After three months of testing, Tai Fook decided to deploy an HP system which includes Intel Itanium 2 processor-based HP Integrity Superdome servers, Integrity rx8620 servers and rx2600 servers, as well as HP 9000 rp3440 servers.

The new system provides a significant improvement in performance by running the applications four to seven times faster, according to Ying.

The HP system was also able to meet the firm's fluctuating need for computing resources with the instant capacity on-demand (iCOD) option. It automatically turns on the pre-installed CPUs when the existing system is used up to 70 percent, he said.

Outsourcing/insourcing

In terms of system management, instead of deciding between outsourcing or managing in-house, Tai Fook applied a dual approach.