Portola Systems, Inc

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Technology for a 9-12 high school district located in California - in the heart of Silicon Valley.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Portola Systems, Inc?

Our entire infrastructure was in ruin when I arrived here. People could not connect to the internet consistently. The entire network was configured incorrectly. The server infrastructure was nearly 20 years old. Classroom technology was failing. Portola Systems provided us with the consultation and action plan to rebuild our entire network infrastructure. They have since advised us and guided us through radius authentication, rebuilding our servers, etc.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I knew the Director of Sales from my prior employment. He is one of the most down-to-earth, genuine people I've ever met. Portola was the first company I called when I arrived here and they have never let me down.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

They first helped us by assessing our wireless challenges and reviewing our network setup; it was determined that the wifi was terribly misconfigured and the core of our network could not support the traffic we have. We upgraded the core and then started adjusting wireless settings. When it was determined that there was inconsistent wiring (single mode to multi-mode, IDFs not wired back to the MDF, etc), we had PSi lead us through the entire re-wiring of fiber throughout the district. PSi also acted as our value-added reseller when we purchased all new switchgear and access points from Cisco Meraki. Additionally, PSi insured our data closets had proper UPS backup systems and color-coded wiring sequences that made identifying and troubleshooting challenges far easier.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The main contact person was the VP of the company. He had his team of engineers - up to four at a time work with us on the various projects we took on. We still meet with the team weekly, as there is work to be done.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Prior to our work with Portola Systems, teachers and students had no confidence in the district's network and wifi. That has changed. Members of the IT team can rarely walk across campus without receiving positive feedback regarding network performance or technology reliability in general.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective. We keep running agendas and project folders in the cloud so everybody can access them and remain in the loop.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were small but mighty. They got the job done correctly and stood by us every step of the way.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

In reflection, I don't think so. We survived Covid and Portola Systems was with us through thick and thin. We have learned together and grown together.