π Community Initiative! I run a free monthly tech training program for Darwin residents.
Macadams Nigeria Ltd was facing a critical infrastructure challenge: their existing server was running an outdated operating system that could no longer support a migration to the latest version of their Sage accounting software. This created a hard blocker for the business β they could not upgrade their core financial system without resolving the underlying server infrastructure first. I was engaged to assess the situation, recommend a path forward, and deliver the full solution end-to-end.
The organisation's Active Directory server was running an OS version incompatible with the newer Sage accounting platform they needed to migrate to. Attempting to upgrade Sage on the existing server was not viable. The business required a new server environment that could support both the Active Directory domain and the updated Sage deployment β without losing user data, domain configurations, or business continuity during the transition.
Server Hardware Recommendation & Procurement I assessed the organisation's requirements and recommended a new server suited to their workload, user count, and budget. The recommendation was accepted and I oversaw the procurement process.
Windows Server 2022 Installation & Configuration I installed and configured Windows Server 2022 on the new hardware as the foundation for the upgraded environment, including:
Active Directory Domain Services setup and domain configuration
RAID 1 (mirroring) implementation for data fault tolerance β ensuring that a single drive failure would not result in data loss or server downtime
DNS, DHCP, and core network services configuration
User Data Backup & Domain Migration Before decommissioning the old server, I backed up all user data from existing workstations. I then recreated user accounts on the new server, rejoined all workstations to the new domain, and restored user data β ensuring a clean, complete transition with no data loss.
Sage Accounting Software Migration With the new server environment in place, I configured and implemented the new version of Sage 50, migrating the organisation's financial data and validating the system was fully operational before handover to the finance team.
Network Infrastructure Review & Endpoint Security I conducted a structured walkthrough of the organisation's network infrastructure, identified gaps and vulnerabilities, and implemented targeted solutions including:
Endpoint security deployment across user workstations to protect against malware, unauthorised access, and data breaches
Network recommendations to address identified vulnerabilities and improve overall infrastructure reliability
Macadams Nigeria Ltd moved from a failing, incompatible server environment to a fully modernised Windows Server 2022 domain with fault-tolerant storage, a functioning Active Directory, and a successfully migrated Sage accounting platform β all with zero data loss. The endpoint security deployment and network improvements left the organisation in a significantly stronger security posture than before the engagement.