Case Studies

Exploration Capital

Exploration Capital Ltd is a family office based in London who are primarily involved in the agricultural sector.

The Requirement

Exploration Capital Ltd were referred to us by another London company, The Crescent Trust, in 2013.

AME were asked to look at the ageing Dell T110 SBS 2008 server that had been in place since 2011 and recommend a solution that would replace it with a more robust system at the core of the network.
With Directors that travel the world for business, an email solution was also a core requirement, as well as maintaining their data on a private network in London, with the potential of large data growth within the business.

AME’s Solution

We provided the client with options to meet the specification and budget requirements for a new server and they utilised our custom spec HPE ML30 Gen9 server for the 4 users in the company. This server is an affordable single-socket tower server that features value performance, expansion, and growth that is ideal for small businesses and remote branch offices.

The new server was deployed with Windows Server Essentials 2016 as it was the perfect solution for a small businesses and would allow up to 25 users and 50 devices.

Microsoft Office 365 Business Essentials was configured, rather than on premise Microsoft Exchange to allow all users to access their email from all of their devices, anytime, anywhere.

With 2TB of local file storage on the HPE ML30 server and 50GB mailboxes per user for email, the team have the ability to grow in personnel and in data of the next 5 years knowing they have a server suitable for their requirements.

Client Review

AME provided our company with a new server following the requirements to upgrade the old server. The whole process from options available to us to the implementation of the new server was hassle free. AME provided a great service and the new server has worked well to meet the needs of our business. I would recommend AME for any new hardware and software installations and IT support.



Sheppard Rockey and Williams Accountants

Client Overview

SRW are a firm of Chartered Accountants based in Exminster, Exeter, Devon offering professional accountancy and taxation services to a wide range of clients.

Just four miles outside of Exeter city centre, SRW offer a comprehensive range of services, including basic accounting and tax compliance work, tax planning and consultancy as well as business advice for starts-ups and growing enterprises.

Steve Williams started what became the major part of the practice in 1985 and was probably the first accountancy practice in the Exeter locality to be fully computerised at that time.

Sheppard Rockey & Williams formed in 2006 from the merger of two sole practices. SRW now serve clients across Devon, the UK and overseas.

SRW had been through a number of software & hardware evolutions as the business grew. As software became more professional and with those previous experiences meant that AME had to provide a service to a challenging and demanding client.

The Requirement

With a growing work force that had now reached 20 employees, working from a server that was 6 years old and a phone system that was 10 years old, a complete ICT refresh was required to enable the company to continue to grow and utilise the latest technology and software.

AME were asked to advise on the best strategy to improve the ICT, providing a more functional, reliable, secure and future proof system.

AME’s Solution

Through our consultation with SRW, reviewing the existing setup and future requirements our proposed virtual server environment was installed at the core of the solution.

VMware virtualisation software enabled us to install four Servers on a new custom specification HP server and management console. On one virtual server, we installed Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2013. This provided a centralised data store for files and email, enabling the teams to share information more effectively and utilise Microsoft Outlook for booking meetings, sharing calendars and much more. We migrated two existing application servers running SQL 2008, IRIS and Sage accounts software to virtual servers allowing for the old hardware to be decommissioned. A new fourth virtual server enable us to install 3CX, one of the world’s leading software based VOIP PBX.

One of the most important aspects of any server infrastructure is backup and disaster recovery. Using Veeam Backup Essentials and two NAS boxes (Network Attached Storage), a full offsite backup and replication solution was setup, not only to restore individual files and emails, but the entire virtual servers.

Several products were installed for cyber security and to protect the network and users. Sophos Central Endpoint, Sophos Central Server and Sophos Pure Message detect and block viruses, spyware, spam, phishing schemes, hacker attacks, and stops email threats before they reach the network. In conjunction, Sophos Central Intercept X was added to the security suite to protect against ransomware attacks, providing an integrated security solution.

