ANK "Bashneft" introduces Citrix solutions for virtualization of desktops and applications

About the project

Oil companies seeking to expand their market share and customer loyalty, cannot do without the use of modern IT tools. No less significant is the opportunity for continuous and efficient employee access to corporate applications and data regardless of location and type of device used. The main objective of project "Bashneft" is the organization’s secure access to the corporate information system (CIS) hosted in the data center from remote branch offices. Part of the project was transferred to the data center infrastructure created in the virtual desktops with thin clients. To implement this project, ANK "Bashneft" chose Citrix Software: Citrix XenDesktop, Citrix XenApp and Citrix NetScaler for the task, and their further implementation in the company's infrastructure.

Tasks

• Create a failover complex hardware infrastructure of virtual desktops and applications;
• Provide remote access to corporate information systems with geographically remote areas;
• Consolidate data and user desktops in the data center to ensure the required level of security and data integrity;
• Apply the principles of BYOD

Decision

As a comprehensive solution to ensure the reliability and high availability of services and desktop virtualization, Citrix XenDesktop, Citrix XenApp and Citrix NetScaler were selected. The solution is built on the platform virtualization of desktops and applications, which consists of three main systems:

• Citrix XenApp virtualization applications
• Citrix XenDesktop system virtual desktops
• Citrix NetScaler system load balancing and secure access

The solution is used for Citrix XenApp virtualization, centralized management of the data center and to deliver applications as a service (SaaS) for any user device, regardless of its location. Citrix XenDesktop is the VDI technology, which is based on the transfer of computer operations with the users' computers to servers in the data center. Secure network infrastructure and applications provides Citrix NetScaler.

The main advantages of the solution

• Optimization of application delivery infrastructure, and desktop;
• Secure concurrent access to corporate information;
• Extensive scalability;
• Understandable and convenient interface for users;
• The high level of application security and intellectual property;
• The possibility of the entire system even in case of failure of a chassis blade servers;
• Administrative tools for monitoring and technical support staff

Result

Expert partners of Citrix Systems - Hewlett Packard and LLC "SITRONICS IT" implemented the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure and completed work on the deployment of the solution, including the installation and configuration of the necessary equipment and software. The implemented solution allowed ANK "Bashneft" to be more flexible, reliable and efficient by increasing the level of protection of information resources and their availability. Also, the use of applications delivered with terminal servers Citrix XenApp, the project was transferred to about 600 employees.

The project has successfully solved all the tasks - ANK "Bashneft" received a comprehensive solution that enables remote access to corporate data and meets the requirements of the security company. Thus, users can fully organize their workflow, regardless of time and location.

Future projects

The scalability of the system will enable, if necessary, the decision to broadcast a larger number of jobs - configured power exceeds 1,200. As a result, each expert will receive all the necessary resources for more effective work out of the office.
The company plans to develop virtualization technology applications and desktops and apply the principles of Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD). In order to develop BYOD-principles ANK "Bashneft" has acquired a Citrix XenMobile Enterprise software license. This decision will ensure the safe operation of client devices and deliver mobile applications for iOS and Android, while solving the problem of performance, manageability, and further expansion. In addition, the ANK "Bashneft" intends to use the possibility of Citrix ShareFile, which is part of the solution for the exchange and synchronization data. In future the company plans to implement and configure the software it purchased, and to provide users with mobile access to enterprise information systems (EIS).