Overview of West Thames College
West Thames College is a leading institution based in West London, offering a diverse range of vocational and academic courses for post-16 students and adults. Committed to excellence in learning, the college operates across two main campuses in Isleworth and Feltham and strives to deliver its educational services with minimal environmental impact.
To support the development of teaching and learning, the college requires a robust, secure, and reliable infrastructure. As a public sector organisation, it carefully manages expenditure and resources, ensuring that all investments provide a strong return on investment.
Challenges
West Thames College faced challenges with system reliability, performance requirements, and the need for continual maintenance agreements. The existing infrastructure did not provide the necessary level of reliability, leading to reduced staff confidence and limited availability for students, which impacted lessons and pastoral support.
The IT team had to dedicate significant time and effort to maintaining the outdated system, resulting in unplanned costs and operational inefficiencies. With an aging infrastructure that was approaching the end of its support lifecycle, the college recognised the urgent need for a system refresh.
Solution
MTI provided West Thames College with a modernised VxRail infrastructure featuring dynamic nodes, complemented by Dell PowerStore for automated and efficient data management. This all-flash solution significantly improved system performance while reducing heat output and power consumption. The infrastructure spans two campuses, connected via a high speed fibre network with top- of rack (TOR) switches, ensuring seamless integration and high availability. MTI also delivered a managed service, offering proactive monitoring, technical support, and a scalable solutions and services tailored to the college’s future growth.
MTI went beyond just supplying IT infrastructure—they worked with us to design a future-proof solution tailored to our needs. Their expertise and guidance ensured that we maximised our investment while maintaining flexibility for future growth.
Amine Lallali
Head of IT Services
West Thames College
Results & Benefits
The implementation of MTI and Dell Technologies VxRail and PowerStore solution, alongside MTI’s Managed Service, delivered several key benefits to West Thames College.
Enhanced System Reliability: The new infrastructure ensures high availability and stability, reducing unplanned downtime and minimising disruption to staff and students.
Cost Savings: The college estimates annual savings of approximately £30,000 in power and cooling costs due to the more energy-efficient infrastructure.
Increased IT Efficiency: Automation features in PowerStore streamline data management, reducing manual intervention and freeing up IT resources for strategic projects.
Improved Performance: The all-flash VxRail solution delivers significantly faster processing speeds, enhancing overall system responsiveness for staff and students.
Scalability and Future-Proofing: The infrastructure is designed to scale, providing the flexibility to meet future growth and evolving IT demands without costly overhauls.
Comprehensive Managed Services: MTI’s 24/7/365 UK based support ensures continuous monitoring, proactive issue resolution, and expert guidance, keeping IT operations running smoothly.
Expert Security and Monitoring: With 13 years of SOC experience, MTI provides daily health checks and security monitoring, ensuring systems remain optimised and secure at all times.
Actionable Insights: Customised monthly reports with detailed analysis and recommendations help the college maintain and enhance its security posture, allowing for informed decision-making.
Sustainable IT Operations: The modernised infrastructure reduces heat output and power consumption, aligning with the college’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
Deliverables
- Deployment of VxRail infrastructure with dynamic nodes
- Implementation of Dell PowerStore for automated data management
- High-speed fibre connectivity between campuses with TOR switches
- Managed service for ongoing support, monitoring, and optimisation
- Secure decommissioning and environmentally friendly disposal of legacy equipment
- Guidance on VMware licensing optimisation to maximise cost efficiency
What sets MTI apart is their genuine commitment to their customers. They didn’t just offer a one-size-fits-all approach but worked closely with us to ensure we had the right solution and service. Their ongoing support and monitoring mean we can trust that our IT is in safe hands.
Amine Lallali
Head of IT Services
West Thames College
Why MTI?
MTI stood out as the ideal partner due to their deep expertise, strategic approach, and commitment to delivering a solution and service that aligned with our long-term goals. As a Dell Titanium Partner with extensive knowledge of education sector IT, they provided confidence that our needs would be met.
Rather than simply supplying a product, MTI took a consultative approach, presenting multiple solutions that balanced performance, budget, and scalability. Their understanding of public sector procurement ensured a smooth and compliant purchasing process.
Beyond implementation, MTI’s managed services provided expert support, reducing our internal IT workload. Their proactive monitoring helps prevent issues before they arise, allowing us to focus on education rather than infrastructure management. The project was executed with minimal disruption, with MTI offering ongoing guidance and support to ensure long-term success.
