When Kuwait Oil Company considered replacing the Windows XP operating system across its entire desktop infrastructure, executives emphasized the need for a rapid deployment with minimal impact on daily operations. Because the company relies on several business-critical applications that run on Windows XP, executives stressed the importance of maintaining application compatibility throughout the upgrade process. After evaluating Windows 7, the company decided to deploy the solution together with Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) software. In late 2010, Kuwait Oil Company moved 90 percent of its computers to Windows 7 Enterprise, putting it on track to complete the deployment process well ahead of schedule. Now, in addition to benefitting from accelerated time-to-value, the company has strengthened its capacity for data protection while simplifying PC management.

Situation
Kuwait Oil Company oversees one of the world’s largest oil and natural gas upstream operations, engaging in the exploration, drilling, and production.

To sustain corporate profitability, even as global demand for energy began to decline sharply beginning in the fall of 2008, Kuwait Oil Company executives placed a renewed emphasis on operational efficiency. This initiative included finding ways to help employees increase personal productivity. Executives concluded that one of the most effective ways to achieve substantial time savings across its 7,500-person workforce was to update the computer hardware and software that its people use each day.

Windows 7 Enterprise fit our vision for reducing complexity, strengthening security and control, and giving our people powerful tools to do their jobs more efficiently. Ghada Barakat Senior Systems Analyst, Kuwait Oil Company

In early 2010, technology leaders led an effort to evaluate upgrading the company’s entire IT infrastructure, starting with the replacement of all desktop computers, portable computers, and mobile computing devices. In parallel, IT leaders recommended upgrading the Windows XP operating system, which the company had used for nearly a decade.

Business and technology leaders worked together to map the specific requirements for the solution. Several priorities emerged. They wanted to maximize system performance by adopting technology designed to take full advantage of the 64-bit computers that Kuwait Oil Company was in the process of acquiring.

At the same time, the company wanted to tighten network security to prevent data leakage and more rigorously safeguard its computers from malicious software, viruses, and other threats. “When we moved to Windows XP 10 years ago, the threat landscape was much different,” says Ghada Barakat, Senior Systems Analyst for Kuwait Oil Company. “The web was still emerging as a platform for business communication and external data storage devices hadn’t been widely adopted. But now our employees frequently use USB flash drives to transfer files. And we rely so much more on web-based and browser-based applications to connect our global business. In thinking about moving to a new operating system, data encryption and IT asset protection were important factors in our decision process.”

Beyond security concerns, executives wanted to ensure that mission-critical applications built to run on Windows XP would immediately be fully available, without the need to invest in additional development. “Many of the applications that operate on Windows XP are vital to our day-to-day business,” says Barakat. “They include everything from Windows-based oilfield mapping tools to our Oracle-based enterprise resource planning system. We couldn’t risk any downtime or performance degradation with those kinds of applications.” This group of applications also includes several web-based tools that support the Windows Internet Explorer 6 Internet browser.

Because the impetus for replacing its aging PC hardware and operating system software was the need for greater productivity, Kuwait Oil Company sought to minimize the amount of time required for deployment and training. “It was imperative that we make the transition quickly and limit the disruption to our employees,” says Barakat.

Solution
In early 2010, Kuwait Oil Company chose to upgrade from Windows XP to the Windows 7 Enterprise operating system. The company wanted to take advantage of such enhancements in Windows 7 Enterprise as improved support for virtualization, 64-bit processing, built-in security features, and seamless application and device compatibility. “Windows 7 Enterprise fit our vision for reducing complexity, strengthening security and control, and giving our people powerful tools to do their jobs more efficiently,” says Barakat.

We provided almost no training on how to use Windows 7 Enterprise. After a short time, we figured out that there was no need because employees became extremely proficient on their own in a matter of hours. Ghada Barakat Senior Systems Analyst, Kuwait Oil Company

In conjunction with its companywide rollout of Windows 7 Enterprise, Kuwait Oil Company deployed a number of additional Microsoft products and technologies, including the Windows Internet Explorer 8 Internet browser, Microsoft Office 2010, and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007. The company plans to complete deployment of the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system and Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 in the coming months.

Straightforward Deployment
The IT team used the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) for Windows 7 Enterprise—a set of tools and documentation that support the deployment of the Windows 7 Enterprise operating system—to upgrade more than 7,000 PCs in five months.

To accelerate the deployment process, the team took advantage of the Windows User State Migration Tool. A component of Windows AIK, this tool simplifies the process of transferring user accounts and data to the upgraded version of the operating system. In addition, the team used ImageX in the Windows AIK to quickly create and modify PC images. To track all of these activities, including the deployment of images to computers across the company’s entire operations, Barakat and her team relied on Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007. By using the Task Sequencer, a feature of System Center Configuration Manager 2007, they were able to visually monitor the progress of each step in the deployment process.

Seamless Application Compatibility
Kuwait Oil Company deployed Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) software to avoid potential conflicts between Windows 7 Enterprise and the company’s pool of applications that operate on Windows XP. These include several best-of-breed geological modeling and reservoir analysis solutions developed by third-party, global engineering firms.

