Microsoft Windows Server System: Virtualization Case Studies

Organisations throughout the world use Microsoft virtualisation solutions to transform the way they manage their infrastructures, from the data center to the desktop.

See how customers are using Microsoft solutions for everything from accelerating application deployments; to ensuring systems, applications and data are always available; to taking the hassle out of rebuilding and taking down servers and desktops; to reducing risk, slashing costs and improving infrastructure agility.

Search the below case studies by application virtualisation, desktop virtualisation, server virtualisation or virtualisation management.

Featured case studies:

Accenture
An Accenture project team needed a new test environment with four application servers and five client environments including Red Hat Linux and numerous versions of the Windows operating system. By building virtual machines with Microsoft Virtual Server, the team met its deadline one week ahead of schedule. Virtual machines now play a key role in the lab, as does Microsoft Operations Manager.
AcXess Inc.
Microsoft Partner AcXess is a growing software solution provider headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. Increasingly, the company’s customers are seeking on-demand software solutions and complex demonstration applications that require more scalability and flexibility. They deployed Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 Service Pack 1, a new solution that provides the ability to run multiple operating systems on a single AMD Opteron™ processor-based server with AMD-V Technology™.
Alamance Regional Medical Center (ARMC)
The goal for ARMC was to manage 75 applications for 2,200 PC and thin client users, while accelerating deployments and upgrades and reducing costs. They implemented Microsoft SoftGrid application virtualisation and dynamic streaming solution.
Alecta
Alecta’s data center, located at headquarters in Stockholm, houses more than 100 older, underutilised servers. The IT staff deployed a Microsoft virtualisation solution to improve hardware utilisation, streamline server provisioning, and increase agility in responding to business directives. Using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager, IT staff now can provision servers in an hour instead of a week, providing unprecedented service levels to the organisation.
Allstate Insurance Co.
With only about 10 percent of the resources on any individual server being used, Allstate still projected the need for hundreds of new servers a year, which would require additional data center facilities. The test and development group chose to implement Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 as part of a companywide initiative to consolidate servers.
American National Insurance Company
The cost of replacing ANICO’s 132 server computers as part of a relocation of its data center was U.S.$1.32 million—making the move prohibitively expensive. They used Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to consolidate their server computers, decreasing costs and reducing the time for server deployment and rollback.
AtlantiCare
After expanding its data center a few years ago, AtlantiCare ran out of electrical capacity. The company wanted a cost-effective way to expand its test environment and needed to replace aging servers. They deployed Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to expand their server holdings without expanding their data center and they were able to add 33 virtual servers using only two physical servers.
AXA Group
AXA wanted to consolidate servers across its data centers and migrate older Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0–based applications to newer hardware. AXA plans to use Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to consolidate servers running Windows NT Server 4.0 and reduce server deployment, management, and support costs.
Bank of Montreal
BMO Capital Markets, the North American corporate and investment banking division of BMO Financial Group (originally known as Bank of Montreal) wanted to remain competitive and enter into the Asia Pacific market. They are upgrading their IT environment to 64-bit technology and will be deploying Windows Server 2008 after February 2008. Based on results generated by using Windows Server 2008 in production and testing environments, they expect the remote access and application publishing capabilities of Windows Server 2008, along with enhanced server consolidation and better monitoring, to reduce physical server hardware requirements by 30 percent and save hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon
Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon needed to collaborate across geographically dispersed offices but faced challenges regarding document version control, information access, and lost productivity as employees moved among offices. The firm deployed ProjectWise collaboration software and integrated it with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 for document and process management. Another key element of the solution is Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation, which the IT staff uses to virtualise applications and deliver them as an on-demand, streaming service to desktop users.
Barker's Inc.
Barker's planned to migrate its existing servers into a more beneficial arrangement, using hardware upgrades to prolong the life of its existing applications. Disaster was averted when Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 was used to bring a server image online, maintaining service while the failed hardware was replaced.
BASF IT Services
The Desktop Services business unit at BASF IT Services used automatic software distribution to deploy applications and updates to its customers’ PCs, but security testing was delaying their availability. BASF IT Services adopted Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation, a solution that disassociates applications from the operating system, making it possible to deliver applications dynamically, without physical installation.
