British ISP Ensures Service Quality With PRTG

Company Profile

Tim Pat Dufficy is Managing Director of ServerSpace Limited, a privately owned company that started business in November 2006. ServerSpace is a quality ISP currently offering the following services: colocation hosting, managed services, online backup and connectivity. It is planning to launch fully managed services solutions aimed at SMEs in Q4 2007.

As ServerSpace is an ISP the ability to monitor bandwidth usage together with network data to optimize its network efficiency is seen as being vital to its future success.

Challenge

From the outset it was essential for ServerSpace to ensure that it was getting the best out of its network for the benefit of its customers. Its main selling platform is to offer honest advice and excellent customer service, believing that both aspects will assist in rapid growth. It is critical, therefore, that service performance bottlenecks are avoided to ensure a high quality service is delivered. Tim was also looking for a way to calculate bandwith usage per switch port. "This is one of our core services and it's important we calculate the usage accurately to ensure the customer is charged for what is used." said Tim.

Tim began his search and quickly located MRTG, which had the advantage of being free, and Paessler's PRTG product, which would have to be bought under licence. Tim then set about testing both products extensively.

Solution

While no current problem existed, without the ability to monitor the network and bandwidth usage Tim knew he would be creating difficulties in the future. He also recognised that the software he chose would become a vital and intrinsic part of his service to customers and help the business on the path to success.

"It wasn't a case of shall we or shan't we, but of which product we should go with." said Tim. "I have used lots of software over the years and am very conversant with being able to assess their worth. I know pretty much straight away whether software has been written well and if does what it says it can do. With Paessler's PRTG I knew immediately that it was an excellent product.

"It was extremely easy to install and configure, it was ready for use within minutes and we've had no hassle with it whatsoever. It proves its worth for us on a daily basis with the information that we get from it."

Asked whether he felt able to recommend the product to colleagues and peers Tim's answer was, "Unreservedly." he continued, "It is rare that I actually take the time or make the effort to endorse a product as I am now doing. It is testament to the worth I place in Paessler's PRTG that I am so enthusiastic about it and have agreed to give my opinion of it."

Tim says that as the company grows he will continue to use Paessler's PRTG and it will remain a vital component within ServerSpace's business.