Based in Geneva, the foundation plays an essential role in the city by providing housing, jobs and transport services adapted for people with disabilities. With almost 600 employees across five sites, the organization faced some complex IT management challenges. It chose Qim info, a specialist in IT services in French-speaking Switzerland, to modernize and optimize its technological infrastructure, guaranteeing increased performance and enhanced security.
“For us, it was important to find a local company with the necessary skills in network infrastructure and security, and Qim info met this need perfectly,” reports Laurent IACAZZI, Director of Information Systems at the Foyer-Handicap Foundation.
Background and challenges facing the Foyer-Handicap Foundation
The Foundation is committed to creating a living and working environment that is adapted so as to meet the needs of people with disabilities. In order to focus on its objectives and efficiently manage housing, employment and transport services across Geneva, the Fondation Foyer-Handicap needs a high-performance, secure IT infrastructure.
The organization faces several major challenges:
Fragmented IT infrastructure
Each of the five sites in the canton of Geneva manages its own IT infrastructure, a situation that generates redundancies and can complicate management. This configuration results in high operating costs, sub-optimal use of resources and particularly demanding maintenance.
Technological developments
The integration of new technologies, such as cloud computing, has become essential. Current technologies no longer meet performance requirements.
Data security
It is essential to standardize security practices across all sites, so as to ensure simplified, reliable and consistent data protection management.
Energy efficiency
As a key local player, the foundation makes it a point of honor to reduce its energy footprint. Part of the reason for overhauling its IT infrastructure lies in its desire to fulfill this commitment.
Working together to meet IT challenges
In 2022, faced with a shortage of qualified staff in its IT team, the Fondation Foyer-Handicap called on Qim info to reinforce the resources available and provide valuable technical expertise. The objective was clear: modernize the IT infrastructure so as to guarantee the security, efficiency and sustainability of the Geneva-based foundation’s IT systems.
Louis and Guillaume, experienced consultants at Qim info, lent the Geneva team a hand. To meet their top-priority needs, they focused on network infrastructure, security and the transition to cloud services.
Infrastructure modernization: a major project
Modernizing the IT infrastructure required a methodical approach, led by Qim info and organized in several key stages.
“Our priority was to ensure a smooth transition to a more modern infrastructure, while maintaining continuity of service for end-users,” says Louis.
On-Prem and Cloud infrastructure audit
To begin with, Qim info carried out an exhaustive audit of the existing IT infrastructure, covering both the “On-Premises” systems (hosted on site) and the Cloud services used by the foundation. The assessment of on-premises systems highlighted costly redundancies, while the cloud audit revealed opportunities for modernization, as well as areas for improvement in terms of security and data management.
Server centralization and optimization
The main objective was to reduce the number of servers (from 10 to 2) in order to save on purchase and maintenance costs, but also so as to reduce the foundation’s ecological footprint.
“Reducing the number of servers not only cuts costs, it also reduces the ecological impact by getting rid of servers that run 7 days a week, 24 hours a day,” Laurent explains.
Transition to the cloud
Qim info played a key role in the migration of services to the cloud, integrating Microsoft services. This transition improved the flexibility and scalability of the systems, providing a more adaptable solution for the foundation’s future needs.
Improved safety
A complete review of security policies was carried out, including updating firewalls, optimizing access management, reinforcing the Wi-Fi network, and improving backup processes.
Concrete results and benefits
The overhaul of the IT infrastructure generated significant savings and optimized the efficiency and security of the foundation’s operations. Key benefits include:
Cost reduction
The transformation of the IT infrastructure has led to significant savings, estimated at several tens of thousands of Swiss francs per year, thanks to the elimination of redundant servers. These savings enable the Foundation to reallocate these financial resources to other essential projects and initiatives, thereby strengthening its operational efficiency.
Performance enhancement
Centralizing and updating the infrastructure has given a significant boost to the performance of IT systems, providing users with a smoother, more responsive experience. These optimizations have reduced downtime, boosting employee productivity and enhancing the quality of services provided to beneficiaries.
Simplified maintenance
The reduction in the number of servers has greatly facilitated maintenance of the IT infrastructure. This rationalization has made day-to-day management simpler and reduced the time spent on systems maintenance, while also reducing the risk of breakdowns.
Enhanced safety
New IT security policies, supported by cloud solutions, have significantly consolidated the protection of IT systems. Sensitive data is better protected against cyber threats, and systems comply with the most stringent security standards. As a result, the foundation benefits from greater resilience and increased confidence in the protection of its information.
Environmental sustainability
Adopting cloud solutions, optimizing resources and reducing energy consumption are measures that have minimized the foundation’s ecological footprint, thereby reaffirming Foyer-Handicap’s environmental responsibility.
Testimonials from the Foyer-Handicap Foundation in Geneva: a positive experience
According to Laurent IACAZZI, IT Manager at the Foyer-Handicap foundation, the experience of working with Qim info was a very positive one. He was particularly pleased by Qim info’s flexible approach and its ability to respond quickly to the organization’s needs.
Boosting IT performance
The foundation saw a marked improvement in its IT systems, in terms of both performance and security. It stressed the importance of working with a company that is capable of understanding its varied needs and offering a complete range of services.
“Qim info’s consultants provided invaluable expertise and were able to adapt to our specific needs. Thanks to their work, we were able to optimize our infrastructure while reducing our costs and environmental impact,” explains Laurent IACAZZI, Information Systems Director.
Contractual flexibility and adaptability
The flexibility and adaptability offered by Qim info were essential to the success of the project. Thanks to adjustable contracts and customized solutions, the foundation was able to adjust its resources in accordance with its changing needs, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of its IT investments. This agile approach also led to more accurate financial planning and proactive management of interventions, ensuring that technology initiatives were aligned with the foundation’s strategic objectives.
“We work with flexible contracts based on time books, where we only pay for the time actually used. This gives us great flexibility and allows us to better plan our expenses in advance.”
Transparent and fluid exchanges
Transparent, ongoing communication helped overcome the challenges, ensuring that everyone involved was aligned with the project’s objectives. This played a key role in maintaining team cohesion and ensuring the success of the various phases of the project.
“The process is really simple and straightforward, with no middleman. Once we have our designated consultants, we can communicate and plan directly with them,” reports Laurent.
A win-win partnership
The successful collaboration between the Foyer-Handicap Foundation and Qim info has produced concrete results that will have a lasting impact.
"We are completely satisfied with the consultants' skills. They are serious and efficient professionals, with a modern and up-to-date vision of IT... We have exceeded our objectives, as the expertise provided has enabled us to identify other important areas for improvement."
By adopting a proactive, tailor-made approach, the IT services specialist in French-speaking Switzerland was able to meet the organization’s current needs, while strengthening its ability to face technological challenges that may arise in the future.
“The project was carried out with a long-term vision, aimed at making the infrastructure more agile and capable of adapting to the foundation’s future technological needs,” Louis explains.
Migrating to the cloud and centralizing servers are the first steps in an ambitious strategy to increase the efficiency, flexibility and security of IT systems. The foundation therefore intends to continue working with Qim info in order to further innovate and improve its IT systems.
"All the work we've entrusted to Qim info has gone extremely well. We have every confidence in them and we would call on their skills again in a heartbeat."
For any organization looking to modernize and optimize its IT infrastructure, the Foyer-Handicap Foundation’s experience with Qim info is an inspiring example of what targeted, effective collaboration can achieve. By choosing the right partners, you can turn your technological challenges into opportunities for growth and success.
Ready to take the plunge? Let’s discuss your technology goals and find out how Qim info can help you achieve them. Together, let’s build a more efficient and sustainable digital future.
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