M-Systems

High-Tech Manufacturer Improves Information Access, Reduces Costs with IT Upgrade

With a dispersed global workforce of more than 800 staff, msystems is always searching for tools to improve its employees’ ability to collaborate and access real-time information. To that end, the company participated in the Microsoft® Technology Adoption Program (TAP) and is now upgrading its IT platform to the Windows Vista™ operating system, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. The new solution is providing msystems knowledge workers with essential tools for improving their efficiency, making it possible for them to locate information quickly across multiple data sources, access essential information remotely, and collaborate easily with coworkers.

 

Situation

msystems, one of Israel’s largest computer hardware companies, produces and markets flash memory–based information storage solutions. The company, which employs a staff of more than 800 at its headquarters in Kfar Sava and its branches around the world, was recently acquired by SanDisk.

With Microsoft, we found connectivity between technology and business understanding, and this has benefited us a great deal. Udi Weinstein Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, msystems

Due to the extensive decentralization of workers and the competitive nature of the market in which msystems operates, its IT network is a significant factor in personal and organizational productivity, and a key to providing msystems with a competitive edge. Also, as an innovative and pioneering organization, msystems strives to adopt new technologies as early as possible.

msystems’ IT strategy attaches considerable importance to integration of all the various components. Therefore, a large percentage of the technological platforms that drive the organization come from a single source: Microsoft.

To operate as a unified organization despite the geographic dispersion of its operations, msystems has relied on e-mail communications driven by Microsoft® Exchange Server 2003, and on a wide system of group and individual portals based on Microsoft Office SharePoint® Portal Server 2003. In addition, the organization uses availability tools (indicating free/busy status) for more efficient management of interpersonal communication.

“These are decisions that have delivered results in terms of time, costs, actual usage of tools by people—and in the relatively small amount of human capital required for managing the IT of a global company,” says Udi Weinstein, Vice President of Information Technology and CIO at msystems.

An recent internal analysis of msystems’ employee IT needs revealed a number of common requirements: the capability to conduct fast and efficient searches of multiple sources concurrently; fast remote access to information; and the ability to access information sources offline. Another need is for management throughout a document’s lifetime, since a single document is sometimes used by a number of business units.

According to Weinstein, “By nature, people are not used to sharing knowledge. There-fore, we must provide our knowledge workers with tools to help them collaborate and reap the greatest possible benefit from it.”

Solution

msystems chose to upgrade its desktop and network infrastructure to the Windows Vista™ operating system, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 as part of the Microsoft Technology Adoption Program (TAP). The project was implemented by msystems’ internal IT group with the assistance of solution partner eWave, under the direct supervision of Microsoft.

The decision to be an early technology adopter stemmed from the company’s desire to respond to its knowledge workers’ needs. With these upgraded products, msystems can offer improved portal linking capability, full indexing of data at the server level, improved external access to information by means of Microsoft Office Outlook® Web Access, and offline access to the company’s various information sources by means of the Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 messaging and collaboration client.

By nature, people are not used to sharing knowledge. Therefore, we must provide our knowledge workers with tools to help them collaborate and reap the greatest possible benefit from it. Udi Weinstein Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, msystems

Says Weinstein, “Throughout the TAP, we saw that only those who worked with all the new versions of the systems were really able to enjoy all the benefits. The key is integration: Better Together.”

msystems is migrating its workers to the new IT system gradually. The initial focus is on mobile employees, who will receive particularly strong benefits from the new features.

Automatic, remote migration of workstations is performed by uninstalling and reinstalling software according to a defined image. A server migration to a complementary 64-bit environment also was performed.

Benefits

As an innovative and pioneering organization, msystems strives to adopt new technologies as early as possible. In addition, due to its integrated approach, the company maintains as much uniformity as possible between its various IT platforms to achieve optimal performance and user satisfaction. The combination of Windows Vista, the 2007 Office System, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 are meeting all expectations.

Tightly Integrated IT Environment

First and foremost, Weinstein notes the integration among the various Microsoft tools and their ability to interface with other organizational systems: “The integration of a number of tools under a single reliable work environment helps turn any technological advantage into a competitive corporate advantage.

