A new ERP, warehouse or accounting system depends on the network, servers, devices and power underneath it. This IT infrastructure checklist helps Philippine businesses confirm that the foundations are ready before deployment, so the first weeks after go-live are spent learning the system and not chasing slow connections and failed printers.
Why infrastructure decides whether a rollout succeeds
Users judge a system by its speed and availability. If a screen takes too long to load on the warehouse floor, staff go back to paper and the data falls behind. Most infrastructure problems are inexpensive to fix before go-live and costly afterwards, when they interrupt daily operations and damage confidence in the project.
Network and connectivity checklist
- Internet at each site: enough capacity for the number of users, tested at busy hours.
- Backup connection: a second link from a different provider for sites that cannot afford to stop.
- Wi-Fi coverage: tested in warehouses, production areas and yards where handheld scanners or tablets will be used. Racking and metal walls weaken signals, so carry out a site survey.
- Cabling and switches: in good condition, labelled and documented.
- Branch connections: a secure link such as a VPN between branches and head office.
- Network separation: guest Wi-Fi kept apart from the business network.
Servers, cloud hosting and performance
Decide early where the system will run.
- On-premise server: gives direct control and can keep working on the local network during an internet outage. It needs a secure room, cooling, power protection and someone to maintain it.
- Cloud hosting: needs less hardware and is reachable from all branches, but depends on connectivity and carries a recurring cost.
- Hybrid: combines the two, for example a cloud system with local devices that keep recording when the connection drops.
Whichever is chosen:
- Size the server according to the vendor's requirements, with room for growth.
- Set up a separate test environment so changes are not tried on live data.
- Monitor disk space, memory and uptime from the first day.
Power, devices and peripherals checklist
Power interruptions and the typhoon season make this section important for Philippine sites.
- Uninterruptible power supply units for servers, network equipment and key workstations.
- Generator coverage that includes the network cabinet, not only lights and production equipment.
- Surge protection for sensitive devices.
- Workstations that meet the system's minimum specifications and run a supported operating system.
- Printers, label printers, barcode scanners, receipt printers and biometric devices tested with the actual system before go-live.
- Spare units for devices that operations cannot work without.
Security, backup and recovery checklist
- Individual user accounts with role-based access. No shared logins.
- Multi-factor authentication for administrators and remote access.
- A firewall, endpoint protection and a routine for applying updates.
- Automatic backups with a copy kept away from the main site.
- A restore test, carried out and documented. A backup that has never been restored is an assumption.
- A written recovery plan stating who does what and how much downtime the business can accept.
- Safeguards for personal data in line with the Data Privacy Act. Confirm specific obligations with your data protection officer or counsel.
- A named person accountable for IT, whether in-house or outsourced, with current documentation and vendor escalation contacts.
How AI can help with infrastructure monitoring
Monitoring tools with anomaly detection can spot unusual patterns that fixed thresholds miss, such as storage growing faster than normal, network traffic at odd hours or repeated failed logins. AI assistants can also help IT staff summarise long logs and draft procedures.
Rule-based alerts remain the base. A disk that is nearly full or a backup that failed should always raise an alert, with no judgement involved. AI tools produce false alarms and can miss events, so a person should decide on security incidents and on any change to a live system.
Frequently asked questions
Should a new business system run in the cloud or on our own server?
It depends on connectivity, the number of sites and your in-house IT capacity. Multi-branch companies with reliable internet often lean towards cloud, while a single site with an unstable connection may prefer a local or hybrid setup.
How much internet speed do we need?
It depends on the system and the number of users working at the same time, so ask the vendor for requirements and test under realistic load. Reliability and a backup link often matter more than headline speed.
How often should backups be tested?
On a regular schedule and after any major change. Agree the frequency with whoever is responsible for IT and record each test.
WCube Solutions assesses and prepares sites for Philippine businesses ahead of system deployment, covering network, servers, devices and backup arrangements. The IT Infrastructure service ensures the foundations are tested before users depend on them.