DCG Group designed a backup solution for engineering firm Buro Happold that met their stringent requirements. DCG rapidly installed systems at Buro Happold's primary data center and began backing up their 20 terabytes of data. The backup service has been working well, securely storing and accessing all of Buro Happold's project, client, and business system data. Buro Happold's IT officer recommends DCG for their reliable, cost-effective, and predictable backup service.

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Case Study | Buro Happoldwww.dcggroup.com
DCG ENGINEERS THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR BURO HAPPOLD
“We required a reliable and cost efficient backup solution and DCG Group designed a
service to suit our firm’s requirements which is working extremely well; I would definitely
recommend them.”
Nick Irwin, IT Infrastructure Officer at Buro Happold.
Key benefits:
• DCG escalation - ability to
escalate rapidly and effectively
into vendors when required
• DCG engineers cross-trained
- in all aspects of backup and
recovery infrastructure
• DCG assurance - you only
pay for the licence support you
require as all licences are pro
rata to a single end date for
ease of administration
World renowned multidisciplinary engineering
consultancy Buro Happold has a distinctive
focus on quality and performance, and
when a new solution was needed to back up
massive data volumes from their international
operations, DCG was able to step in with
a service that matched the firm’s own
exceptionally high standards.
BURO HAPPOLD
Buro Happold is an independent international
practice of consulting engineers. Since 1976
Buro Happold has grown in size and reach
to serve public and private clients across a
full range of sectors through an international
network of 27 offices.
Buro Happold draws on the multidisciplinary
skills, knowledge and experience of local
experts to design and deliver award winning
building, infrastructure and environmental
projects that excel for clients, engage with
communities and enrich the lives of users.
Sustainability, innovation and holistic consulting
are at the heart of everything Buro Happold
does and the practice is committed to touching
the earth lightly, thinking harder and dedicated
to addressing the big challenges that face the
planet – climate change, population growth and
scarcity of natural resources.
Current and recent projects include the
Grand Museum of Egypt (Cairo), the Louvre
(Abu Dhabi), the Aviva Stadium (Dublin), the
London 2012 Olympic Stadium, the King
Abdullah Financial District (Riyadh), the Royal
Shakespeare Theatre (Stratford) and Crystal
Bridges Museum of American Art (Arkansas).
BUILDING IT SYSTEMS
Buro Happold has IT systems which are
continually evolving to ensure that they
underpin all elements of the business and
provide the best possible service to clients,
supporting the firm’s growth, improving
connectivity and knowledge sharing. Data
volumes are growing rapidly, with ‘data rich’
plans and technical drawings boosting all
the usual business documentation of an
international firm. Buro Happold’s IT systems
are managed by an IT team of 40 staff, with a
team of specialists working on infrastructure.
The secure, reliable and resilient back-up
of the firm’s data from multiple international
operations is a critical area for the IT team.
Irwin was determined that governance for data
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© 2012 Data Continuity Group.
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Case Study | Buro Happoldwww.dcggroup.com
Key benefits:
• DCG Support Desk - acts as
a single point of contact for all
fault calls logged, owning the
management, resolution and
closure of any issues
• Onsite assistance - from
DCG’s technical engineers
and consultants for support-
related issues
• True independent support -
with strong technical skill sets
that can significantly help in
resolving any “finger-pointing”
issues which may arise
• Named DCG engineers -
who understand the customer
environment and any
previous issues
back-up should continue to be in place to meet
the challenge of the firm’s growing international
order book. He began a tender process to find
a Managed Services partner who would be
aligned with Buro Happold’s expectations and
culture, stringent quality standards and specific
cost and scheduling requirements.
PERFORMANCE AND COMPLIANCE
As providers of Managed Services worldwide,
the DCG Group was recommended to
Irwin by a colleague and took part in Buro
Happold’s tender process. DCG met Irwin’s
core requirement; a partner able to operate
seamlessly on an international level, with
a proven track record in supporting large,
complex multi-site environments, backing up
data 24 hours a day all year round.
Compliance in the protection and management
of data is part of the compliance environment
for all engineering businesses operating under
strict regulatory guidelines and controls across
international boundaries. Irwin and his team
could be confident that within DCG’s services
retention, management and recovery were
compliant with the latest legal requirements.
Dedicated infrastructure for service delivery
ensures that all data assets are fully accessible
with multiple links as well as emergency crash
servers. Services are supported by three
internationally recognised accreditations: ISO
27001, ISO 20000 and ISO9001.
Irwin provided a detailed and complex brief
of Buro Happold’s requirements and was
impressed by DCG’s commitment to meeting
his specifications in detail.
RAPID INSTALLATION AND ‘GO LIVE’
Irwin decided to agree a contract and service
level agreement with DCG, in which data
volumes of up to 20 terabytes would be backed
up through a Managed Service with a rigorous
Service Level agreement. Irwin was keen to see
the new system working as soon as possible
and DCG responded immediately.
“DCG moved rapidly to install their systems
at our primary data centre alongside our own
systems and began backing up data for a brief
trial period,” explains Irwin.
“When we saw that the service was working well,
we went live straightaway; it has been working
exceptionally well as designed ever since.”
“Some of our offices have their own servers
and back-up systems but essentially we rely on
DCG to back up and secure all our project data,
client data and business systems,” explains
Irwin. “We have tested for restores and found all
data securely stored and accessible.”
PREDICTABLE COST AND STRONG
SUPPORT
“Costs for the DCG Managed Service are
wrapped up in one flat fee, as long as we stick
at 20 terabytes,” explains Irwin. “I’m quite
happy with that, as it enables us to budget
months in advance.”
Another important feature for Buro Happold
is the level of service provided by the DCG
team, with fully qualified IT technicians working
in a UK based NOC centre providing 24/ 7
Customer Service and Support.
“They are good at keeping us in the loop
and respond immediately to any query or
comment,” says Irwin.
“We are unusual among Managed Service
providers in that our services are adapted
to meet the requirements of each individual
customer,” explains DCG Group’s Business
Development Director James Harris. “It was
clear that Buro Happold had a specific set of
requirements and a timeline which we had the
capabilities to meet.”
BUSINESS BENEFITS
It is essential to Buro Happold’s worldwide
professional reputation that the IT systems
used with customers are aligned with the
firm’s uncompromising standards for intelligent
design and quality. Secure data backup and
recovery is a critical part of this Buro Happold
IT infrastructure and Irwin can now be confident
that through the partnership with DCG, this is
assured. Predictable costs and performance
mean that the IT team is freed up to focus on
other important areas of infrastructure design
and management.
“I would definitely recommend DCG to
anyone looking for a reliable cost effective and
predictable back-up service,” concludes Irwin.