Transatlantic Real-time
Collaboration Proves
Less Taxing for Top
Accountancy Firm
Case Study: Frank Hirth
Integrating its virtual desktop and Cisco
IP phone infrastructures with Microsoft
Lync 2013 enabled Frank Hirth to securely
connect its people between London and
New York offices using voice, IM, video
conferencing – and more.
Today staff can access their systems on the device of their choosing
and share content, programmes or their entire desktop, while
tapping into a rich variety of communication options - regardless of
whether they’re working in the office, at home, or on the go.
Case Study: Frank Hirth
The challenge:
Frank Hirth wanted to enable truly agile ‘work anywhere’ scenarios, giving its US and UK workforces
access to transformative communications. Achieving this goal depended on partnering with an IT
company that had the technical expertise to take on the complex integration of Microsoft Lync with
the firm’s pre-existing VDI and Cisco communications platform.
The technology solution:
•
Integration of Cisco Business Unified Communications Manager, Microsoft Lync 2013 and Citrix
XenApp virtual desktop technology.
•
1st line support for all Cisco networking, IP infrastructure and connectivity.
The business benefits:
•
Staff can connect, collaborate and work virtually on any network, at any location and on any
device, confident they can always access their desktop.
•
Powerful harmonised communications mean virtual teams can work dynamically and in
concert, engaging with one another as naturally as if they were in the same room.
•
Harmonising multiple technology platforms has simplified the end user experience.
•
A centrally managed and fully scalable platform securely delivers voice, video, person-to-person
and point-to-point conferencing, instant messaging, presence and mobility - plus a virtual
desktop environment.
Case Study: Frank Hirth
The customer
Frank Hirth is a premier UK-US tax and accounting firm that looks after the complex tax affairs of
international businesses and high net-worth individuals and families with US, UK and European
connections.
Headquartered in London, the firm’s team of advisors in London and New York provide specialised
advice to clients on both sides of the Atlantic, relying on seamless support from an array of over 100
different software applications.
In the past six years Frank Hirth has experienced sustained and fast-paced growth. An expanding
workforce means Frank Hirth needs to ensure it can accommodate new hires with ease – providing
reliable technology that allows employees to concentrate on doing their very best for clients.
The challenge
Frank Hirth needs to respond quickly and with rigour to meet the needs of its client base. It’s why the
firm adopted a highly agile transatlantic virtual desktop environment that provides workers with secure
access to their systems– wherever they are and whatever the situation.
Operating at the forefront of its field, Frank Hirth now wanted to capitalise on its existing Citrix virtual
desktop infrastructure (VDI) and Cisco IP telephony investments, and take workplace communication
and collaboration to the next level.
“We wanted to bridge the gap between our London and New York
offices, so personnel could communicate and collaborate more
productively – exactly as if they were face-to-face in the same room,”
says Mike Jackson, Head of IT and Associate Director at Frank Hirth.
Finding a way to introduce Microsoft Lync into the firm’s existing VDI platform was crucial. But Frank
Hirth had encountered a stumbling block, as Mike Jackson explains.
“Everyone we approached told us the way we wanted to structure our IT environment wasn’t possible
– offering costly alternatives that represented a significant capital expenditure. We were faced with
implementing a solution approach we didn’t want, at a price that would have made it expensive to
accommodate additional personnel joining the firm.”
Case Study: Frank Hirth
The solution
“We explained our Cisco/Lync/Citrix connectivity vision to Modern Networks and they got it. We knew
we’d found a partner we could work with. Modern Networks understood what we wanted to do, why we
wanted to do it – and they had the expertise to make it happen,” continues Jackson.
Alongside a dedicated SAN to support high speed access to email servers, databases and high usage
file servers for the UK and US operations, Modern Networks completed the complex integration of
Microsoft Lync with the firm’s pre-existing VDI and Cisco communications platform. This ensured
Frank Hirth was able to maximise its existing technology and communication investments while futureproofing its infrastructure for growth and evolution.
“Modern Networks was tasked with structuring the integrated solution to support a possible migration
to the cloud, the modular addition of new services in the future and the fast and easy provisioning of
new users” says Jackson.
Modern Networks also implemented a Lync client for smart devices, ensuring that workers have
full connectivity and functionality when using their mobile phones and tablets. Since the security of
sensitive data is a business critical requirement, Frank Hirth undertook penetration testing to ensure
the mobile implementation was 100 percent protected.
“We gave Modern Networks an extremely tight timeframe to complete the implementation and they
responded,” confirms Jackson. “They showed a real willingness to tackle issues and deliver the most
efficient implementation approach possible.”
Case Study: Frank Hirth
The benefits
Today Frank Hirth’s staff are taking advantage of powerful new collaboration and ‘work anywhere’
capabilities that include a new connected user experience direct from their virtual desktop.
Users can initiate and receive calls, retrieve voicemail, access their office lines from anywhere, click
to join video conferences and join virtual group meetings. They can share documents or desktops
while they speak – making it easy to collaborate and share knowledge over complex tax projects or
brainstorm at the drop of a hat.
Employees can switch between different forms of communication – including IM and high quality
video –utilising presence to keep colleagues updated on their current availability and communication
preferences. This increased flexibility means the workforce is now able to seamlessly work remotely –
from home or on the road – utilising their own devices.
The newly integrated infrastructure means that Frank Hirth has begun testing dedicated point-to- point
high definition video conferencing rooms, utilising high definition screens, microphones and Lyncenabled cabinet PCs. Users simple log in to initiate or join a conference and share content – all of which
is enabling enhanced team building and powerful face-to-face interactions. All this can be achieved at a
fraction of the cost of traditional video conferencing solutions.
“We now have a 21st century working environment that enables our people to work faster and smarter,
regardless of the physical distance between them or their location,” states Jackson. “It’s not only
changed the way we respond and support our clients, it’s delivered on our vision of technology – which
is key when it comes to attracting new talent and responding to the expectations of today’s tech savvy
workforce.”
Into the future
As the teams complete their Microsoft Lync training, expectations are that working methods
are set to evolve further as Frank Hirth’s people push the boundaries of their newfound
collaborative and unified communication capabilities.
“In the coming months I want to initiate even greater agility and productivity for our
people, testing docking stations that allow users to simply plug in their tablet and
display their virtual desktop – and Lync services – on dual 24’ screens so they can
be up and running in just seconds.”
Case Study: Frank Hirth
Modern Networks Head Office:
1-3 Dufferin Street
London
EC1Y 8NA
Call: 020 7871 7500
Email: [email protected]
Modern Networks Hitchin Office:
18 Knowl Piece
Wilbury Way
Hitchin, Herts
SG4 OTY
Call: 01462 426 500
Email: [email protected]
Visit: www.modern-networks.co.uk
The communication and collaboration experts