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Want to move offices but unsure of here to start? If you’re looking for help with planning your Office IT move within the UAE, Cloud Technologies is here to help.

Prerequisites

After signing a contract for that new office which ticks all the boxes, you’ll also need to ask yourself the following:

• Budget. Have you allocated funds for your office IT move? This includes procurement, set up, and audits.
• Internet Connection. What type of connection will you need, and at what speeds? Make sure you can accommodate your business and leave yourself enough time to get it fitted.
• Network ports and power. These should be sufficient and close to the desks.
• Network (wired). How many devices do you plan on being connected to your network? Make sure you scope for network design and include considerations for any future expansions.
• Network (wireless). Do you have enough access points for good coverage around the office? If you’re at all uncertain, you’d likely benefit from a network audit.
• IT equipment (existing). Is it suitable for the new office?
• IT equipment (new). What other IT equipment do you require?
• Comms room. Is there enough space for all of your equipment?
• Floor plan. Have you designed the layout to accommodate all the necessary desks?
• Printer location(s). Where’s the best spot for your printers?

Phase 1 – Audit

We encourage UAE businesses to have an onsite audit when planning their office IT move. Our audits consist of:

• A full walk around of the office floor to identify any issues
• A comprehensive review of the comms room to identify any concerns
• A review of your networking dependencies and issues
• A review of your Internet Service Provider broadband package
• Overview of your equipment and any potential issues
• Documentation of the audit

This audit results in a smoother transition to your new office. Any issues or concerns are flagged in advance, giving you the opportunity to resolve them well before your move in date.

Phase 2 – Configuration and Procurement

If you can gain access to your new office in advance of your official moving in date, the transition can become much smoother. When you’re sourcing new network equipment to enable your existing equipment to remain untouched, having this access allows you to set up your new office network without any downtime to your business. Furthermore, you’ll have the opportunity to test internet connectivity and the overall network, once again avoiding downtime and delays to your Go Live.

This is also a good time to ensure any new IT equipment that you’ll need has been purchased and is set to be delivered before your move in date.

Phase 3 – Moving existing IT equipment

Make sure you pack your existing IT equipment carefully to prevent breakages. It also helps to let your removal firm know exactly where to place the equipment on arrival by labelling it in advance. Labelling packages has the added benefit of making it easier to find what you’re looking for when you’re surrounded by identical boxes!

Phase 4 – Unpacking and connecting equipment

It might seem like a hassle, but careful unpacking and connecting will save you money in the long run. This is also often a good opportunity to check any existing asset list to make management easier in the future. If you don’t have that list, now is a good time to make one.

Phase 5 – Final testing

Once everything has been unpacked and connected, you can fully test your infrastructure. It’s essential to the smooth running of your business to check that all devices and key services are working as they should. Networking dependencies such as Firewalls, switches and load balancing combined with things like VPN access and corporate and guest Wi-Fi requirements can all reconfigure your monitoring. Testing gives you the chance to identify any problems here.

Cloud Technologies can help you plan your office IT move in Dubai and throughout the whole of the UAE, with expert guidance at each step. Afterwards, we can also provide you with continued IT Support Services.