In the case project you are asked to step into the shoes of a consultant in a consulting firm. In this role, you work with Windows Server 2016 in many different kinds of organizations from small to large. Your cases and tasks are varied, just as they would be for any versatile consultant.

Your role involves working for Aspen Consulting, which has clients throughout the U.S. and Canada. Their staff specializes in server and network implementation, application development, and providing on-site and remote support. Aspen Consulting works with small businesses, departments in organizations, corporations, schools, universities, and government agencies.

Case Project 1-1: Choosing a New Operating System

Cutting Edge is a company with 122 employees who make cutting boards and a full line of knives and knife sets for home and commercial kitchens. The company is divided into several departments, including Development, Marketing, Business, Manufacturing, Information Systems (IS), and Inventory and Shipping. There is also a management team consisting of the company president, vice president, chief financial officer, and the managers of each department. The company is housed in one building that is fully networked. All employees have access to a desktop or laptop computer. These computers are a mixture of Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 machines. At this point, there is a Windows Server 2012 (without Release 2) server in each department, and the company is planning to gradually upgrade each server to Windows Server 2016. The IS Department is the smallest department, consisting of four very overworked employees. Considering the IS workload, the IS manager hires you to help assess the server needs of the company and make recommendations for the future.

1. The Marketing Department uses large name and address databases for catalog and other promotions. Some of the databases are ones they own, and others are purchased from other catalog sales companies and from Internet companies. The databases are currently on a Windows Server 2012 (without Release 2), Standard Edition server, which is overloaded. When they perform sorts and queries of addresses, the computer operates extremely slowly. Which Windows Server 2016 edition do you recommend for them? Provide a justification for your recommendation.

2. The Marketing Department wants to establish an Internet business to supplement Cutting Edges catalog and outlet businesses. Which Windows Server 2016 system would work for the Internet portion of the business? Be sure to justify your recommendation.

3. Because they like stability without dramatic change, the Business Department has an old Windows 2003 Server system and is concerned about security and reliability. To which Windows Server 2016 edition do you recommend they upgrade? Note some features that would be important for the Business Department.