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Optimized Processes, Better Skill Utilization, and Green Lawns: The Case for Managed Services

Release Date: 1/1/2010

by Troy Edington
CTO, HEIT

I am in the market for an MSSP. I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong. I am not looking for an organization to manage security for me, I need a managed sprinkler service provider.

You see, my adventures in plumbing began almost four years ago when a friend of mine encouraged me to tackle a project. “Designing and implementing a sprinkler system is no big deal,” he assured me as he looked at me from beyond his Home Depot how-to book. I should have known better, as he was studying for his own sprinkler project. He has a degree in astrophysics, but had five books on sprinklers that he was reading through that day at work.

Despite my lack of experience I decided to try this sprinkler system idea after all. I live in an arid environment hostile to green lawns but my homeowner’s association doesn’t seem to care and I need to get a lawn up and sustainable by the end of the summer. With my own how-to book, some web based sprinkler design software, and the guys at the local hardware store I put enough of a sprinkler system in place to water my lawn. I tweaked the design provided to me because I thought I could make it better: self draining lines, redundant pipes, advanced timers - I thought I had succeeded at implementing the best sprinkler system ever! When the winter came, I saw no reason to have my sprinklers blown out - after all, I had designed a self draining system!

Fast forward to the next spring when I find several pipes broken or burst, the back flow preventer cracked from ice, and several solenoids just plain broken. I spend the first month of the Summer repairing my sprinkler system, primarily due to my inexperience with it all. Each system which is broken I repair and think that I improve in some way: for example, building in a removable back flow preventer.

Now imagine that this cycle has repeated for the past three years and each year I spend even more of my Summer trying to fix my sprinklers. My lawn is suffering from having no water, I am frustrated because the repairs are now beyond my capabilities, and my family is suffering because rather than enjoying the Summer with them I am in the yard digging up another burst pipe.

I need help. I need a managed sprinkler service provider.

Sure - I built a sprinkler system and it worked for a while, but it clearly wasn’t built from best practices. In addition, I’m sure that my continued tinkering with the system has made it worse!

I don’t want the capital expense of a one time sprinkler assessment or, God forbid, a new sprinkler system. I have a system that could work really well, but I need some help with it! I would like a partner who can bring the system up each year, make sure that it’s operating correctly, and check in on it every once in a while. I also know that there are reoccurring maintenance tasks associated with the system - like blowing it out in the Winter. I’d rather have a relationship with one MSSP who can provide me all of those services and I would be happy to pay a smaller, operations expense for that service. I would even pay it year-round!

Think about it - I’m clearly missing something when it comes to sprinkler operation. An expert could show me what’s wrong with my setup and help me fix it. They could ensure that I don’t spend so much time tinkering and trying to fix it every year.

My skills are in security. I’d much rather be spending the day evaluating a web application than trying to fix a sprinkler system. I want to utilize my skills where they will make the most impact, not fumbling with something I’m not good at. An expert could also free me up to spend time with my family. Every year I have spent more time fixing the sprinklers and less time enjoying the weather.

Finally, I could have the coveted green lawn sought after by my neighbors and homeowner’s association alike. My lawn deserves this sprinkler system! Am I best serving my lawn and my family by trying to repair this on my own every year, or by seeking out help?

 

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This has been a fun aside regarding my personal dilemma, however I’d like to draw some mappings between my sprinkler system issues and potential issues on your current IT infrastructure and security systems.

 

Think of the business you serve as your own lawn. You need to get the water to it, and in this case the water is available, secure IT services.

Your sprinkler system is your infrastructure: your routers, switches, firewalls, and servers. Sure, you set everything up to the best of your ability but you can’t be the expert at everything. Could you benefit form having a partner to help you out? To monitor and evaluate your infrastructure?

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, where are your skills best utilized? More often than not, the individual fixing routers and switches could better serve the business by integrating the business needs and technological solutions as a strategic IT leader. When you’re fixing the routers, or the sprinklers as they may be, you’re not serving the business or your family the best way you can. An expert at sprinklers or routers can fix anyone’s sprinkler system or network - only you really understand how IT can benefit the business best.

If you’re a managed sprinkler service provider in Northern Colorado please call me. I have business for you!

If you’re looking for a partner to help you with your systems - try HEIT!

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