Toward a secure, multi-device environment for a Japanese regional banking major

The search for a solution

Since 1972, Bank of the Ryukyus has served Okinawa as a regional bank supporting the local economy. When support for Windows XP – the OS of the fat terminals used by the bank until that point – expired, management began considering its options.

It soon became clear that the optimal route forward for Bank of the Ryukyus would involve upgrading to a server OS with a long support period and installing thin clients that did not leave any data behind. At the same time, logical separation of internet access from the bank’s intranet would amount to a major step forward in strengthening data security.

Bank of the Ryukyus Customer Story PDF

Towards a secure multi-device environment

Desktop virtualization was then implemented with the additional goal of creating a multi-device environment supportive of changes to work style. “The bank had already implemented desktop virtualization using iPad and Citrix XenApp,” noted Kazuhiro Miyazato, Assistant Manager within the Computer Systems Planning Section. “The installation made access available to business systems or groupware from inside or outside the bank, increased the bank’s business acumen and speeded up decision making. The success of this installation ushered in desktop virtualization also of the bank’s PCs and set the stage for promoting work style changes.”

The installation resulted meant a number positive outcomes for the bank. Firstly, since the OS, applications and hardware were upgraded, performance was vastly improved. Moreover, the implementation of thin clients and internet separation enhanced security without impacting user-friendliness. The ability to access the business system from a variety of devices from outside the bank has also made a tangible difference to daily operations. “We can now access the same environment from a customer site,” notes Miyazato. “It is also possible for staff working outside to smoothly share the same information and communications.”

A more flexible future

Now, Bank of the Ryukyus is laying the groundwork for a change in work styles that will enable telecommuting and working from home. Miyazato also expects that additional know-how will take the bank’s IT infrastructure to a still higher level of sophistication. “We are considering further strengthening XenApp functions, building DR sites and adding an authentication function. We would also like to expand our cloud services … using Citrix Cloud and DR.”