How SQLBrander.nl transformed the IT environment of a Rotterdam port company
In 2017, SQLBrander.nl was approached by a Rotterdam port company that found itself in a difficult situation. The IT environment, which was crucial to day-to-day operations, was under severe strain and at risk of crashing. What began as an urgent problem quickly developed into a deep-rooted partnership. With the aim of ensuring the stability and performance of these critical systems, SQLBrander.nl set to work. Over the years, the relationship has grown into a close and successful partnership, which now revolves around reliability, flexibility and expertise. What was once an emergency situation is now a story of long-term trust and shared growth.
The challenge: An unstable SQL Server
At the end of 2017, the Port of Rotterdam Authority was faced with major problems in its database environment. The migration to a new SQL Server environment had led to an unstable situation, with the server crashing regularly. “The application
was running extremely slowly. Even simple tasks such as retrieving information could take minutes. That had a massive impact on our work processes,” recalls an IT employee at the company.
The situation was urgent. The company needed a partner who could act quickly. SQLBrander.nl’s founder, Gé, was called in a hurry. He put his schedule on hold and was on site the very next day. “The server had to be restarted every day, otherwise everything would crash. And although it was just before the holidays, work had to
carry on,” Gé recalls. Initially, extra CPU and memory were added as a stopgap, but it soon became clear that more was needed.
The solution: A robust new environment
Following a thorough analysis, SQLBrander.nl proposed building an entirely new environment: a high-availability cluster with a ‘readable secondary’. This setup ensured that the system would continue to run without interruption, even in the event of technical issues. The result? The database environment was stable once again. But there was more work to be done. The application itself needed to be optimised. SQLBrander.nl set to work tuning indexes and resolving deadlocks, so that the application’s IT supplier could implement the necessary improvements. Users were then quickly able to retrieve information from the systems via the applications once again.
“Het team van SQLBrander.nl denkt niet alleen mee
binnen hun eigen vakgebied, maar kijkt ook verder
dan hun eigen domein. Dat is echt waardevol,”
– IT-manager van het bedrijf.
Proactive collaboration and 24/7 support
In the years that followed, SQLBrander.nl became an increasingly indispensable partner. Time and again, they demonstrated their proactive approach, such as during an incident involving the cranes on the quay, where computers were constantly crashing due to power cuts. An employee from SQLBrander.nl identified the cause and immediately installed a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) on site. “If a single crane stops, six to seven employees cannot continue working. Thanks to SQLBrander.nl, this problem was resolved quickly and effectively,” explains the operations manager.
And then there is the 24/7 support. “Flexibility is crucial in the port. Sometimes something needs to be done at six o’clock on a Monday morning, and another time on a Thursday afternoon. The team at SQLBrander.nl is always available and responds at lightning speed. That gives us a great deal of confidence.”
Strategic IT solutions for sustainable success
The partnership has now led to the implementation of three new database environments, including a recent upgrade to SQL Server 2019. SQLBrander.nl also plays an active role in more complex projects, such as application upgrades and disaster recovery exercises. “IT is like a utility service: nobody notices it when it’s working, but if it fails, everything comes to a standstill. With SQLBrander.nl, we know we can always count on their expertise,” emphasises a company employee.
The value of a reliable IT partner
Today, the Port Authority describes SQLBrander.nl in three words: reliable, flexible and knowledgeable. Whether it’s putting out minor fires or proactively suggesting improvements, SQLBrander.nl has proven itself to be a partner that looks beyond standard solutions. “The need to keep the business running is immense. The importance of a good IT partner cannot therefore be overstated. SQLBrander.nl understands this better than anyone and ensures that we can continue our operations without interruption.”
Disclaimer
Out of respect for the privacy and security concerns of our client, who operates in a sector handling highly sensitive data, we have chosen not to disclose the name of the company or the employees involved. This helps to safeguard their operations and underscores our commitment to confidentiality.