BRAIN FORCE B.V.
BRAIN FORCE needed to speed the time required to set up and deliver IT environments and software packages, deal with company growth, and provide efficient access to data for remote employees. The company addressed these challenges by deploying Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 Service Pack 1, Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation, and Terminal Services improving their business agility and competitive edge.
Bridgestone Australia Ltd.
Bridgestone relies on its e-mail system for order fulfillment and other business-critical activities. Bridgestone evaluated and began deploying high-availability features—particularly failover clustering—in Windows Server 2008. In the company’s tests, automatic recovery of its Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 enterprise messaging system required less than 20 minutes.
Caja Madrid
Caja Madrid bank needed to redesign its Active Directory infrastructure to meet new business requirements for server performance and maintainability. With the help of their technology partners, they deployed the enhanced Active Directory features in Windows Server 2008.
CIGNA Corporation
CIGNA wanted to reduce the number of servers in its Testing and Quality Control (TQC) lab, while increasing its agility in setting up new test environments so it could test more applications faster. The TQC lab deployed Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to build virtual machines for new testing environments and for migrating existing servers used for ongoing testing efforts.
City of McHenry, Illinois
The city’s IT department had to replace an aging server infrastructure with a solution that could handle important software applications, including police and record management software. They used Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 with hardware from NEC to consolidate server architecture and create “virtual machines” that can efficiently and reliably run the city’s critical software applications.
City of Uppsala
The city of Uppsala wanted better protection against unauthorised access and malware attacks for its administration network. The city evaluated Windows Server 2008 Network Access Protection in a test environment with plans to complete a pilot and continue the rest of the deployment in 2008. The city expects to see significant improvements in system security and stability and also anticipates that the solution will help lower IT administration costs.
City of Zurich
The City of Zurich is optimising its IT infrastructure by bringing its 15,000 PCs and notebooks spread across 60 service departments in line with one common standard. They are using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 not only to install Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system, but also for subsequent central configuration and maintenance. The City will also realise faster deployment, easier provisioning, and better management with the Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Pack (MDOP).
Clarian Health Partners
Clarian Health Partners wanted to enable anywhere access for roaming users while expediting application deployments and operating system updates. They implemented Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation.
COFIDIS Portugal
COFIDIS Portugal sells consumer-credit products both directly and through outside resellers. These partners require secure access to company programs without costly virtual private networks. Employees also need remote access to remain productive. COFIDIS Portugal chose Windows Server 2008 to provide this crucial access through Terminal Services.
Community Medical Centers
Community Medical Centers had more than 350 applications to maintain and support. Excessive application conflicts were reducing productivity for users and for network and application administrators. They are using the Microsoft Application Virtualisation component in the Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Pack to package new and updated applications.
CompuCom
CompuCom Systems is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for midsize businesses with 20 years of experience in the design and implementation of IT infrastructures. A CompuCom Systems client wanted to consolidate underutilised physical servers and create a data-recovery system with portable virtual and physical servers. CompuCom Systems replaced the conventional server computers with a portable AMD Opteron™ processor-based virtual server environment running Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 and Windows Server 2003.
Computacenter
Computacenter Germany looked for tools to simplify critical operations such as Active Directory recovery and operating system deployment, and they also wanted to improve network security. They are implementing solutions based on Windows Server 2008, including Active Directory Domain Services, Windows Deployment Services, Network Access Protection, and Terminal Services.
Continental Airlines
Continental needed to consolidate its data center, redeploy 100 servers in just eight weeks, and ensure that the new infrastructure would be flexible and easy to manage. They evaluated Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 and System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 and are now using them to run virtual infrastructures in the company’s deployment, staging, and production environments.
Convergent Computing
Convergent Computing employs 65 consultants that design, test, and support enterprise wide computer network systems. A client needed fault tolerance and data redundancy to increase system reliability, reduce operational costs, and increase performance. They replaced the conventional server computers with a centralised virtual server environment based on Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 and Windows Server 2003 R2 and AMD Opteron™ processor-based servers with AMD Virtualisation™ technology.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) embraced virtualisation three years ago to preserve limited data center space, lower costs, and better utilise servers. They adopted Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 and created 150 virtual machines, but they still could not run multithreaded applications or implement clusters using virtual machines. In early 2008, DHMC joined the Microsoft Virtualisation Rapid Deployment Program to get an early look at the new Hyper-V technology. Hyper-V would provide increased application performance and clustering for high availability, and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 would simplify server management.
