Advizex Simplifies and Aligns Infrastructure

The Team

Liz Berns, Jeremy Duffield

The Problem

The customer is a private academic institution with a long history and a student population of nearly 1,000. Before working with Advizex, the organization had a complex infrastructure that included:

• Dell VxRail

• Isilon storage

• Dell’s APEX Backup Service

These components were purchased or subscribed under different terms, resulting in misaligned renewal cycles. Additionally, the environment was underutilized and not optimized for current or future usage needs. The customer needed a simplified, cost-effective solution to reduce operational burden.

The Solution

The organization asked Advizex to design a more efficient and financially aligned technology environment. Advizex recommended a refresh.

VxRail and Isilon were replaced with a PURE X20 storage array paired with three Dell servers using VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Edge. This streamlined the storage architecture by consolidating block and file into one platform.

For backups, Advizex divided responsibilities between two tools. Dell’s APEX Backup Service remained for block-level data, with a five-year credit agreement negotiated by Advizex, while HYCU was introduced to handle file-level backups, storing data off-site using Wasabi object storage.

The Implementation

Advizex professional services managed infrastructure deployment and data migration — both block and file. Although HYCU had already been tested in a proof of concept, the production rollout needed to go live within three weeks.

The team faced multiple hurdles, including a tight timeline, limited availability of customer personnel due to vacation schedules, and varying levels of product familiarity. Advizex collaborated closely with OEM PreSales teams to ensure best-practice guidance throughout implementation.

The Technology

The new environment includes:

• PURE X20 for block and file storage

• Three Dell servers running VMware VCF Edge

• Dell APEX Backup Service (block)

• HYCU with Wasabi (file)

• Advizex services and support

The Impact

The new solution was deployed before the start of the academic term, allowing students and staff to return with no disruption.

The refreshed architecture delivered:

• A consolidated environment with fewer moving parts

• A right-sized, more cost-effective configuration

• Flexibility to support future years

The customer achieved its goal of reducing complexity, lowering costs, and improving predictability.

“The Advizex technical team was the driving force behind this initiative. With his deep technical expertise and innovative approach, Presales Engineer Jeremy Duffield ensured every challenge was addressed swiftly and successfully,” said Advizex Account Rep Liz Berns.

“By partnering closely with the customer, the Advizex team not only delivered the right solution but also created lasting value — optimizing performance, increasing efficiency, and instilling confidence in the technology environment. This level of collaboration is what truly sets Advizex apart — it’s about partnership, not just solutions.”

The Conclusion

This project demonstrates the power of partnering with Advizex to modernize and simplify infrastructure while preparing for future growth.