Role & Background
Built an independent IT consulting and software business combining multi-site Windows infrastructure, in-house hosting and custom web applications for operational transformation.
- Designed and maintained Windows server environments, domain controllers, business networks, shared resources, workstation deployments and VPN connectivity.
- Operated physical IIS / Microsoft SQL Server infrastructure in an in-house data-center environment and provided IT security, troubleshooting, data recovery and ongoing technical support.
- Designed a complex logistics and trucking-management application that replaced largely paper-based workflows with route planning, capacity tracking, role-based portals, billing, reporting and operational printouts for drivers and warehouse/distribution staff.
- Built custom accommodation availability, reservation and payment-processing systems at a time when suitable off-the-shelf SaaS products were not readily available.
- Expanded the operation into computer hardware/software sales, repair, web development and hosting, and brought in an additional developer for larger custom-software projects.
Infrastructure & Hosting
Building the stack as well as the applications
The consulting work included the infrastructure underneath the software: physical Windows servers, Microsoft IIS, SQL Server, business networks, domain controllers, VPN connectivity and in-house web hosting.
Because the applications and servers were operated together, troubleshooting often crossed application code, database behavior, Windows administration, networking and physical hardware rather than stopping at a single layer.
Digital Transformation
Replacing paper-heavy trucking operations with a custom web system
One of the largest custom projects transformed a trucking and distribution workflow that had relied heavily on paper. The system was built primarily in Classic ASP with Microsoft SQL Server and ran on IIS infrastructure I built and operated.
It tracked vehicle capacity across time and routes, supported delivery planning and operational scheduling, and generated printouts used by drivers, delivery staff, warehouse and distribution personnel so the web application could bridge digital planning with work happening away from a computer.
- Route and delivery planning
- Capacity and availability tracking across vehicles, time and location
- Multi-level member and administrative interfaces
- Billing, reporting and operational records
- Printed manifests / work documents for drivers and distribution staff
- Additional developer brought into the project as its scope expanded
Early Online Booking
Custom accommodation availability, reservations and payments
Bed-and-breakfast clients needed online availability and booking capabilities before today's hosted reservation platforms were commonplace. Those systems were therefore built from scratch rather than assembled from ready-made SaaS products.
The work included availability calendars, reservations, member/admin functionality and online payment processing, again running on the same self-managed IIS and SQL Server infrastructure.
Data Recovery & Investigation
Evidence-conscious data recovery across multiple media types
Data recovery was a recurring part of the consulting practice. Some engagements involved accidental deletion or hardware failure, while others supported confidential investigative matters where preserving the original storage device and documenting the recovery process were important.
When circumstances allowed, the source drive was not booted. Its contents were cloned onto a separate working drive using external hardware, the source media was returned to evidence, and recovery work continued against the clone. Recovered material was written to separate destination media rather than back to the source or working copy.
- Deleted and hidden partition discovery
- File-system, directory and deleted-file recovery
- Hard-drive, SSD, SD-card and USB-flash recovery
- Recovery following both logical deletion and hardware failure
- Documented findings for investigative and conventional client recovery work
Related Case Study
Digital forensics & data recovery
A recurring part of the consulting work involved recovery and evidence-conscious analysis across multiple storage-media types.
Digital Forensics & Data Recovery
Preserving source media, working from cloned copies when practical, recovering deleted or hidden data and documenting findings for both investigative and conventional recovery work.
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