DGC One
DGC One wanted to simplify management of internal operations and customer hosting network infrastructure. They also wanted to more effectively safeguard their network from noncompliant client computers. They tested Windows Server 2008 within their own network to gain expertise with the operating system before deploying it for hosted customer networks.
Delta Holding S.A.
Delta has been adopting a flexible organisational structure to support the operations and development of its subsidiaries. This structure has resulted in major operational demands being made on the organisation’s IT system, which is continually upgraded to keep up with the increasing needs of the Delta Group. They implemented Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to centralise the IT systems of their individual companies.
Denver Health
At Denver Health, an aging collection of mainframe gateways was expensive to maintain and lacked the ability to participate in a failover system for disaster recovery. They consolidated the gateways within virtual machines using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 and provide failover and redundancy capability by using network attached storage for key files.
Digiturk
Digiturk needed to more efficiently manage its new and growing virtual server environment. They evaluated a beta version of Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager and are using it to manage Microsoft Virtual Server–based virtual machines in test and production environments.
Dundee City Council
Dundee City Council wanted to transform a costly, departmentally-run IT infrastructure into an efficient, centrally managed environment. They implemented Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation for Terminal Services.
eTelecare Global Solutions
eTelecare is the point of first contact for customers of some of the world’s most recognisable brands. To give these customers the best possible experience, eTelecare needs IT systems that operate with nearly continuous uptime.
ETH Zurich
The Institute of Microbiology at ETH Zurich wanted a more flexible, streamlined deployment process for client software. They installed Windows Server 2008 to take advantage of Windows Deployment Services.
Eurovia Services
With a brief to roll out a specialist construction application to 1,700 employees, Eurovia needed a solution for centralised, “zero-touch” deployment. It chose Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation technology, which gives users fast, reliable access to the latest applications and reduces compatibility testing requirements for IT staff.
Exelon Corporation
Duplicate IT infrastructure from a merger drove the need within Exelon for a more complex test and development environment. Exelon deployed Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 in its test and development lab to convert many of its physical servers into virtual machines for testing new software applications, patches, and upgrades.
The First American Corporation
The First American Corporation needed to consolidate the IT departments of its 350 decentralised business units. Using the enhanced administration tools and new modular architecture of Windows Server 2008 Standard with Internet Information Services 7.0, they expect to increase operational efficiencies by reducing hardware and software redundancies.
Fontys Hogescholen
Fontys centrally manage 350 applications for 9,200 workstations and laptops. Their goals were to accelerate deployments and improve availability, extend service levels, and improve TCO. As part of their solution, they implemented Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation.
Gritti Gas Rete
For Gritti Gas Rete, adaptation to the laws defining the parameters for the levels of service supplied to customers proved to be a match for its billing and collection system that handles 250,000 invoices per year for 36,000 customers. Computer Design presented them with a server consolidation project and implementation of a disaster recovery system developed on Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition technology.
Hörby Kommun
Hörby Kommun’s IT department needed to simplify its IT infrastructure and improve overall system security. The department also sought to improve system collaboration capabilities. They deployed the Windows Server 2008 operating system, which simplifies IT management, improves system security, and provides federation capabilities. The municipality will benefit from reduced costs based on the solution’s virtualisation and consolidation features.
HP Finland
HP Finland wanted an alternative virtualisation solution so they could: Simplify and streamline data center operations; reduce the operational costs of running a virtualisation environment; and provide better customer service. They are participating in a Microsoft Rapid Deployment Program (RDP) to evaluate a new solution based on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V virtualisation technology, and they are also evaluating the beta version of Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008.
HSBC Mexico
HSBC Mexico wanted a solution that would help standardise IT operations and support business growth through automated application deployment and improved asset management. They chose a management solution based on Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003, Operations Manager 2005, and the Active Directory service to improve control of their IT environment.
