Cerner Corporation

IT Provider Enhances Security and Meets Customer Needs with New Operating System

Cerner Corporation creates healthcare IT solutions for hospitals, physician offices, employers, and government organizations. The company is responsible for sensitive data and required an operating system that would help it enhance security. It began upgrading to the Windows Vista® operating system in December 2006. Now, Cerner enjoys better use of its IT resources, enhanced security, improved associate productivity, and the ability to meet client expectations.

 

Business Needs

Cerner Corporation is a healthcare IT solutions provider that creates advanced solutions for the healthcare industry with a focus on patient care, convenience, and security. As a software company, Cerner strives to take advantage of the latest technology and innovations to better serve its clients. It has created a range of client solutions from drug dispensing equipment to pharmaceutical tracking and unique healthcare solutions and services for employers. As the healthcare field has grown, Cerner has continued to adapt and provide forward-thinking solutions to a varied client base. “We need to be on the forefront so that when our clients implement the latest technology, we are ready for them,” says Kevin Smyth, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Cerner.

With a network environment of 7,600 computers, almost exclusively laptop computers, Cerner has struggled to maintain a consistent operating system image on all computers. The company was managing eight operating system images, and wanted to reduce the number of images for more effective IT management. The company is also watchful over laptop security because as the mobile workforce moves to and from network firewalls, the risk of infection by malicious software increases.

For the past several years, Cerner has spread its expertise beyond North America into the healthcare markets of Europe and Asia. In late 2005, the National Health Service of England contracted Cerner to participate in the National Programme for IT—a large-scale initiative to centralize hospitals, practitioners, and patient data in a single network. Because of the high sensitivity of patient data, Cerner required an environment that would ensure patient privacy, while balancing the need for data access by healthcare professionals.

Solution

To stay abreast of client needs in technology and security, Cerner began exploring an upgrade to the Windows Vista® Enterprise operating system in December 2006. Deployment began in the IT department but has quickly spread throughout the company.

Our clients expect us to keep data secure. Windows Vista was a great opportunity for us to push out encryption to individual devices, which lets us meet our clients’ growing needs. Kevin Smyth Vice President and Chief Information Officer Cerner Corporation

Each phase of the deployment tackles a new department, where the deployment team focuses on application compatibility and maintaining a single image of Windows Vista on all computers. With the Windows® Imaging Format, just two IT staff are needed to create and implement an image of Windows Vista for the company’s 7,600 computers. As part of the upgrade, Cerner is implementing security-enhanced features such as Windows BitLocker™ Drive Encryption. 

Cerner is also upgrading to the 2007 Microsoft® Office system from Microsoft Office 2003 as part of its system overhaul. In addition, it is implementing Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 communication and collaboration server. The company plans on completing the upgrade of all computers by June 2008.

The company is evaluating Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 to help streamline the deployment of its new operating environment and productivity programs. The team plans to use Zero Touch Installation for application packaging and software distribution.

Benefits

Still early in its deployment, Cerner is already gleaning the benefits of upgrading to Windows Vista, including optimized use of IT resources, enhanced security, improved productivity for its associates, and the ability to deliver the next generation of solutions to meet client needs.

Better use of IT resources. Cerner has enjoyed a smooth transition to Windows Vista by creating a single image of the operating system and deploying it to multiple machines. The deployment has required minimal IT resources for creation, installation, and maintenance. “Windows Imaging Format attracted us because of the reduced need for additional staff to create multiple images for installations on different machines,” says Smyth.

Now, the company can use fewer resources to update and manage more devices. Instead of requiring the equivalent of one full-time employee to update eight different devices once a year, it takes the equivalent of less than one person to update twelve devices four times a year. 

Enhanced security. Cerner is pleased that it has a new level of security for its laptops, as well as for client systems. As a result of implementing Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption, Cerner provides a security-enhanced environment for its clients’ sensitive data such as confidential patient information. “Our clients expect us to keep data secure,” explains Smyth. “Windows Vista was a great opportunity for us to push out encryption to individual devices, which lets us meet our clients’ growing needs.”

Improved productivity. With its gentle learning curve, the updated operating system has been quickly adopted by the Cerner workforce, without the need for training. “With simple-to-use productivity features such as Instant Search, precious seconds are saved through each step of the workday,” says Smyth. “Associates can find just what they need within two clicks.”

Gaining the competitive edge with cutting-edge applications. Cerner now has the power to deliver advanced IT solutions to its clients in the growing healthcare industry, which requires both easy information access and strong security. “The benefits of productivity features and security enhancements in Windows Vista not only help us,” sums Smyth, “but also can be used in the next-generation applications we build for our clients.”