4.
NSI DEVELOPS PC STANDARDIZATION PLAN FOR A NATIONWIDE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
Overview
A Nationwide Financial Institution, that encompassed 28 states and a corporate complex,
approached NSI for assistance in upgrading their installed base of legacy desktop
computers. At the time, the client had an estimated 5200-6500 with a blend of Windows
98/2000 PCs across their network. These were primarily non-standard clone machines,
using legacy application versions, such as Microsoft Office 97/2000, and many lacked
antivirus software. Also, due to the limitations of Windows 98/2000, the client was not
leveraging its investment in Windows Active Directory.
The Challenge
The client had little control over the PC environment, so the conditions of most of the
systems were undiagnosed, and the Company lacked both an inventory and an ability to
provide remote support for these computers. Thus, the company’s relatively small IT staff
was overwhelmed supporting these unstable systems and the majority of the user
population was discontent with the condition of their computers. The C-Level wanted to
purchase new computers for the Company, but there was no plan in place for how to deploy
them, and there was no IT department time available to manually configure and install them
across the organization.
Methodology
To gain control of the situation NSI immediately recommended that the client begin a PC
Standardization project with the goals of both deploying the new PCs quickly and efficiently
and of ensuring that through standardization the condition of the new PCs would not
devolve into the unmanageable mess that currently existed. The first phase of the project
was to develop a company-wide PC standard and a process for deploying it. NSI would then
test this standard and the process in a small but statistically representative pilot test, before
moving forward with the purchase and mass deployment of thousands of new PCs. This
process included the following procedures:
• Assess and inventory the legacy PC to be replaced
5.
• Automate the installation and configuration of the PC operating system and base
application suites
• Configure per-user settings (e.g. email profiles, printer settings, etc.)
• Migrate user data from legacy PC to the network
• Physically deploy the new PC to the classroom
• Perform Q/A Testing
• Provide support as-needed
This strategy was to become the basis for the first phase of the PC Standardization process;
however, the client could not afford to replace all existing PCs at once, nor did they expect
to have the means to do such large scale upgrades in the future. So NSI proposed a plan for
the staggered replacement of one third of the total PCs for the first three years and an
ongoing hardware refresh plan thereafter.
Solution
At the client’s request, NSI began work on the first phase of the proposed PC
Standardization project. The NSI team first met with representatives of the client’s IT staff
and other stakeholders to identify the requirements for the new PC standard. By working
together and getting input from all those involved, the team identified a standard hardware
platform and a standard software image, as well as several existing client standards and
conventions that would be incorporated into the new system. NSI also solicited client input
for the use of management tools and methods of deploying non-core applications across the
organization before making a final recommendation for the use of NSI’s Service Center and
Onsite Manager. To deploy the standard PC “image” to new systems, NSI selected Altiris,
an industry leading tool for cloning a prototype PC configuration onto new computers. This
allowed for the Windows XP operating system and all core applications to be installed at
once, in about 10 minutes, as opposed to individually performing each installation. To
transfer data from legacy PCs, NSI utilized the “personality capture” feature in Altiris, which
is an automated script, which scanned the local Windows 98/2000 hard drive for selected
files and file types and uploaded them to a file share on one of the client’s
servers. Additional Altiris tools used in the process automated the installation of critical
6.
security updates for Microsoft products, and Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition, a
centrally managed antivirus solution. Microsoft Defender was also used, for spy ware
protection. NSI also utilized Active Directory Group Policies to support and control the new
PCs. This took advantage of desktop Folder Redirection, which is intended to encourage
users to store all of their data on the network, rather than on their local PCs, which are not
backed up.
Result
The pilot test was successful and resulted in few substantive changes to the originally
designed image and process. At the conclusion of the pilot, NSI delivered a detailed, 35-
page “PC Standardization Plan” document outlining every aspect of the process in detail.
The process created by NSI is now being used to deploy the first wave of approximately
2500 new PCs.
7.
NSI INSTALLS CISCO MANAGED WIRELESS NETWORK FOR AN
UPSCALE DOWNTOWN CHICAGO HIGH RISE
Overview
An upscale Downtown Chicago High Rise was seeking to replace their existing wireless
network with a new system that will comprehensively cover the building’s 30 floors.
Previous attempts at wireless networking were met with poor results—therefore, the HOA
mandated a new solution that offered nearly complete coverage of the building while
providing all users ease of use.
Challenge
Simplicity of access to the new wireless network was a key consideration in the project. The
building’s wireless network had to be accessible to all guests of the building, not just the
tenants since this building was a “mixed use” facility and they had business centers as well
as condos. NSI was retained to design, implement and configure the new wireless network.
NSI was also tasked with providing project documentation and conducting a knowledge
transfer to NSI’s technical personnel which would be providing ongoing support.
Due to time and budget constraints, the HOA wished to approach this project in two phases:
the first of which would include five pre-determined high-priority areas to offer existing
tenants an immediate improvement over the old wireless network. After successfully
implementing the first phase, the wireless network would be extended to the rest of the
building. NSI recommended a centrally managed wireless solution based upon Cisco
wireless hardware. The advantages of the type of architecture NSI recommended and
implemented are many: centralized policy control, automated configuration of new access
points and seamless transition between access points during client roaming. To centrally
manage the access points, Cisco’s Wireless Control System (WCS) management software
was deployed. A feature of this system allowed NSI to construct a visual quot;heat mapquot; of the
area covered by the installed lightweight access points. The system was also capable of
being expanded to provide wireless location tracking services. Authentication for the new
wireless network was handled through Cisco’s Secure Authentication Control System (ACS).