Iberdrola
Iberdrola wanted to shorten the IT department’s test and development cycles, cut management costs, optimise server utilisation, and improve disaster recovery. They chose Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager to improve the management of their virtualised test and deployment environments, and to streamline disaster recovery.
Institute of TAFE Tasmania
TAFE Tasmania is a state-run vocational and technical training organisation. They needed fast, reliable and secure access to teaching resources on all campuses, even in remote areas. They deployed Windows Server 2008 and used its enhanced security features and a range of related Microsoft software to protect their network and deliver safe, reliable access.
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz operates a disparate IT environment and needed to ensure that the most current technology was centrally available to staff and students. To improve IT management, they are implementing a solution based on Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.
Kent School District
Kent School District needed to quickly deploy and efficiently manage applications in a growing computing environment, and provide teachers and students enhanced service, without adding IT staff. They are using Microsoft Application Virtualisation to accelerate and simplify application provisioning and management, and provide more flexible, responsive service.
Kentucky Department of Education
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) was running out of data center space and wanted to reduce power and management costs. In early 2008, KDE joined the Microsoft Virtualisation Rapid Deployment Program to evaluate Hyper-V technology and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007. The use of System Center Virtual Machine Manager will speed server provisioning, decommissioning, and management.
Kroll
Kroll Factual Data has the largest known Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 environment. They wanted to more efficiently manage it and enhance disaster recovery. They evaluated Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager and are using it to manage Microsoft Virtual Server–based virtual machines, accelerate and improve virtual machine provisioning, and streamline disaster recovery.
Lafarge North America
Lafarge North America needed a cost-effective solution to reduce network security risks at branch offices while increasing the efficiency of centralised server administration. They became an early adopter of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise to test the enhanced features of the Server Core installation option, read-only domain controller, and Terminal Services.
Land O’Lakes
Land O’Lakes had an overcrowded data center full of underutilised servers that ran at 3 percent utilisation. Provisioning servers for the test and development environment was expensive and time-consuming. Following a positive experience with Microsoft Virtual Server R2 and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager, Land O’Lakes is testing Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V technology to improve server consolidation and provisioning.
Leumi Card
To serve a rapidly growing number of customers, Leumi Card needed a cost-effective way to expand and better manage its server computer resources. They deployed Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 to provide server virtualisation technology and Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 to control both virtual and physical servers.
Leumi Card
In 2006, faced with rapid growth, Leumi Card needed to expand, optimise, and better manage its server computer resources. YSIDE, a Certified Microsoft service partner, recommended and helped the company implement Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 to meet Leumi Card’s goals of increasing hardware utilisation and enabling IT to more rapidly configure new servers.
Lion Nathan
Lion Nathan’s IT department wanted technology that could reduce the costs for terminal services and improve the performance that users experience when accessing applications over the network. They deployed Windows Server 2008 Enterprise to take advantage of new and enhanced Terminal Services features.
Lufthansa Systems
To stay competitive, Lufthansa Systems needs to be ready to offer the newest technology to its customers. In November 2007, they began implementing the Windows Server 2008 operating system. They benefit from faster deployment, easier administration and an improved competitive advantage.
Major US Bank
The bank relies on its server infrastructure 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but limited remote access to tools and applications made it difficult for the IT team to respond quickly when a server was down. Through the Dell Longhorn Early Adopter Program for Windows Server 2008, the bank implemented Windows Server 2008 with Terminal Services to provide IT team members with simplified remote access.
Mantrac Group
Mantrac Mobile workers and employees who work from branch offices often struggled to access the remote applications that they needed to do their jobs. Managing IT resources was also time-consuming. They consolidated their IT environment with a centralised architecture built on Windows Server 2008. The new solution offers remote application access, security, and virtualisation.
Microsoft IT
The Microsoft Virtual Server Utility (VSU) team manages availability, capacity, and placement of more than 1,800 VMs on more than 100 hosts at Microsoft. Tracking and managing these resources had become difficult and time-consuming. They use Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager to manage Microsoft Virtual Server–based virtual machines in their data center and lab production, development, and test environments.