To replace the old and costly analogue phone system, we installed a new fibre internet line through Zen Internet, which enable us to implement a VOIP solution using 3CX. The 3CX phone system for Windows is a software-based IP PBX and was installed into the virtual environment. This feature rich product provided many new features such as voicemail to email, auto attendant, call queuing, android/IPhone integration and much more. The VOIP solution not only provided these new features but has significantly reduced the annual communication costs, by reducing the physical lines previously required and lowering call costs.

Our Microsoft, Sophos and 3CX certified engineers installed and configured the entire project with very little disruption to the business and through our proactive support package, the network is monitored and maintained, ensuring the system is always functioning to its highest level.

Client Review

Having worked with Steve and Simon and their team at AME for many years, I had a 100% trust in them to provide a solution that was going to take our IT forward and give us a system that would be reliable and scalable to handle all of our applications. I have been extremely impressed with the new virtual server environment and the new phone system has reduced our phone bill by over 80%.

I am so pleased they recommended Sophos security products, especially Intercept X. With the increase in ransomware and sophisticated emails that can easily fool an employee, I now have the peace of mind that I have protection cable of stopping these kind of cyber-attacks.

I would not hesitate to recommend AME Solutions – Steve Williams, Director or Sheppard Rockey & Williams.


Saunton Golf Club

Client Overview

Saunton Golf Club has been established for over 100 Years, starting life as a 9 hole course in 1897 and becoming an 18 hole course by 1908. In 1935 a second course was designed, giving the club two 18 hole courses, known as the East and West course. The East Course is ranked number 32 in the Golf World “Top 100 Courses” and the West Course is number 67 and there is only one club with 2 better links courses in the whole country and that is St Andrews!

The Requirement

With a newly refurbished clubhouse and new general manager Russell Mayne taking charge, the goal was to take the course into the top 20 in the UK with every aspect of the club (including internal systems) brought up to a high standard.

The ICT infrastructure and telephone system, as well as the software used all required to be refreshed with the latest technology to give the team and golfers control and the ability to operate at a more efficient level.

AME were approached to consult on the current state of the network and to advise on the best strategy to improve the ICT, providing a more functional, reliable, secure and future proof system.

AME’s Solution

Our initial audit and consultation revealed several areas that required improving and through advice and consideration of the options proposed, a new virtual server environment was installed at the core of the solution.

Using VMware virtualisation software, a new custom specification HP server was installed by AME to run Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2013. This provided a centralised data store for files and email, enabling the teams to share information more effectively and utilise Microsoft Outlook for booking meetings, sharing calendars and much more. Many layers of redundancy were built into the server as part of the business continuity planning, however it was essential a full offsite backup solution was implemented as well. Using Veeam Backup Essentials a full offsite backup and replication solution was setup, which enables the golf club not only to restore individual files and emails, but the entire virtual servers.

The network was protected by McAfee SaaS Endpoint which detects and blocks viruses, spyware, spam, phishing schemes, hacker attacks, and stops email threats before they reach the network, providing a single integrated security solution.

With an outdated ISDN phone system that had gone end of life, it was essential that the phone system was upgraded in line with the rest of the IT. Once a new fibre internet line was installed, AME implemented a VOIP solution using one of the world leading software based IP PBX providers, 3CX. The 3CX phone system for Windows is a software-based IP PBX that replaces a proprietary hardware PBX / PABX and was installed into the virtual environment. This feature rich product provided many new features such as voicemail to email and the ability to take an extension from an handset to a mobile or laptop for remote working. The VOIP solution not only provided these new features but has significantly reduced the annual communication costs, by reducing the physical lines previously required and lowering call costs.

The entire project was delivered with minimal downtime and disruption to the business by AME’s Microsoft certified engineers and through our proactive support package the network is monitored and maintained, ensuring the system is always functioning to its highest level.

Client Review

Having worked with AME solutions previously, I was confident that the issues we had were understood, appraised, and the correct solution presented. The technical team were brilliant with my staff, and any support calls have been handled in an efficient and customer orientated way

With the new system installed, I can make decisions based on data and fact, rather than a ‘hunch’. I have analysis on missed calls, peak call times and can staff the business accordingly

It’s a pleasure to work with AME

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    Testimonials

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