If you want to know how IT infrastructure is implemented at a 'local' level at your workstation, or across the whole LCA network please refer to the following on line video tutorials:
If you want to know how IT infrastructure is implemented at a 'local' level at your workstation, or across the whole LCA network please refer to the following on line video tutorials:
- Power/AC: Power Supply (UPS) is an electrical network that continues to provide power in the event of a general power supply failure. This is particularly important at site offices or at times when general works (such as roadworks) are being carried out in proximity to our offices. The UPS system we have in place at head office provides a guaranteed 6 hours of emergency supply which is usually enough time for the power company to restore the general power suPply and would enable LCA to continue working for the majority of the working day.
Tutorial video:
- Net working monitor: A Simple Network Management protocol (SNMP) enables the monitoring of CPU memory, net Utilization, Temperature, etc.
- Firewall Security becomes an important issue when sharing and storing confidential information. Firewalls block unwanted intrusions before they can cause any damage. We have been advised by independent IT specialists of the vulnerability of paid for anti-virus programmes such as McAfee, and have been recommended KASPERSKI lab (which retails at £41.099 for 3PCs per annum). There are many of free products in the market like Eastern Samoa, AVG or ZenOK. The current system in place at LCA is confidential for security reasons.
- Backup or Disaster Recovery (DR): In case of an emergency, or in case of replacement or restoring of existing equipment, backups are enabled on a daily basis. These backups consist of a digital copy of all new information to the cloud based storage network, and provides so-called redundancy should an unforeseen incident occur within the office server network resulting in loss of information. All the information stored on LCA's servers is automatically copied and stored within a cloud based programs such as DropBox. The timing of this back-up is confidential.
- Storage of data and metadata: as well as the information that is backed up, all information created at your workstation is uploaded to LCA’s servers, which can be accessed remotely. This enables any authorised personnel to access all files, subject to permissions, facilitating their work across timezones and 24hours a day.
- Identify management: as is normal, when accessing the intranet you are asked for login details. For accessing any confidential company information, each user has different permissions depending on your role within the company hierarchy and which projects you are working on. The wiki is accessible to all personnel, but there are some restricted packages of information that can only be accessed by senior personnel using fingerprint signature.
- Software developement: Please note many of the software packages used by LCA have been optimised and modified for greater efficiency, by adding templates, new tools and plug-ins.
- Visualisation: Some workstations are enabled to use 3D Visualization, useful for design reviews and Client presentations. Augmented Reality functionality has been enabled on some of the office smartphones for use eg. when visiting a site or property to record all the relevant information.
- High performance computing: Most of our workstations have comparatively limited capacity, sufficient for general day-to-day drawing production, in order to make effective use of the company IT budget of the company which attempts to allocate resources in the most cost-effective manner. At the same time we have a number of high performance hot-desk PC’s i.e. to produce high quality renders, as well as outsourcing to render farms when required.
- IT Support: • IT Support: Having top of the line equipment installed is worth little if there is no one on hand to support and maintain it. For this reason we have our IT team, and 24hour IT helpdesk that constantly monitors the entire system and can answer and hopefully resolve any issues in a timely and efficient manner. Please contact if you have any doubt.