Microsoft IT
Microsoft IT knows that unanticipated downtime can have a significant negative impact. Loss of critical systems or services can reduce productivity, sales, and confidence from staff, partners, and customers. Microsoft IT deployed the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 where it needed a server to be dedicated solely to the roles and features that a Server Core installation supports.
Midas
Midas wanted a cost-effective way to consolidate older, less stable server computers onto a stable and easy-to-support platform. They also sought to reduce the size of their data center. They migrated 16 servers to virtual operating systems on four physical servers running Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2.
Molinos Modernos
With more than a dozen branch offices and limited bandwidth, Molinos Modernos needed a way to efficiently and securely store and share information to facilitate timely business decisions. They used features in Windows Server 2008 to consolidate and improve the performance of its IT infrastructure and improve the connections between its branch offices.
National City
With its development and test server acquisition growing at a rate of 300 servers per year, National City wanted to reduce the costs of purchasing, provisioning, and managing these servers. National City piloted Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 and Windows Server 2003 to minimise server growth and constant server provisioning and reconfiguration.
nGenX
nGenX wanted to grow its business and expand its capacity to meet customer needs, but its existing service delivery infrastructure would not scale efficiently. nGenX deployed Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation for Terminal Services and augmented the service delivery environment of nGenX with load balancing technologies.
NuSoft Solutions
NuSoft Solutions, Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a leading solution provider and IT consultant, needed the ability to offer its customers a comprehensive virtualisation solution. They also needed a way to build effective demonstrations for customers with older environments. They deployed Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 on AMD Opteron™ processor-based servers with AMD Virtualisation™ technology to customers and internally.
OTRA Information Services
OTRA wanted to update its server system to lower costs. But some applications that ran on Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 weren’t compatible with more recent operating systems, so they had to continue to run servers at a fraction of their capacity. With Microsoft Virtual Server 2005, OTRA was able to emulate several servers running Microsoft Windows NT Server on one machine running Microsoft Windows Server 2003.
Pacific Coast Building Products
Pacific Coast Building Products wanted a better way to guard its network perimeter and protect sensitive information while reducing the complexity of its IT infrastructure. They employed Windows Server 2008 Standard with Active Directory Rights Management Services and Terminal Services to enhance the security of its network, increase productivity, and build a more efficient IT environment.
PGGM
Remote employees at PGGM accessed the network over a virtual private network (VPN). They wanted to implement a more secure solution for remote access so they replaced their VPN with a solution built on Windows Server 2008. The solution provides direct access to network resources over an HTTPS connection and helps prevent unhealthy clients from connecting to the network.
PING
PING's increasingly fragile set of servers were running core business processes. Repairs and replacement were becoming increasingly costly, and an alternative to ongoing management was needed. Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 let PING keep vital systems running without fear of hardware or software failure crippling key business processes.
Qbranch
Qbranch wanted to simplify its IT infrastructure and lessen the number of manual IT management tasks. They also wanted to find a lower-cost application management solution. In mid-2007, Qbranch deployed Windows Server 2008, which includes new management features.
Quad Graphics
Quad/Graphics needed a cost-effective solution that would consolidate servers, improve reliability, support business processes, and help IT staff meet customer service level agreements. They are using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 and Windows Server 2003 to enable an agile virtual infrastructure, and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager to manage their servers.
RackForce Networks
Because its business was based on renting dedicated physical servers, RackForce was not making the best use of its hardware. In addition, customer sites experienced downtime and other problems whenever they needed to scale up services or move to different hardware. They used Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 to create a set of service offerings that make better use of hardware and eliminate the problems associated with moving customer sites.
RackForce Networks
RackForce was the first hosting service provider to bring Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 to market. However, with hundreds of customers and an array of server nodes, managing the environment was quite challenging. They are using Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager to provision and manage virtual environments enabling them to improve service for their global customer base.
Raiffeisenbank Austria
Raiffeisenbank Austria wanted to reduce costs associated with managing a growing data center. They needed to consolidate services on underutilised servers which hosted applications that could only run in isolation. They used Microsoft Virtual Server and the clustering feature in Windows Server 2003 to create a virtualised failover cluster environment managed with Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager.
