Based in Basel, Switzerland, F. Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) is a leader in researched-focused healthcare. As part of its strategic IT plan to simplify its computing environment, the company upgraded users’ computers to the Windows® 7 operating system. As a result, Roche is benefiting from enhanced IT security, streamlined IT management, increased system performance, and an improved user experience.

Business Needs

F. Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics and is one of the world’s leading healthcare companies. With almost 9 billion Swiss francs (approximately U.S.$8.5 billion) invested in research and development in 2008, the biotech leader discovers, develops, and manufactures innovative diagnostic and therapeutic products and services. Genentech is a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group and Roche also has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical in Japan.

To support its business operations, Roche uses the Windows® XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) operating system. Fifty-five percent of its computers are portable computers, supporting a worldwide sales force and mobile workers. Its server environment includes the Windows Server® 2003 and 2008 operating systems and Citrix servers.

The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated and puts tight restrictions on IT infrastructure. This makes upgrading and adding technology to its already-complex environment a considerable challenge for Roche. For instance, even the upgrade from Windows XP to Windows XP SP2 required significant effort, because the entire IT environment had to be tested to ensure that it meets regulatory mandates.

As part of its long-term IT strategy, Roche started an internal program to reduce IT complexity. Among other plans, the company wanted to decouple software applications from the client computers and become more flexible and device-independent. Though the pharmaceutical industry typically takes a conservative approach to technology, Roche wanted to upgrade its client computers to the Windows 7 operating system and take advantage of virtualization technologies as part of its project. The company also wanted to enhance its IT security—always a concern to the pharmaceuticals leader—and raise operating system performance.

Solution

Roche started with a pilot deployment of Windows 7 Beta in March 2009. Its pilot group includes 20 users who are using the operating system on a daily basis and offering feedback to the project team. In July, Roche deployed the Windows 7 Release Candidate to 100 users; and when Windows 7 is released to manufacturing, 200 more users will get the new operating system. By the end of 2010, Roche plans to roll out Windows 7 to 5,000 users.

Windows 7 will significantly improve performance, which is critical to employee productivity. Dieter Reichert Program Manager of Workplace Solutions, F. Hoffmann-La Roche

As part of the upgrade, the company is identifying its core applications for the Windows 7 image and will deliver the rest of its applications through Microsoft® Application Virtualization (App-V), part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack—helping it meet its project goals. “We’re decoupling many of our applications and running with just a basic image, which is something we couldn’t do before,” explains Dieter Reichert, Program Manager of Workplace Solutions at Roche.

Roche is using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 to build its operating system image, which includes Microsoft® Office Professional Plus 2007 and the Windows Internet Explorer® 8 Internet browser. It is starting the operating system on a USB key and installing it from a network share. The company will use Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 for its widespread deployment in the future.

Roche is working with Microsoft Services to design its new Active Directory® service infrastructure. Microsoft Services is also helping the company design Group Policy objects that will be implemented as part of the upgrade.

The company is evaluating BitLocker® Drive Encryption for full-volume disk encryption, and BitLocker To Go™ for encryption of its removable storage devices.

Benefits

As a result of using Windows 7, Roche benefits from enhanced IT security and easier maintenance. In addition, its users have praised the increase in system performance and improved user experience.

Enhanced Security

Safeguarding its information and intellectual property is of primary concern to Roche, which invests significant resources to research and development. The security team is considering replacing its third-party disk encryption solution with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go, helping to safeguard information in the case of a lost or stolen laptop or USB memory stick.

Furthermore, the company has the opportunity to save U.S.$300,000 by replacing its third-party encryption solution with BitLocker.

Easier IT Maintenance

By using Group Policy objects, Roche will be able to centrally configure settings and manage security, avoiding traditional scripting. “With Group Policy objects and Windows 7, we’ll have more granular control over our computers and can more easily enforce how we govern our IT environment,” explains Miguel Lopez, Project Manager at Roche.

Increased System Performance

Roche users have experienced better system performance with Windows 7. For instance, the turning on sequence and resume sequence take less time than with previous operating systems. “Performance issues were one of our biggest concerns from users previously. Windows 7 will significantly improve performance, which is critical to employee productivity,” says Reichert.

Improved User Experience

With Windows 7, files on the corporate server can be synchronized automatically, without requiring users to choose between online and offline modes. “Employees don’t have to worry about manually synchronizing their data—it’s now synchronized automatically, and users have access even when they are disconnected from the network. This is a big win for our users,” explains Reichert.

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