Chalfont » 3/26/2008 » Weaver Vale Housing Trust is implementing Citrix technology to deliver core applications to its 350 office-based and remote staff. Cheshire’s largest social landlord is working with Orchard Information Systems (OIS) to implement Citrix XenApp 4.5 (formerly known as Presentation Server 4.5) and Access Gateway 4.5, to deliver software and updates, and improve hardware shelf life – as old PCs can run new software ‘virtually’ with Citrix.

Ian Lee, ICT Manager at Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: “Citrix is making administration of our IT estate much easier, helping us install and update software efficiently.  We only need to install new software once on the datacentre, and then Citrix will deliver it out to all the employees, wherever they are. This has reduced our hardware costs, as old machines can run new applications using thin-client principles.”

Weaver Vale Housing Trust will also use Citrix Password Manager 4.5 and Safeword for Citrix from OIS to add an extra layer of security and ease of management to its IT estate. Andrew Johnson, ICT Consultancy Team Leader at OIS, explained: “Password Manager and Safeword will work together to solve password reset problems for the Trust’s support staff, saving the team a lot of time and energy.”

The Trust chose to work with OIS to scope out and implement the solution. “It was clear from the outset that we had made the right choice,” continued Lee. “Orchard has been committed to providing us with a robust solution that has given us the building blocks for future expansion. Their in-depth knowledge and expertise has been invaluable in the final phases of the project, bringing the major benefits of Password Manager and Citrix Access Gateway to our business.”

“Using Citrix will give our staff a much better IT experience, whatever type of device they’re using and wherever they’re using it from.  Our systems are more secure – so ultimately, we are providing a better service.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Weaver Vale Housing Trust
Weaver Vale Housing Trust is a registered social landlord serving customers across central Cheshire. The Trust was formed five years ago when the tenants of Vale Royal Borough Council voted to transfer their tenancies to the Trust. With 6,100+ properties, independent retirement apartments, social alarm provision and care services the Trust offers a comprehensive product portfolio to customers in our area.

About Orchard Information Systems
As the leading independent provider of IT solutions to public service providers, Orchard has over 27 years experience of delivering solutions to meet the business needs of all housing providers, enabling you to deliver the ultimate service to your customers.

Orchard is the first Housing Management supplier to provide true support for Neighbourhood and Community initiatives within its core Housing Management product, complementing a wealth of modular based functionality and market-leading reporting & analysis tools. Our extensive portfolio for housing providers also includes Financial Management, Asset Management, Asbestos Management, GIS, Scheduling Management, Payroll & HR and Mobile Computing solutions.

About Citrix
Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS) is the global leader and the most trusted name in application delivery infrastructure. More than 200,000 organisations worldwide rely on Citrix to deliver any application to users anywhere with the best performance, highest security and lowest cost. Citrix customers include 100% of the Fortune 100 companies and 99% of the Fortune Global 500, as well as hundreds of thousands of small businesses and prosumers. Citrix has approximately 6,200 channel and alliance partners in more than 100 countries. Annual revenue in 2007 was $1.4 billion.

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