FEATURE
management by wire

What is Management by Wire?
Management by Wire is a service developed by Epoch Online to provide customers throughout the southern United States with complete network management from the Epoch Online corporate offices. This service provides the customer with real time solutions to mission-critical issues without having to wait for an engineer to arrive.

How Will it Help My Business?
Management by Wire takes advantage of the latest technologies from Microsoft and Citrix and bundles them into a package that reduces the customer's investment costs, down-time losses and total cost of ownership while providing a service that increases operations efficiency, product life and manageability.

Here's How it Works
Management by Wire operates on a server-centric model of computing. This means all of the applications, services, and components to a network are centralized on the network server(s). The desktop/client computer, now working as a Thin-Client, accesses the server through a protocol that allows the user to simply interact with the server. When a user logs onto the server, they are actually looking at a modified view of the server that only allows them to use the applications and components that they have permission to use.

With Server-Centric computing, all maintenance is made from the server level. Upgrading applications, changing network components, or making room for growth is all done in one location, allowing growth and change to become affordable and hassle-free.

In the same fashion that users access a server, Epoch Online can access the server over the Internet and serve as an administrator for your network without having to travel to your business location. Since all users are actually using the server, any issue seen by the users can be resolved at the server level from our offices.

What Does it Cost?
Management by Wire is a contract service that in most cases requires a two-year commitment. Each solution differs in cost and terms but all are less expensive than conventional services. For more information, contact us at .

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How fast do my desktop computers have to be?
A. Since the desktop computers are only "watching" the server, the server is actually doing all of the work. This allows the older 486 computers to appear to the user as if they were as responsive as newer computers.

Q. What happens when a large number of users all open the same application on the server?
A. No problem. Current applications allow the server to open an application only once, but as each user accesses the same application, the server makes each application appear different depending upon the users' requests.

Q. Is it safe for the users of my network to have access to the server(s)?
A. The server operating system uses the same type of security that is used in the old client/server models. The user only has access to the applications, components, and services that are approved by the user's network account.

Q. What kind of administrative services can Management by Wire offer me?
A. Dependent on your needs, Epoch Online can offer all of the services and solutions of an on-staff systems administrator and more for a comparable cost. These services include:

• Direct Help Desk support for your users so that they have an instant resource for questions and answers.
• Polling and Usage statistics so that you know how your network is being used and how it could be made more efficient.
• 24/7 support for problems that arise outside of normal business hours.
• A staff of engineers and technical personnel with a variety of skill sets so that all of your issues can be addressed appropriately.
• Administration that maintains partnerships with leading industry corporations, including Microsoft.
• Administration that allows your network to serve as an extension of your business rather than a focal point of improvement.