Saving the Planet One Desktop at a Time

Ultrathin Client Strategy Helps Reduce Waste and Tighten Security

Verlin Frye is the kind of manager every company wants running its back office. His team supports millions of insurance policies through CSC's business process outsourcing (BPO) operations in Nashville, Tennessee. They use the industry's most advanced insurance software. Processes are clearly defined and performance is continually monitored.

Still, he isn't satisfied. He's always looking for ways to improve efficiency and enhance security. So when Frye joined the team that evaluated the rollout of ultrathin-client devices across CSC's financial services desktops, it didn't take him long to become a believer.

In fact, CSC's outsourcing operations recently decided to replace their PCs with Sun Microsystems' ultrathin-client Sun Rays. It was a major project that would strike terror into the hearts of most operations managers. But Frye says he actually sleeps better at night.

"We've taken the security of our clients' data to the next level," Frye said. "All of our data is now stored on a server. Even if one of our Sun Rays were lost or stolen, data would not be compromised. All we would need to do is plug in a new unit, insert a smartcard and the user would pick up right where he or she left off."

Moving to Green IT

CSC and Sun recently announced plans to offer the CSC Anywhere Desktop as an outsourcing service administered by CSC's BPO operations or implemented at client sites.
Security was a key selling point for CSC's move to desktop virtualization, but there are other reasons to feel passionate about virtualization: less reliance on desktop support, less downtime and less waste associated with constantly retiring PCs.

"Keeping desktop computers up and running is crucial to servicing our customers' business," said Cindy Scott, director of CSC's BPO operations in Blythewood, South Carolina. "When you consider that the replacement cycle for a Sun Ray is up to 10 years, compared to three years for a PC, that means a lot fewer disruptions over time. And I also like the fact that we're doing our part to reduce landfill waste."

Even the difference in power usage — 4 watts for a Sun Ray compared to 110 for a PC — can lead to significant energy savings when multiplied across hundreds or even thousands of desktops. Plus, Sun Rays don't generate heat or add noise to the office environment.

For true enthusiasts, desktop virtualization is a movement akin to saving the planet.
In fact, Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Schwartz notes that the demand for computers is growing rapidly in developing countries and that 100 million PCs could "pave the way for social and economic progress — but at the cost of 20 gigawatts of new coal-fired power plants."

Focus on Financial Services

CSC's rollout in financial services is a pilot project for the entire corporation, which employs more than 90,000 in 80 countries. So why the focus on financial services?

"It's really the latest chapter in a well-established trend toward consolidation and virtualization of computing capacity," explained Brian Wallace, chief technology officer for CSC's Financial Services Sector. "Insurers have achieved huge savings just by consolidating data centers and their server and storage infrastructure, but what's next? The desktop is the next frontier."

Most PC users only need about 20 percent of the computing capacity of their machines, which means in most cases the remaining capacity goes unused. In a virtual desktop environment, there is no waste. All computing capacity is centralized and apportioned as needed. Systems are safe from PC-based viruses, and all data is backed up, allowing organizations to dramatically simplify their disaster recovery programs.

"Virtualization appeals to companies with global operations concerned about data security and compliance," Wallace added. "Closer to home, the Sun Ray's portability supports remote workers shared workspaces such as call centers. The smart card helps workers seamlessly move work from the office to home and back again."

No Disruption, Lower Costs

Of course, a key consideration for any technological change is: How disruptive will it be to my operations? According to CSC's Frye, the introduction of the Sun Ray desktops was a non-event in Nashville. The IT team simply copied the users' hard drives to the server and issued smartcards. Employees logged on the next day and saw the same desktop view as before. Everyone gets 10 gigabytes of space on the server — and more if needed.

"There was no degradation in service — in fact, we experienced faster response times on certain transactions," Frye said. "We've got employees with a year or two of experience and those with 25 years, and there was no impact on them because there was no change to their desktop view."

Another reason virtualization is gaining popularity is that it reduces demand for desktop support service and gives IT departments much greater control over the desktop PCs and laptops throughout the company. In fact, the IT staffs can support four times as many users and apply the data center's disciplined processes and controls to the task of managing desktops.

Thinking About Going Virtual?

CSC and Sun have joined forces to help insurers move to a virtual desktop environment. The alliance gives insurers an end-to-end approach — from consulting services to full desktop management, according to Susan Giangrande, global business development manager with Sun Microsystems.

"Sun provides a firm foundation in technology design, implementation and support, and CSC intimately understands the insurance application environment," Giangrande said. "Together, we can help the insurance industry go virtual."

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