Background
Sonic Union is an audio producer in New York City collaborating with creative groups and agencies to produce media of all kinds. Macktez has been collaborating with the internal technical team at Sonic Union for over a decade to navigate technology challenges, including security best practices, network performance, infrastructure redundancy, and recovery options.
As a trusted partner to a technically sophisticated company, Macktez has helped to expand Sonic Union’s network capacity, upgrade its server infrastructure, virtualize essential applications, design the network for a new studio, and, crucially, develop and implement data redundancy and internet failover for a shift in storage practices.
Challenge
Depending on physical servers for large amounts of shared data, Sonic Union’s workflow was dramatically disrupted by the pandemic starting in 2020. Macktez had previously replaced traditional local storage with a solution built on Synology NAS that provided redundant data in two Sonic Union locations over a site-to-site VPN connection. But during the pandemic, large remote data transfers were simply unmanageable.
As he had before, co-founder and managing director Adam Barone turned to Macktez for advice: “Macktez helped us to understand how a hybrid cloud solution would work — things like blob storage, deduplication, and a backup scheme for larger storage size in the cloud. We relied on Macktez’s experience to create a successful hybrid solution.”
Adam added, “Time with clients is very real-time — material needs to be available immediately. So it’s easy to end up with solutions that are ‘easier’ without fully considering security or redundancy. Macktez helps to make sure the decision isn’t just based on ‘we like this,’” leading to a solution that meets requirements for security and reliability.
Solution
Macktez recommended, designed, and implemented a hybrid storage solution using Windows Server, Synology NAS, and a sync technology from Morro Data that creates better real-time access to files, reliable backups, and the flexibility to add data nodes if needed as Sonic Union continues to grow.
To support a growing staff and secure remote access, Macktez recommended and implemented a modernization of Sonic Union’s user directory to JumpCloud, a cloud-based directory platform for user and device management.
Both systems are co-administered by Sonic Union’s IT staff and Macktez, with Sonic Union directing day-to-day management, and Macktez providing operational oversight and handling additional integrations. Macktez CTO Reilly Scull meets regularly with Ben Conlon, Sonic Union’s Chief Technical Engineer, maintaining Macktez as a virtual CTO and ongoing collaborator.
Results
Adam says he relies on Macktez “to stay a few years ahead of best practices.” For Sonic Union, the collaboration with Macktez helps maintain trust with clients “that there aren’t any security holes,” and trust with the staff about equipment reliability.
According to Macktez COO Michael Horst, “Our role has always been as a business partner helping Adam and Sonic Union reconcile their technology investments with their business model.”
In conclusion, Adam says, “Consistency with Macktez has helped a lot.” And his advice to other companies? “You may have someone internal, but having Macktez take a look [at services and solutions] is a big value add.”