Windows Server 2003 R2 Case Studies

ARCADIS is a leading engineering and construction company serving public and private sector clients all over the world. ARCADIS was looking for a more reliable and less expensive way to back up critical business data at its 118 United States branch offices, where office workers were processing storage tapes manually. The company took advantage of its Microsoft Software Assurance licensing agreement to upgrade file and print server computers at its branch offices to Windows Server 2003 R2, which features improved replication and storage management. The upgrade is expected to save ARCADIS approximately U.S.$739,000 annually in staff time, tape-related costs, improved server and business uptime, and more efficient data storage.

Historically, American Savings Bank used batch files to deploy and update software across the organization, a time-consuming approach that could not guarantee availability of applications locally. To enhance software replication, streamline print management, and increase control over storage resources, the company deployed a new software architecture based on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2. This technology offers fast, reliable replication of applications and files to local distribution points. In addition, the new system supports centralized print management, significantly reducing unplanned downtime. And while administrators previously could not see how employees used storage resources, they now can monitor files being stored to servers. By ensuring that only business-critical data is uploaded, the bank has reduced its storage requirements and streamlined the backup process.

The Austrian Ministry of the Interior provides law enforcement and security services. The ministry has been a model governmental body in its drive to streamline bureaucracy and use technology to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. After trimming its number of servers countrywide from 1,500 to 500 and upgrading those servers to Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, the ministry was poised to take advantage of the file replication efficiencies of Windows Server 2003 R2. Since the upgrade, the ministry has been able to improve the reliability of routine software updates between central and branch office servers, restoring at least two days per month of productivity to IT staff and police officers in branch offices.

CB Richard Ellis, the leading commercial real estate services company, understands the importance of making information accessible to its staff: Without reliable and available data, sales professionals can’t make decisions that support transactions. As part of its recent decision to standardize on Microsoft software and upgrade older technology to Microsoft Windows Server 2003, the company is also testing Windows Server 2003 R2. It will assess the capabilities of this latest release of the Microsoft Windows operating system for centralizing data backup at its branch offices. With the improved replication and remote data management features in Windows Server 2003 R2, CB Richard Ellis expects to improve file resource management and is experiencing a decrease of about 90 percent in bandwidth requirements for data replication.

A New York hospital had a request for a way to protect and secure donated Windows client computers for a children’s learning lab at minimal cost. To create a way to automate administrative policy, FullArmor adopted the x64-based version of Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition to create PolicyPortal, an application that enables remotely hosted Active Directory directory services. FullArmor took advantage of the high performance capabilities of the Windows x64 platform to enable access to log in and to manage user profiles for remote computers.

Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) needed to automate tasks related to managing its storage resources. Because the company was monitoring its file servers manually, it was unable to quickly identify files that were large, outdated, or redundant. HECO needed to improve its ability to plan for storage growth and also respond to departmental requests for more storage. In addition, the company had an objective to reduce storage administration costs and ensure regulatory compliance of its intellectual property. To improve operations and simplify storage administration, HECO upgraded to Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition and was able to quickly identify inappropriate content on the file servers, regain storage capacity, increase IT productivity, and significantly reduce backup time.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) of Lower Saxony, the region's highest judicial authority, supports its activities with a complex IT infrastructure. Previously, the ministry worked with operating systems, messaging engines, and tape libraries distributed across 180 branch offices. The technology at each site was managed locally, along with time-consuming data backup processes. Because new deployments at each branch depended on the capabilities of local technicians, the quality of IT services was not consistent across the organization. To address these issues, MOJ deployed new infrastructure based on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2. The new solution provides centralized management tools that help improve service across the organization and reduce software licensing, hardware, and staffing requirements. The result will be an estimated savings of U.S.$2 million on hardware and software.

Microsoft Corporation needed to enhance file server replication, optimize wide area network (WAN) bandwidth use, and provide single sign-on for its employees. Microsoft's IT group (Microsoft IT) deployed Windows Server 2003 R2 to take advantage of several new features, including File Server Resource Manager, a centralized tool for managing file servers; Distributed File System (DFS), to reduce WAN bandwidth used for replication between branch offices; and Active Directory Federation Services, to create cross-organizational network federations with partners. In addition, the Windows Server 2003 R2 deployment has given Microsoft IT better use of server storage, less time spent managing file servers, and enhanced security.

Paul Smith is an English fashion retailer known for smart designs and smart technology use. The company recently deployed Windows Server 2003 R2 to take advantage of Distributed File System and other technologies to overhaul the time-consuming daily backup of branch office data. The previous resource-intensive, tape-based procedure has been replaced with automated replication-based protection that requires no branch staff involvement. The move has increased productivity by one day a week for IT staff and one hour a day for branch office staff. It is also saving U.S.$12,000 annually in tape costs. Network bandwidth is more efficient, with some file transmissions now taking eight seconds instead of eight hours.

Recon/Optical offers a range of surveillance technologies, including aerial reconnaissance cameras that protect U.S. service people from bad weather, chemical and biological agents, and enemy attacks. The company traditionally managed its business documentation manually, increasing administration costs and making it difficult to track information effectively. To address these issues and achieve compliance with regulatory legislation, Recon/Optical deployed an electronic document transaction solution called IntelliSafe Vault that supports electronic signing, distribution, and storage of legally binding documents. The application runs on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 with Active Directory Federation Services to give employees secure access to the Vault from any Internet-connected PC. This reduces costs associated with virtual private networks and streamlines IT administration.

Southern Company, one of the largest producers of electricity in the United States, relies on tape-drive devices, batch-file backup scripts, and specialized software to back up vital data from its branch offices to central data servers. Each method has its limitations and added costs. Southern Company’s IT team discovered that Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 R2 could do everything their older replication technologies could do and more—at no additional cost. By replacing aging replication technologies with the advanced replication features and technologies built into Windows Server 2003 R2, the company can create a robust replication infrastructure that is simpler, more scalable, and better centrally managed. Using Windows Server 2003 R2, the company can reduce costs and administrative overhead while maintaining its level of service to branch office clients.

"The new system has the potential to enhance our software distribution, streamline print management, and promises potential storage savings of 33 percent."
—Elston Kitamori, Technology Infrastructure Manager, American Savings Bank

"Best Buy looks forward to Windows Server 2003 R2 providing better availability and manageability of distributed data for our remote locations. We are constantly looking for innovative ways to more effectively manage our IT spend while increasing our support of the business."
—Bob Anderson, Chief Technologist, Best Buy Co., Inc.

"Using Windows Server 2003 R2 to centralize data backup is helping us eliminate lost sales by ensuring that pertinent information is available to our staff when they need it."
—Bill York, Director, Network Technical Services, CB Richard Ellis

"By centralizing our backup infrastructure, we have significantly reduced IT management overhead. The results are a savings of $2 million."
—Dr. Ralph Guise-Ruebe, CIO, Justice of Lower Saxony

"The ability to sign and exchange critical documents electronically increases efficiency. It also gives us an irrefutable audit trail for compliance with Defense Trade Control Standards."
—Carlos Solarte, IT Director, Recon/Optical

"The DFS replication technology in Windows Server 2003 R2 has helped us improve branch office management. File transfer tests show a dramatic decrease in network traffic."
—John Minnick, Manager, Technology Development, Siemens AG