Case Study: Web Enable Applied Systems Technology Software and Consolidate Management
Date: 10-1-2001 *First Ever Private Cloud Hosting (Then simply called Server Hosting)
Applied Systems Technology provides the Staffing Industry with Enterprise Software for candidate management, tracking, placement and accounting. AST's typical deployment consisted of a local premised based server with a *Client - Server architecture.
While servicing one of AST's clients Data-Tech was challenged with 2 issues the client was experiencing. The client had recently purchased another staffing company and was suddenly faced with providing access to AST's software called Placemate.
AST's software was not client server and not a web based product. Standard VPN or MPLS "Fat Client" connectivity was not an option do to performance restrictions. Data-Tech introduced the solution of "Web Enabling" AST's software with Citrix. Implementing a Citrix solution allowed Data-Tech to deliver AST's software to the newly acquired remote locations for AST's client which then allowed the client to leverage low cost - low speed inter office connections to share access to a centralized Placemate application.
Further this solution allowed centralized management and control of the Placemate application and management of the application and users. The application performance was acceptable but not optimal. At the same time, the client came to AST and Data-Tech to announce they were now moving the corporate office and the servers would need to be relocated.
This presented Data-Tech and AST the opportunity to provide a unique solution to this client. Data-Tech presented a plan to AST for a strategic alliance to provide Server Hosting Services to this client with a plan based on success to provide these services to other AST clients. The plan was presented to the client with Co-Op Management services provided by Data-Tech and AST and accepted by the client with tremendous expectations.
Building on the success of our first Server Hosting Service Data-Tech and AST began to build an unrivaled solution to our growing Co-Op client base. Data-Tech quickly realized that combining AST's Placemate product with fully functional Hosted User Desktops which would include Microsoft Office and Exchange Email Hosting combined with outsourced Help Desk Services provided out clients with completely outsourced IT Services.
Migrating entire office operations to Data-Tech's Data-Center was a tremendous cost savings to clients as they could now embrace IT Services previously only available to large enterprise clients.
Building the first ever *Hybrid Cloud, Data-Tech was able to provide AST and AST clients with cost effective enterprise fully outsourced IT Services. AST clients could now enjoy worry free fixed cost IT Services which allowed them to focus on their core business operations.
Hybrid Cloud Services allowed AST clients to instantly embrace centralized data and management along with the flexibility to implement a Mobile Work Force.
*Client - Server Architecture Comparison
A client - server architecture is where means the software application typically has 2 components. The Client, which is installed on each workstation that runs the application and the software database which is centrally located on a server that all workstations must be connected to. In Client - Server each workstation has a full install of the client software. This configuration creates many challenges for performance, maintenance and administration. Each of these challenges is addressed and eliminated or improved with Web Enablement and Hybrid Cloud Architecture delivered by Data-Tech's Cloud Hosting Services. The Client - Server challenges and solutions consist of:
Cloud Servers solve the problem of Remote Locations
- A severe performance limitation of Client - Server Architecture becomes clear when it is distributed over remote locations. Although there are several methods of connectivity (VPN, MPLS, Metro-E to name a few), even with todays high speed interconnectivity with Fiber the connection speed for Client - Server applications is too slow. To illustrate this point consider most local networks operation at GB transfer speeds. Even at this extremely fast speed some Client - Server applications have a hard time operating at levels to keep users happy and productive. Compare this GB connectivity to standard MPLS at a typical 1.5mb connection. Realize that with connectivity over-head your only achieve 90% of the capacity. You can clearly see 1.5mb compared to local GB would hardly be acceptable. Even today's fastest Point to Point Fiber at a economically feasible 25mb connection hardly compares to local GB speeds and again you can see why this would not be acceptable connectivity to operate a data intensive Client - Server application. Cloud Servers solve this challenge by consolidating users operations on the remote server where the Data is located. There by eliminating the need to transfer data over the remote connection network. Now each work station only needs to transmit Video, Keyboard and Mouse signals to the server. All Application activity and process is handled on the server local relative to the centralized data being accessed. Instantly location of the user becomes irrelevant. 1.5mb MPLS connection speeds for 10 users become acceptable. The Cost of Cloud Servers starts to not only pay for itself but can often generate a positive return based on the alternative of costly interconnects.
Full local client installs present a challenge when upgrading the software
- This issue is eliminated with Web Enablement by centralizing all users to a set of Cloud Servers all client installations can be upgraded with a single install. Consider for a moment an organization with 5 locations and 50 workstations. A single release of an upgrade to the client would be time consuming and costly. With Cloud Servers, all 50 users can be upgraded simultaneously.
Full local client installs are highly dependent on the Workstation resources for application performance.
- This issue is mitigated by centralizing the client part of the application on Cloud Servers where 90% of the performance ratio is on the server. While this does not eliminate Workstation performance from the equation, it limits the need to have additional resources on the local workstation. For example, before implementing Cloud Technology, a workstations performance when operating the application may not have been acceptable.
By reducing the load of the local workstation up to 90% conversely means a 90% improvement in performance. There by extending the life of the workstation and increasing user productivity almost instantly. Also consider a software upgrade that requires an increased amount of Memory Resources for the Client side of the Application. The true Client - Server architecture may require upgrading at least 75% of the client workstations. Looking at the previous example would mean physically upgrading over 35 workstations at 5 locations, again a costly and time consuming venture. With Cloud Technology a simple upgrade of the Cloud Servers memory is sufficient for all 50 users regardless of the workstation resources. In fact, with Virtualization of Cloud Servers does not require a physical memory upgrade. Simply change the memory allocation setting as needed. In many cases Virtual Cloud Servers can be set to add memory resources as needed automatically.
Cloud Servers allow companies small and large to embrace a Mobile Work Force
- The same architecture and technology that is used to Centralize Data Processing also enables the workforce to become Mobile. No long constrained by limitations of a premised based architecture and slow connections, users are now free to utilize the multitude of remote connections available. With Tablets and Smart Devices from every size, the corporate workforce and truly embrace the "Work from Any Where" mentality.
Side effects from Cloud Services
*Hybrid Cloud - A Unique Solution
Our approach is from the solution perspective and has led Data-Tech to combining multiple facets of a technology enabling us to provide the best technology solution to our clients. Combining technology services into packages allows Data-Tech to provide seamless integration and leverage powerful cost effective solutions for small, medium and enterprise levels of business clients. Our unique approach to Hybrid Cloud Services for example allows our clients to take advantage of services the combine the best available technology as the most cost effective price.
Data-Tech's Hybrid Private Cloud Service provides a private cloud for operational resources while leveraging existing highly available hybrid Domain Security and System Management infrastructure. This allows the security of private operational resources while leveraging shared security, recovery and management resources such as Redundant Active Directory Servers, Clustered Exchange Servers, Spam Protection and Centralized Data Backup and Recovery. Leveraging the Hybrid Resources clients need for Highly Available Network management infrastructure decreases resource and management cost.
Data-Tech and AST's Partnership on the Hybrid Cloud has been successful on my levels for our clients.
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