Relocating your servers? Follow our step-by-step IT relocation plan

A crucial part of any office move is IT relocation. Any delays or mishaps can result in business downtime or the loss of stored data. You also need to make sure that the IT set-up for each individual employee is in line with their preferences.

You must factor in IT relocation into your wider move plan – here are the key aspects to consider.

Server relocation

IT relocation can be broadly divided into two categories – server relocation and office equipment relocation.

Servers are one of the most valuable items to transport with care, as any accidents could result in damaged hardware or data loss. This can be extremely harmful to a business – especially if it doesn’t have that data backed up anywhere.

It may be tempting to relocate servers yourself as they don’t look too cumbersome. But many companies work with a specialist mover because it’s worth paying for the expertise – and they’ll also offer a fully-insured move.

We conduct a digital audit prior to moving any servers and record the condition of items along with photographs. Our specialists pack servers into cases designed for moving servers and use security ties if needed. We can also GPS track servers during transport if they contain particularly important or sensitive data.

We’ll build your server relocation into our wider relocation plan or work with your moving teams to make sure there are agreed timelines. We ensure that your new location is set-up to home your server in advance of transportation.

Your servers will be offline during the move, so we’ll agree an optimum time to move them that will result in the least downtime. The cost of downtime for SMBs can range from £5,500 - £18,000 per hour, so it’s essential to pick this time carefully.

Once in the new location, we’ll set up your servers and test them before they go live.

With careful planning, the right equipment and expertise, your server relocation can be a smooth process.

Office IT equipment relocation

The second part of an IT relocation is moving the equipment. The last thing you want is for your employees to arrive at your new space and they have missing or wrong equipment.

The process should be about much more than simply relocating equipment from one place to another. It’s a chance to take inventory, replace or refurbish old equipment, and optimise workspaces.

We start the process with an IT audit. This doesn’t just cover what you have and where it’s going, but also includes personal audits with every employee. We ask how they want their new set-up to be, from monitor height to whether they are left or right-handed.

We clean equipment before packing it away and use antistatic wraps to protect monitors. IT equipment is transported in hard cases to keep it from being damaged.

Once in the new location, our teams refer to the personal audits to ensure that every workplace is set-up per each employee’s preference. We group, tie and hide cables away to keep the space safe and aesthetically pleasing. This will also make it easier to manage future moves.

Finally, we check that everything is connected and working before employees come in for the first time.

Working with an expert

IT moves can be handled in-house, but most companies opt to work with an expert partner. We can manage an IT relocation as part of your business move and work with your IT team every step of the way.

We started out as a business in the 1980s supporting tech companies as they relocated to the Thames Valley, so IT relocation is one of our core specialities.

Since then, we have continued to support businesses with IT relocation and business moves across the UK. Get in touch to discuss how we can support your business.