Fashion designer Ted Baker is outsourcing the upgrade and maintenance of its IT infrastructure to improve resilience and centrally manage its UK operations.

The company, which has 20 stores in the UK, has branched into wholesale trading and is also expanding internationally to become a global brand.

As part of its expansion plans it wanted a supplier that could also provide advice on its IT environment, including networking, support services and collaboration.

IT manager Dustan Steer says its existing Unix Sendmail infrastructure was limited in its functionality and did not include the necessary robust messaging systems for remote and mobile access that Ted Baker wanted.

Microsoft partner Lynx Technology will implement a scalable infrastructure, including Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003 SP2 and ISA Server 2004.

This will help improve productivity, enable greater control over its dispersed PC and server estate and support mobile and remote staff.

‘Our overall business plan is to develop Ted Baker as a global brand and we will now benefit from a stable, yet scalable, operating environment to support this goal,’ Steer said.

‘IT processes and procedures need to be standardised throughout the company and the Microsoft Windows and Exchange 2003 directory and email services will help to provide the uniformity and enhanced collaboration needed.’

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