Alternatives

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This document outlines the recommendations of the IT department. As with any project, there are alternatives to the project proposed in this document. The IT department has put considerable thought into the alternatives before proposing this solution. The following shortlist outlines the advantages of disadvantages of each alternative.

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Keep Current Deployment Schedule and Model in Place Keep Current Deployment Schedule and Model in Place
Only Update Workstations Running Windows 2000 to Windows XP SP2 Only Update Workstations Running Windows 2000 to Windows XP SP2

Keep Current Deployment Schedule and Model in Place

In this scenario (Table 6), Woodgrove does not change its current operation. Computers are refreshed according to either hardware purchasing or leasing cycles, and multiple operating systems stay in production.

Table 6. Advantages and Disadvantages of Keeping the Current Model

Advantages:

  • No spike in costs related to hardware and software purchases

  • Users continue to work with a well-known operating system and applications

  • IT staff has more time in the short term to fix problems as they arise

  • No new compatibility concerns

Disadvantages:

  • Security threats from viruses and hackers

  • Added complexity for users and administrators because of multiple production operating systems

  • Some applications and operating system versions are too old to be supported

  • Weaker collaboration abilities

  • Lower stability, more work lost because of application and system crashes

Costs:

  • Remain as budgeted for current fiscal year.

Only Update Workstations Running Windows 2000 to Windows XP SP2

As in the previous scenario, Woodgrove does not change a large percentage of its current operation (Table 7). Workstations are refreshed according to hardware refresh cycles, and multiple operating systems stay in production. However, an effort would be made to replace the older hardware and workstations with new equipment, operating systems, and software.

Table 7. Advantages and Disadvantages of Updating Older Versions of Windows

Advantages:

  • Smaller spike in costs related to hardware and software purchases

  • Most users continue to work with a well-known operating system and applications

  • Security threats and stability problems partially alleviated

Disadvantages:

  • Increased number of deployments difficult to manage in regional locations

  • Many users are still not addressed with this solution

  • Images are still not standardized

  • Security is still an issue with many of workstations

  • Remote locations receive the most benefit but usually have the lowest security risk

Costs:

  • Approximately $1.8 million (3,870 computers)

  • Includes hardware, software, deployment, and engineering labor

It is possible to list more scenarios, but these are the main viable options. This solution will get the company on a single standard desktop, but administrators will still need to manage multiple images for varied hardware types and languages.

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