This blog series from the Citrix Customer Success Management team highlights the business continuity stories of organizations in major industry sectors. While sharing a common goal — continuing business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic — each vertical faces specific challenges. In our first installment, learn how Citrix technologies helped two healthcare organizations respond to urgent customer needs for critical supplies and services.

As key players in the effort to combat COVID-19, healthcare organizations need effective remote work strategies to serve customers while protecting employees and the business. Beyond these goals, the two companies we’re profiling also have a higher mandate. For the first organization, the ability to continue providing desperately needed medical supplies to hospitals can literally mean the difference between life and death. For the second, the ability to promptly and accurately handle health insurance claims is essential for effective care delivery to vulnerable patients.

In both cases, Citrix Cloud quickly enabled thousands of employees to easily and securely access the apps, desktops, and data they require to work productively from home.

Rapid Rollout of Citrix Workspace

Our first organization, a leading global provider of essential medical equipment and supplies, technology, and pharmaceuticals, had already initiated a strategic project to migrate from its on-premises environment to Citrix Cloud when the disruption occurred. The company quickly accelerated its implementation of the Citrix Workspace cloud service to enable 7,000 business-critical users — from pharmacists to warehouse staff to call center representatives — to access more than 30 applications using the Citrix Workspace app.

Working around the clock, the IT team rolled out the Citrix Workspace app to 200 users each week, beginning in March. Although many people had never worked remotely before, the company reported great results and positive feedback. In the long term, the organization plans to expand this rollout to more than 30,000 workers, making Citrix Workspace the “new normal.”

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Deliver to 5,000 Workers

Our second organization, a U.S. health insurance company with an on-premises deployment of 30,000 Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops licenses, was discussing a migration to Citrix Cloud when the COVID-19 outbreak made it a top priority. To support 5,000 critical employees who handle insurance claims, diagnosis related groups (DRG) billing codes, and financial processing, among other functions, the company fast-tracked a rollout of the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service. Workers use a range of endpoints, including soft phones and personal devices, to do their jobs.

The company’s Citrix infrastructure provides strong security measures to protect confidential patient medical and financial information under HIPAA and PCI DSS regulations. Data is centralized behind network and host security products such as next-generation firewalls. To support compliance, Citrix audit capabilities provide additional detail into the use of clinical applications.

Concerned about the potential impact on network performance from this sudden influx of remote workers, the company also purchased new Citrix ADC solutions to optimize bandwidth utilization and application performance and provide granular access control. In the long term, the organization plans to fully adopt Citrix Workspace.

Business Continuity Planning Begins with Citrix

Disruptions often prevent organizations from conducting business as usual at standard locations like offices and call centers. An effective business continuity plan needs to enable workers to stay productive from anywhere while maintaining security and control over their access to corporate resources. Citrix Cloud services facilitate rapid, seamless scale-up for remote working and deliver apps, desktops and data with a high level of security and control.

Contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or email CSM@citrix.com to learn more about use cases for your Citrix solution or get assistance building your BCP strategy to ensure your employees can remain productive from anywhere, even if you’re beginning to transition back to the workplace.