Leostream Optimizes Enterprise-Wide Deployment of Teradici® PCoIP Workstation Access Software on Dell® Precision Hardware to Mobilize 3D CAD and CPU-Intensive Applications
Remote access solutions are no longer a luxury, but a business necessity. Improved employee productivity, satisfaction, and retention are just a few of the benefits that can be gained by extending the network’s infrastructure outside the walls of the enterprise. With that in mind, key to deploying a remote access solution is rolling out a program that employees will actually want to use! In some scenarios this is easier said than done.
Users that rely on high-power workstations have traditionally been a difficult use case to support. Take the example of a group of architects and engineers that depend on CPU-intensive applications for 3D CAD. IT departments have their work cut out for them in these types of graphically demanding environments.
Recently, the IT team at Ballinger, an award winning architectural and engineering firm, rose to the challenge and set out to design a remote access solution that would mobilize the company’s power users.
Previously, the firm had implemented a VPN for a subset of employees; yet it was not a scalable or effective solution for handling large datasets. After evaluating several VDI solutions, they turned to Teradici PCoIP Workstation Access Software running on Dell Precision hardware. The proposed solution provided a rich user experience for high-performance resolution display and 3D applications like Autodesk® and Revit®. While the performance passed the test with flying colors, they required one more piece of software to complete the workflow equation. A connection broker was needed to scale out the program enterprise-wide, and to control users’ access to their remote workstations.
Enter Leostream. Leostream provides the critical connection broker technology required for organizations to achieve successful large-scale virtual and hosted desktop implementations. It is the vendor of choice for Teradici PCoIP Workstation Access Software, which in combination with Dell Precision hardware offers users a seamless remote workstation experience. Optimized for the Teradici and Dell solution, Leostream’s software facilitates end-user connections to workstations running high-quality graphics while providing IT administrators with the tools they need to streamline desktop connections and track resource usage.
You can hear about Ballinger’s success story first hand in a recent webinar hosted by our partners Teradici and Dell.
We sat down with Dick Green, Systems Analyst and a project lead on the deployment to learn about his experience.
“We were really happy with what the combined solution from Teradici and Dell had to offer, but we needed to simplify the log-in process for our end users. Leostream really sealed the deal.”
In order for the architects and engineers to adopt the new remote access program, the IT department knew that having a straightforward login was of utmost importance. If the login process missed the mark, employees would become frustrated bog down the IT support line. “Without Leostream, it would have been too cumbersome for personnel to launch their workstations – we couldn’t expect them to remember IP addresses or hostnames. We couldn’t risk employees giving up because they failed to get passed a complicated login. Using the connection broker couldn’t be easier and it really made it a no-brainer for rolling out the entire solution.”
The way it works is by authenticating and securely connecting the end-user to the Teradici server. Then, the end-user is presented with the option to select their machine and in one click the remote workstation is launched.
In addition to smoothing out the front-end for end-users, the connection broker plays a key role in helping administrators monitor activity. Through a suite of reporting features, the IT department can track usage. “It’s helpful to look at the patterns and see when and how often people are logging in. The system has been rock solid and everyone is already putting it to good use – the reports help to validate that.”
For Ballinger, the remote access solution has been cornerstone to creating a more flexible office with a focus on work/life balance and mobile productivity. Now all employees are able to securely connect to their applications from home or on the go.