Rail Manche Finance
Rail Manche Finance previously worked with custom-built accounting, apportionment, and settlement applications to keep detailed records of sales and traveler information. In addition, they had a management information system (MIS), which created numerous detailed reports cataloging this activity for senior rail management staff. The architecture had not been upgraded for more than a decade. RMF turned to Microsoft Certified Partner Southern IT Networks and they recommended RMF deploy a new architecture based on Microsoft Virtual Server 2005.
Rennes CHU
Rennes CHU, a teaching hospital in France, needed to relocate its IT infrastructure, while maintaining critical systems. Rennes CHU decided to virtualise part of its server farm to easily migrate and consolidate its infrastructure. They chose Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 over VMware GSX, because of its simple-to-use administration tools, ease of implementation, and affordability.
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum provided network access to visitors, but it was unable to enforce security policies on client devices before they connected. To improve security, they are implementing Windows Server 2008 with Network Access Protection. The museum will also install Microsoft Forefront Client Security for additional protection.
RPC
In consolidating IT operations at several factories in Europe, RPC sought an operating system that would support a scalable and highly available solution. They virtualised their servers using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition, running on the Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition operating system.
The SCOOTER Store
To save money, take pressure off its IT staff, and better align its IT infrastructure with its dynamic business needs, The SCOOTER Store needed to consolidate its physical IT environment. They deployed Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 to make their IT infrastructure a more dynamic strategic asset for the enterprise.
Siemens
To increase the cost-effectiveness of its application-hosting service, especially for small and midsize customers, Siemens IT Operations began deploying Windows Server 2008 Standard, taking advantage of enhanced Terminal Services and IT management features. Now, Siemens can reduce costs by purchasing fewer licenses and using server hardware more efficiently. It can also deploy new servers rapidly.
Siemens Information Processing Services
Siemens Information Processing Services wanted to manage its PC fleet, along with the two main problems that the company had been facing - underutilisation of desktops and high maintenance costs. SIPS implemented Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation.
Simpl Group
Rapid international expansion of the Simpl business strategy brought with it the challenge of maintaining robust server efficiency and data visibility, while maintaining service quality, and reducing operating costs. Simpl implemented a virtualisation solution using Microsoft System Centre Virtual Machine Manager and Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 Clustering. This effectively integrated disparate information management systems.
Southwestern Community College
Southwestern Community College needed to provide training on real-world servers using current technology, but ran up against a very limited budget for hardware upgrades and expansion. They deployed Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. Students gained hands-on experience in a fraction of the time, while IT and hardware costs were slashed.
Sporton Lab
Sporton’s data center was overcrowded with underutilised servers and the IT staff spent too much time manually administering and provisioning servers; therefore, the data center was slow to respond to business needs. They are implementing a virtualisation solution centered on the Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V technology to consolidate servers and boost responsiveness.
Stadtwerke Dusseldorf AG
Stadtwerke Dusseldorf was planning to migrate its Windows 2000 Professional client environment to a newer version of the Windows operating system, and they had to decide between Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. After a feasibility study, they chose Windows Vista and the decisive factor was the considerably lower migration costs.
Standard Bank Group
The Standard Bank Group staff grows by an average of 20 percent annually, partly from acquisitions, which has resulted in a decentralised, less consistent IT infrastructure. To create a centrally managed IT environment, the bank plans to gradually move all Windows Server–based services to Windows Server 2008. It expects this move to reduce costs and increase security, productivity, agility, and stability.
Surgient
Surgient, Inc., provides a set of hosted, on-demand virtual lab management applications that can help enterprises and ISVs accelerate their software application delivery life cycles and automate training and marketing demonstrations across a variety of computing environments. They rely on the flexibility, scalability and security of the Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 to meet their goals.
Surgient
Surgient wanted to provide a more usable, less expensive software trial and hands-on training experience to software organisations than sending out CDs. Surgient Virtual Demo Management System (VDMS) uses Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to provide on-demand virtual test/training labs by means of a browser, without the hassle of long downloads and installations.
Sutherland
Deploying, updating, and supporting applications was an incredibly time-consuming and resource-intensive process for Sutherland Global Services®, a premier customer management company with 21 years of practitioner heritage in business process outsourcing. They decided to deliver applications virtually using Microsoft Softgrid Application Virtualisation, a component of the Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Pack.
Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget
Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget sought a solution that could accelerate access to remote network resources, allow for greater mobility of employees, and minimize security risks posed by unsecured domain controllers. They chose to deploy Windows Server 2008, which offers new features that address the company’s issues without third-party components.
Swedish Medical Center
Swedish Medical Center’s goals were to enable doctors and nurses to have their applications and data roam with them from device to device; efficiently migrate over 400 applications to XP and deploy a new clinical application; and eliminate regression testing. They implemented SoftGrid via the Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Pack for Software Assurance.
T-Systems
T-Systems sought to improve employee productivity by standardising the desktop environment on the Windows Vista operating system and 2007 Microsoft Office system, including Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007. To achieve a smooth transition for the 600 employees, T-Systems needed a way to shorten application deployment time without interrupting workflow within the organisation. With Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation, T-Systems accelerated the deployment process and reduced overhead costs considerably by delivering applications to employee PCs dynamically.
Technogym
Technogym wanted to improve remote application access and increase system availability. To meet those challenges, they deployed the Windows Server 2008 operating system and have gained easy remote access and improved IT efficiency.
Tectura
TECTURA faced increasing costs from managing customer environments and solutions for its staff—excessive time was spent setting up and tearing down hardware and software. Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 allows TECTURA to store customer environments as virtual images, not as physical assemblies of hardware and software, thereby saving setup time and hardware costs.
Telecom Italia
Telecom Italia wanted to find an easier way to manage their network-management software application, plus provide improved security and better remote access to this application. Telecom Italia deployed Windows Server 2008, which includes new administrative tools and security management features.
Telstra Business Systems
An increase in the number of customers and branch offices for Telstra Business Systems made network communications slow and unreliable, which, in turn, created the potential for difficulties in meeting customer expectations. They upgraded to Windows Server 2008 and are taking advantage of the new features and enhancements to improve network performance and reduce costs.
TELUS
The company wanted to decrease the cost of Web hosting for its customers and to increase the flexibility and control that customers have over their hosted solutions. TELUS will use Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to consolidate customers’ hardware servers and increase administrator productivity.
Tube Lines
Limited scalability and low bandwidth affected application performance for Tube Line’s terminal services environment. They wanted improved service delivery and simplified management, so they are implementing Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services on 64-bit architecture.
US Government Agency
The agency relies on its server infrastructure 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but limited remote access to tools and applications made it difficult for the IT team to respond quickly when a server was down. Through the Dell Early Adopter Program for Windows Server 2008, the agency deployed Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 on Dell™ PowerEdge™ 2950 servers to simplify remote server management.
University Claude Bernard Lyon 1
The University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 in France wanted to improve access to applications for students and employees while strengthening security. To meet these goals, the university is implementing a solution based on Windows Server 2008. Users will be able to more easily connect to multiple applications while on campus and from remote locations through single sign on and Terminal Services.
Vail Resorts, Inc.
Vail Resorts wanted to offer better customer service by improving the reservations process and expanding travel services offerings. Working with Interlink Group, Vail Resorts created an application that provides access to both the company’s central reservation system and an online airfare service, from one interface.
Vetter Health Services
Vetter Health Services (VHS) primary medical records and finance application were centralised on an aging server architecture that taxed the IT department and compromised application performance. They created a solution using Windows Server 2008 with Terminal Services that has improved application performance, reduced support costs, and enhanced employee productivity.
Voca
Since 1968, Voca has been providing payments services to banks and corporations. Their goal was to streamline access and deployment of applications across their multi-site business locations. Voca implemented SoftGrid which has enabled them to successfully manage IT operations across multiple sites while dramatically reducing support time and creating a flexible environment.
Warwickshire Local Education Authority
Warwickshire Local Authority sought to improve its managed ICT service for schools by streamlining application delivery and improving security for remote access to school networks. Now, IT technicians are freed up to focus on delivering better support, and teachers can easily evaluate innovative new software on school computers with Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation.

Nissan Ireland

UCC

Maxol

Merrill Lynch