier & integrating cloud-based storage
- Deploy a unified file system
- Facilitate automated data archiving
Challenge
- Overcoming Outdated Storage Capacity Limitations
- Navigating Costly and Disruptive Upgrades
- Addressing Inefficiencies in Archiving Processes
- Enhancing Collaboration Amidst Rapid Growth
Results
- Reduced storage infrastructure TCO by 35%
- Streamlined backup and archive management
- Boosted productivity in CAD design creation
- Laid groundwork for continuous innovation
About Howells
Howells was established in 1990 and has built a strong reputation over the past three decades as one of the foremost design-led architectural practices in the UK. With offices in Birmingham and London, the practice’s work is characterised by clarity of vision and innovative use of materials.
The studio has won numerous national and international design competitions and has received more than 100 awards for projects ranging from cultural buildings and housing to large-scale urban mixed-use developments.
The Challenge
As Howells continued to expand, they begun to encounter significant operational challenges that pushed their existing infrastructure and strategies to the limit.
These were:
- Inadequate Storage and Archiving – The primary issue was their outdated NetApp storage and manual archiving, which struggled against increasing data volumes. These systems, once pivotal, were now falling behind, highlighting the necessity for modernisation.
- Upgrade Challenges – Howells faced costly and disruptive storage system upgrades, acknowledging the unsustainability of their approach. These upgrades were expensive and could disrupt operations, underscoring the need for strategic change.
- Collaboration Issues – Howells also encountered difficulties in enhancing collaboration as their operations grew. The current methods for team and partner communication were no longer adequate, indicating a need for improved mechanisms to keep pace with growth and maintain efficiency.
Howells sought a solution to address the following operational challenges:
- Inadequate storage and archiving
- Upgrade challenges
- Collaboration issues
The Nephos Solution
Facing the need for a flexible infrastructure to support growth and data management, Nephos crafted a two-tiered data centre strategy for Howells, balancing high-performance workloads with unstructured data management.
The solution incorporated the following:
- Two-tiered Strategy – We established a primary tier for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and a secondary for unstructured data, ensuring scalability and efficiency.
- Hyper-Converged Performance Tier – Collaborating with Howells, we deployed a hyper-converged platform, merging storage and compute resources for better performance and reliability.
- Cloud-Integrated Storage – To simplify file management across locations, we centralised data into Microsoft Azure, creating a unified system that eliminates traditional backup needs.
- Automated Archival – An archival platform was introduced, using Azure for back-end storage, securing data cost-effectively and simplifying long-term management.
”The solution Nephos delivered reduced our initial investment costs as well as the overall TCO for our storage infrastructure.
Jonathan CarthyHead of IT
The Results
Nephos’ strategic infrastructure upgrade significantly reduced Howells’ initial investment, surpassing the original plans for expanding their NetApp system.
Key highlights include:
- Cost Savings – The solution markedly decreased the total cost of ownership (TCO) for storage infrastructure, enhancing Howells’ financial strategy.
- Efficient Operations – The management of backups and archives became more streamlined, lowering operational overhead and liberating IT resources for strategic initiatives.
- Increased Productivity – Architects at Howells experienced a significant reduction in the time required to produce CAD designs, thanks to a unified file system that facilitated better access and collaboration across locations.
Nephos’ approach not only addressed Howells’ immediate requirements but also laid the groundwork for continuous operational enhancement and innovation.
