IT Should Always Function as a "Utility," Article in US Industry Today by Atrion Networking's Nault Says

WARWICK, RI -- (MARKET WIRE) -- October 17, 2006 -- Companies must have their IT systems available at all times, just like power and water, asserts an article in the current US Industry Today by Charles L. Nault, chairman of Atrion Networking Corporation.

"IT has now reached 'utility' status just about everywhere," writes Nault. "Just as the utility of power is required to run your lights, your network infrastructure is required to run your Internet access and a host of other mission-critical applications that you just cannot function properly without."

This mindset not only means that employees expect to be able to access the Internet and email 100% of the time at the office, but also remotely from home or anywhere in the world, he writes.

To accomplish this, an organization must have a system that is always up and running. "In order to make sure a company has a fully functional, expeditious, and safe 'utility' network," Nault writes, "you must first make a solid commitment. You need to invest with wisdom and confidence."

Accomplish this by organizing a team of experts not only from your staff, but also from a consulting firm or vendor, to lay out your business objective in relation to current technologies. From there you can invest with confidence.

"Investing with confidence means that once you have the road map drawn up, you have the right people design the integration of that technology into your existing network, swiftly and effectively complete the implementation, and then provide both pro-active, as well as reactive support," Nault adds.

The most critical step in the project, according to Nault, is the transition from implementation to ongoing support. "Ongoing support used to mean 'You have a problem, you call IT,'" he explains. "It was largely reactive."

Nault defines ongoing support as a team of experts monitoring your system around the clock. "Reactive support is a thing of the past if your network is to truly become the utility that it needs to be," Nault concludes.

Organizations across New England rely on Warwick, R.I.-based Atrion to accelerate their business through customized technology solutions. Atrion's team of specialists looks at the entire business and designs technology solutions that are specifically suited to a business' unique needs. Atrion offers a full array of technology services including consulting and management services, project management, manufacturer-certified training, carrier services, telephony, equipment procurement and local and wide area network implementation. Its innovative solutions dramatically improve operational efficiencies, increase organizational productivity, and enhance client satisfaction to create an empowered, effective work environment. Web: www.atrion.net

Contact Information: Contact: Henry Stimpson Stimpson Communications 508-647-0705 HStimpson@StimpsonCommunications.com