Provide a brief description of the Solution?
• NEXGEN Wireless is a premier TELUS Authorized Dealer with both a retail, support and corporate division located in Downtown, Toronto. • The company started in 2005 with 2 employees and has grown steadily to 13 team members. • In the early stages, we had leased desktops, servers, printers, and laptops through Dell. The products were great but the installation of the software, connection to the server, and maintenance became more of a headache and a distraction from our core business activities. • In a small business, we wear many hats and managing our IT infrastructure was something we did not want to do at the expense of serving our customers. • As we grew in size, we needed to add additional laptops and were not sure what to do. The newer ones were purchased outright but had different software than what the others had. There was no fast and easy way to keep things consistent. • One day the owner had a virus on his laptop and did not have any backup files with his information. These files contained 10 years of information, ideas, designs, all unique intellectual property that could not be reproduced again. Luckily the information was recovered but the lesson was learned. • It was not the laptop that was important or costly…in the end, it was the information that was important. • Looking for a solution for a young dynamic wireless company with mobile users, NEXGEN began to look at various cloud computing offerings in the marketplace. • It was at this time that the owner was introduced to Tyler from ThinDesk. • The sale did not happen quickly as there was certainly a paradigm shift the way we understood IT to work and the way IT should work….. • After carefully reviewing the different offer and value propositions, NEXGEN believed that ThinDesk was the provider to work with. • Today, NEXGEN uses Dell laptops connected to a dedicated internet line via Wi-Fi to connect to the ThinDesk solution. • Mobile team members use a TELUS Mobility 3G+ HSPA card to connect to the ThinDesk solution anywhere.
Describe what elements of the cloud computing architecture were deployed in this solution, such as private vs. public cloud, how those decisions were made, and how security concerns were factored into the project design and implementation?
• In this phase, we mainly use the solution in a private cloud. • All team members have the same standard and version of Microsoft applications. • Other applications were necessary to still be installed on the hard drive as we use them to service our clients. • These applications are: Aircard Watcher, ActiveSync, MCE Phonebook Manager, Blackberry Desktop Manager • NEXGEN uses Dell laptops connected to a dedicated internet line via Wi-Fi to connect to the ThinDesk solution. • Mobile team members use a TELUS Mobility 3G+ HSPA card to connect to the ThinDesk solution anywhere. • The information stored with ThinDesk servers are located within TELUS’ world class data center. $100m, Enterprise, Tier 3 SAS 70 Bringing Enterprise Architecture to businesses from 10-500 staff. • Additional configurations to restrict access to the hardware were considered and implemented. • Additional configurations to the ThinDesk solution were also included and we use web filtering for additional security.
Describe what makes your cloud computing solution unique or innovative, and how you pushed the boundaries of a typical cloud computing architecture in designing and implementing this solution for your client?
• A hybrid cloud computing solution was employed with standard laptops using a secure remote connection to the cloud. • We needed to have access to the hard drive because of the unique work we do. • Instead of relying only on wired internet as a means of network connections to the cloud, NEXGEN uses an HSPA wireless broadband card for a fast connection anywhere over the TELUS Mobility 3G+ network. • NEXGEN’s future plans are to deploy newer laptops that contain an embedded HSPA chip using the ThinDesk cloud computing solution
Discuss why a cloud computing-based solution was the right choice for your client in this business case, rather than a traditional IT architecture?
• Flexibility – any computer can be a terminal to your virtual desktop. • Scalability – As we grow, we just add a license. Too much decision making time was wasted on the hardware. • Ease of use – You can log in anywhere through Internet Explorer. • Managed IT – Automatic software updates • Coverage – we have access to ThinDesk’s cloud computing solution anywhere TELUS Coverage is available. (93% of Canadian population) • Security – Web filtering, virus protections
Describe the business need this solution was expected to fill for your client, and how this solution has meet or exceeded those expectations. What measurable metrics, such as reduced costs or other efficiencies, can be provided to support the customer’s return on investment?
• A managed IT service that would protect our information and would grow with us was what we were looking for. • It can be argued that the solution operating costs are the same if not more than a traditional IT environment due the size of our small company. The ThinDesk solution reduces IT costs significantly for companies from 20-500 staff due to the economies of scale through thin clients and hosted virtual desktops. • When considering the improvement and overall benefits, it has met my expectations well.
Discuss how designing and implementing this cloud computing solution challenged or broke new ground for you as a solution provider. How did it differ from other cloud computing implementations you have done, and what new challenges were faced by your technical and sales staff?
• NEXGEN was unique in that our mobile air cards with high speed service were provided at no charge and our computer hardware was paid. • We have a young team and did not want to provide a laptop with too many restrictions • Team members log in to ThinDesk to access their email, files and folders, our information is protected. • We provide our employees with the ability to use the hard drive for their purposes as a perk. “It was not the laptop that was important or costly…in the end, it was the information that was important.” – Joshua Quirola.
How does this solution further your customer’s green or environmentally friendly plans?
In a ThinDesk/TELUS deployment we increase security while also reducing IT costs and power consumption through Hosted Virtual Desktops and Private Cloud Computing. We typically consolidate servers on a 10-1 ratio through virualization at the Tier 3 Enterprise TELUS Data Centre. Most Desktops are also being replaced with thin client terminals which use 1/10th of the energy of a PC. With a complete removal of a SMB’s server room, server consolidation and replacing desktops with economical and low power consumption thin clients, estimates are companies moving to ThinDesk can reduce their IT Carbon Footprint by up to 80%.”