What factors were behind AgFirst’s decision to relocate their data center?
We were out of room and our existing data center had unchangeable factors such as space and flexibility limiting service tiers regardless of money spent. We considered renovating our existing data center one floor at a time. The cost was estimated at $10-25 million, and it required a temporary relocation. Meanwhile, our data center flooded, and we realized that our potential $10-25 million project would not have prevented or mitigated the flood event.
Ultimately, we started looking at buying land and found a great fit.
What are the 3 most important lessons learned?
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The rewards of keeping infrastructure current
- The value of having the right staff in adequate amounts
- Getting the right partners involved so that you don’t try to do everything and/or rely on experts
What were the top 5 business benefits from your relocation?
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Ability to accommodate far more growth
- Flexibility to handle changes better
- A more secure environment and the ability to implement additional secure processes all around (facilities, upkeep, repairs, IT)
- Better ability to handle disasters and business disruptions
- An improved platform to deliver services and value to associations (AgFirst customers)
After 12 months of effort with zero downtime, AgFirst’s operating costs dropped significantly. Performance and reliability improved dramatically as did the capacity to increase services. AgFirst is now positioned to accommodate significant business growth and acquisition. For a deeper look into the project, read their case study, A Financial Institution Relocation. It is available below.