“When you look at the daily use by people, the real benefits are revealed,” he continues. “The knowledge worker logs onto the system remotely and securely using a single sign on, by means of [Microsoft] ISA Server 2006. Once he has logged on, he is linked to the organizational structure directly from Active Directory® [directory service] and receives access to all the information sources and to the abundant portal system. Consequently, he enjoys a full user experience regardless of where he is located.” In fact, Weinstein adds, “It’s as if Microsoft listened to the users’ demands and met them one by one.”

Weinstein also stresses the accessible, rich, and intuitive interface of all the tools, making it possible to maximize their capabilities without the need for extensive training.

Another essential feature is the flexibility provided by the platforms. “The world is undergoing constant changes, and the systems must be built so that the changes are integrated inside them,” Weinstein explains.

More Effective Document Search

Thanks to the upgrade, msystems knowledge workers are being provided with the tools to work more efficiently. Users can now perform a single search in multiple sources, including file servers, the portal environment, their PC and personal e-mail Inbox, and even the e-mail Inboxes of other users, in accordance with a defined policy and authorizations.

“The ability to perform a comprehensive, accurate, and fast search through ‘tons’ of information, anywhere, is critical to employees’ day-to-day functioning,” Weinstein explains. “The employee no longer has to know where the information is stored —on a disk, on a file server, as e-mail, or on the intranet—nor is he or she dependent on the existence of an online connection. The relevant information is simply available for them, always.”

[Outlook Web Access] is the richest Web application that I have ever encountered, with features that outclass those of many client applications. In fact, there is no reason to wait to get back to the office—everything can be performed remotely, saving valuable time. Udi Weinstein Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, msystems

Other essential benefits pertain to shortened response times. Searching and finding information is significantly faster than in the past, thanks to information indexing at the server level and a shorter synchronization process, and an improvement has been noted in the operation of the availability tools.

Easy Access to Remote Information

The new Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access interface enables access to the company’s various information sources, including Office SharePoint Server 2007 portals, from anywhere and from any device. Weinstein notes that “this is the richest Web application that I have ever encountered, with features that outclass those of many client applications. In fact, there is no reason to wait to get back to the office—everything can be performed remotely, thereby saving valuable time.”

Another no less important benefit is the ability to work offline with Office SharePoint Server 2007 through Office Outlook 2007. It is now possible to utilize time more efficiently and to enable easier and more convenient access to information anywhere.

Better Control of Mobile Devices

The new system also provides better control of mobile access devices, including handhelds and smart phones. For example, when a mobile device is lost or stolen, access to it can be locked remotely, thereby preventing critical information from falling into the wrong hands. The locking process can be performed by the user through Outlook Web Access using Exchange Server 2007.

Lower IT Management Costs

For the technical team, the simple management of the new environments contributes to a savings in costs that begins with the user migration—which can be performed without affecting workflow—and will continue throughout regular maintenance. msystems has noticed an improvement in platform disaster-recovery capabilities, an essential feature for such critical systems.

With regard to the support throughout the project, Weinstein says that “Microsoft can certainly serve as an example for other technology suppliers. There is no doubt that participating in TAP was worthwhile, and gave us an opportunity to be among the first to enjoy the new generation of solutions.

“The moment the Better Together concept was presented to us, the desire to implement it was immediate," Weinstein concludes. “With Microsoft, we found connectivity between technology and business understanding, and this has benefited us a great deal.”

Windows Vista
Windows Vista can help your organization use information technology to gain a competitive advantage in today’s new world of work. Your people will be able to find and use information more effectively. You will be able to support your mobile work force with better access to shared data and collaboration tools. And your IT staff will have better tools and technologies to enhance corporate IT security, data protection, and more efficient deployment and management. For more information about Windows Vista, go to:
www.microsoft.com/windowsvista

Microsoft Office System
The Microsoft Office System is the business world’s chosen environment for information work, providing the programs, servers, and services that help you succeed by transforming information into impact. For more information about the Microsoft Office System, go to:
www.microsoft.com/office

Microsoft Server Product Portfolio
For more information about the Microsoft server product portfolio, go to:
www.microsoft.com/servers

 

For More Information

For more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568-2495. Customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234 in the United States or (905) 568-9641 in Canada. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to:
www.microsoft.com

For more information about eWave products and services, call +972-9-9543040 or visit the Web site at:
www.ewave.co.il

For more information about msystems products and services, call +972-9-764-5000 or visit the Web site at:
www.msystems.com