In accordance with the HOA’s existing wireless standards, web authentication was used as
the primary security mechanism, authenticating user credentials against the HOA’s main
database.
8.
Solution
NSI developed a project plan to implement, test and prove the wireless network to meet the
client’s objectives. First, NSI conducted a site survey to ensure the optimal placement of the
wireless access points. After those were installed, NSI coordinated with the client’s building
management team to properly address and configured the wireless devices. From the
Wireless LAN Controller, the access points were discovered and added to a test wireless
network. Next, the wireless functionality of the devices was confirmed by both NSI and the
client.
Once wireless networking was established, NSI installed and configured WCS, the central
management software. To validate the software, NSI configured new access points remotely
without requiring physical access to the wireless devices or the controller. A disaster
recovery plan was designed and proved while NSI documented the entire configuration for
the client. In the most complex segment of the project, NSI implemented the web
authentication piece. NSI was able to provide the mandated authentication using Cisco’s
ACS connecting to an external Radius server. Any tenant or guest throughout the building
was able to sign in to the wireless network using their existing credentials.
Results
Following a successful two-week pilot of the new wireless network, the wireless network was
enabled in full production mode. The wireless coverage exceeded the client’s expectation
and feedback from tenants, the HOA and business center guests were overwhelmingly
positive.
9.
NSI PROVIDES OUTSOURCED IT SUPPORT FOR A WORLD CLASS
MANUFACTURER OR PRECISION PARTS
Overview
Earlier this year, a global provider of precision, function-critical parts for the
aerospace, military, medical, electronic equipment and commercial markets
was going through a significant merger and acquisition phase, which resulted
in the division of the company into several separate operating entities. All
shared IT systems and staff were utilized by one group, leaving the others
with a very short timeframe to implement new systems and find a support
solution to handle all aspects of their IT needs.
Challenge
The deadline for this initiative was set by political forces that did not take
into account the time necessary to plan and execute a smooth transition, so
the client knew that outside assistance would be needed.
Methodology
The client contacted and interviewed several IT service companies and
ultimately selected NSI because of its breadth and depth of IT expertise,
flexible support options, and its excellent references providing similar
services with other manufacturing clients. NSI’s recommendations included
two major components:1) A flexible agreement to provide on-going IT
support; and 2) A comprehensive project to implement new IT systems
and migrate existing data and applications from the departing servers The
project included the implementation of a completely new IT infrastructure,
including:
10.
· Server hardware
· Data center equipment
· Network printers
· Windows Active Directory domain
· Exchange 2003-based messaging system
· SQL 2005 database server
· Managed antivirus and spam filtering
· Remote backup systems
· Firewall configuration
In addition to installing and configuring these systems, NSI migrated
existing user data and applications, including the client’s ERP system, from
the legacy environment to the new platform. For support, NSI recommended
its signature Managed Solutions Platform. With NSI’s MSP, the client was
able to access the expertise of NSI’s entire pool of IT professionals while
engaging a custom combination of on-site services that were tailored to their
specific needs.
NSI initiated the support work immediately to smooth the transition from the
outgoing support staff to the NSI team. This also gave the NSI team an
opportunity to become familiar with the legacy systems in the environment,
allowing NSI to better support the migration from the old systems to the
new platform, while providing the client with greater confidence in a
transition without downtime. In the course of providing on-going support to
the agency, NSI created comprehensive documentation of the client’s IT
systems, to serve as a tool when managing the servers, applications and
other devices on the network. This Knowledge Base, stored in NSI’s Support
Center gave the company valuable information that aided in decision making
and demonstrated that the systems managed by NSI are well organized and
configured according to industry-accepted best practices. NSI also provided
11.
the client with regular written status reports, detailing the weekly support
activity, identifying open tasks as well as potential problem areas that the
client needed to be aware of.
Migration to New Systems
The client had a very aggressive deadline for the system migration to:
· Purchase and receive new hardware and licenses;
· Build and configure the new systems; and
· Migrate off of the legacy systems before they were physically taken
away.
To meet this goal, NSI marshaled a team of senior consultants and system
architects to rapidly design and implement a completely new IT environment
that would provide all the services of the legacy system, while giving the
client an up-to-date foundation for future growth. NSI also assigned a
project manager to coordinate the team’s efforts and to ensure that the
project was performed efficiently and stayed on schedule. Building the new
environment included modifying the existing server room with racks and
uninterrupted power and network connectivity. New Windows servers were
setup and a new Active Directory Forest was created. Microsoft Exchange
was implemented as the primary messaging system, and configured to
provide secured access to remote Outlook clients. To filter spam and email
based viruses, NSI implemented a Sonic Wall appliance. Centrally managed
antivirus software was also used to protect PCs and servers. A new backup
and disaster recovery system was then implemented to ensure that all of the
company’s data was protected with SOX best practices. NSI then migrated
all existing user accounts and data, as well as network applications and PCs,
to the new systems. Following this migration, NSI created written and
graphical documentation of the new systems, to give the client a clear
12.
picture of how their critical IT systems work together and to streamline
support.
Result
NSI was able to meet the client’s hard deadlines and complete all critical
work under a tightly compressed schedule. The project was successful. On
the first day of the business, the client was up and running on entirely new
systems and suffered no unexpected downtime or lost productivity as a
result of NSI’s work. The system NSI implemented not only preserved the
functionality of the legacy systems, but also added new features and tools
that allowed the company’s employees to be more productive and for their
information to be more secure. Following the completed implementation, NSI
continued to provide post-migration support and fine tuning of the new
systems, as well as the on-going day-to-day Managed Solution Platform for
the users and the systems they depend on.