An integral component of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, MED-V makes it possible for multiple operating systems to run in a virtual desktop environment. By decoupling applications from the operating system and hardware on which they run, MED-V enables organizations to deliver a full-fidelity experience across platforms without the need for costly development and extensive testing. “Without MED-V, we would need to deal with compatibility one application at a time, which would be too time-consuming,” says Barakat. “MED-V gave us a centralized way to provide compatibility for all of our applications that ran on Windows XP, which saved us a tremendous amount of planning work and time throughout the deployment.”

Windows 7 Enterprise gives us the foundation and the tools for better PC management, so we can deliver the richest experience possible to our employees. Ghada Barakat Senior Systems Analyst, Kuwait Oil Company

The company now uses MED-V to handle delivery and management of more than a dozen different business applications, including an Oracle-based accounting application and several browser-based programs that support Windows Internet Explorer 6. “We depend on a number of web-based production forecasting and reporting tools,” says Barakat. “Through MED-V, we were able to make these applications compatible with Internet Explorer 8, so we didn’t have to delay upgrading our browser software and we can still provide them with the best possible experience.”

Built-In Security
The company looks forward to capitalizing on enhanced data security capabilities in Windows 7 Enterprise, including BitLocker and BitLocker To Go drive encryption technologies. These technologies help provide powerful, end-to-end protection against data theft or exposure on computers and removable drives. In addition, the IT team will use the simplified administrative tools in Windows 7 Enterprise for configuring user account controls to help standardize its approach to security. To build on these capabilities, Kuwait Oil Company plans to take advantage of new security and privacy features in Internet Explorer 8, including Protected Mode, which makes it more difficult for Internet sites to automatically install malicious software on a user’s computer.

Intuitive Tools
Barakat and her team have received consistently positive feedback from employees throughout the company, who appreciate how easy Windows 7 Enterprise is to learn and use. “We provided almost no training on how to use Windows 7 Enterprise,” says Barakat. “After a short time, we figured out that there was no need because employees became extremely proficient on their own in a matter of hours.” Employees particularly appreciate the enhanced search capabilities in Windows 7 Enterprise, which they use to quickly find archived email messages, calendar items, and presentations—all in one place. Also, employees have noted how fast and easy it is to connect to wireless network routers, printers, projectors, and other devices, a convenience that helps them save time each day.

Benefits
Kuwait Oil Company has achieved the major objectives that it laid out in the case for upgrading the operating system across its entire PC fleet. Through the rollout of Windows 7 Enterprise, the company has empowered employees to increase productivity by helping them save time on everyday tasks. Moreover, Windows 7 Enterprise and Internet Explorer 8 work together to help give Kuwait Oil Company powerful, multilayered protection against data theft and malicious software. Also, the company’s IT team now benefits from enhanced control and simplified management of its desktop infrastructure.

Rapid Time-to-Value
By using the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK), including such components as the User State Migration Tool and ImageX, Kuwait Oil Company deployed Windows 7 Enterprise to an average of 1,500 computers a month. In a period of just five months, the IT team successfully moved more than 90 percent of the company’s work force to the upgraded operating system. “We’ve been able to deploy Windows 7 Enterprise much more quickly than we thought was possible,” says Barakat.

Because the team used MED-V to ensure seamless access to mission-critical applications that were not yet compatible with Windows 7 Enterprise, they were able to pursue an aggressive deployment schedule while minimizing disruption to day-to-day operations. “Because we’re ahead of schedule, we’re already starting to realize a return on our investment in terms of greater productivity throughout the organization. Through enhanced search and location-aware capabilities in Windows 7 Enterprise alone, we estimate that each employee saves up to 30 minutes a day.”

Powerful Information Security and Strengthened Asset Protection
Kuwait Oil Company is now better equipped to guard against a full range of security risks—from lost or stolen computers to Internet–borne viruses that could impact network performance. For example, through the use of BitLocker and BitLocker To Go drive encryption technologies in Windows 7, the company can support greater work force flexibility and mobility without compromising corporate data. To bolster its security strategy, Kuwait Oil Company will take advantage of built-in network protection capabilities in Windows Internet Explorer 8, which offer an additional line of defense against virus attacks and other threats.

Platform for Enhanced PC Management and Control
By enabling streamlined creation and deployment of PC images and simplified management of user access controls, Windows 7 Enterprise makes it much easier for Barakat and her team to ensure uniform control of the company’s desktop environment. Also, through the use of System Center Configuration Manager, the team can automate application and system updates across its entire infrastructure, and track computers and devices with greater efficiency. “Windows 7 Enterprise gives us the foundation and the tools for better PC management, so we can deliver the richest experience possible to our employees,” says Barakat.

Windows 7
Works the way you want: Windows 7 will help your organization use information technology to gain a competitive advantage in today’s new world of work. Your people will be able to be more productive anywhere. You will be able to support your mobile workforce with better access to shared data and collaboration tools. And your IT staff will have better tools and technologies for enhanced corporate IT security and data protection, and more efficient deployment and management.

For more information about Windows 7, go to:
www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7

For More Information
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www.microsoft.com

For more information about Kuwait Oil Company products and services, call (965) 23989111 or visit the website at:
www.kockw.com