Law Society of Scotland
Flexible Working Solution
The Law Society of Scotland is the governing body for Scottish solicitors. The Society promotes the interests of the solicitors' profession and those of the public in relation to the profession. It currently has 140 employees based at its head office in Edinburgh. All 140 employees are IT users, 20 of which regularly work remotely. In 2004 the Society invested in updating its IT infrastructure and by the end of 2006 all work stations were standardised.
Business Challenge
The Law Society of Scotland required a flexible working solution from remote sites with secure access to internal systems. The solution needed to improve the user's current experience of remote working, increase flexibility and thus increase the number of remote users.
An insufficient flexible working system can cause unreliable access to applications or data, limited flexibility and no control of the devices. All this adds up to user frustration and hours of wasted time. For the Law Society of Scotland it was important that users could access information continuously i.e. applications, email, websites and documents in order to perform their business role effectively and productively.
Integration was a key consideration in procuring a suitable remote working solution. Remote working had to offer a seamless user environment that would not hinder usage but would compliment the existing environment. Such benefits would see improved remote work efficiency and build on existing user training and experience.
The Solution
Northgate implemented a trial Citrix system to test its suitability before the full solution was installed. It provided both application delivery and a secure single point of access to all applications for remote users. Users connect via an easy to use web interface. It has the ability to seamlessly reconnect users to their documents when they change locations and devices, or lose connectivity. The system also permitted users designated by the Law Society of Scotland to access the internal systems securely via the internet connection.
The internal IT department were also able to centrally manage the applications and all the mobile devices.
The Results
The solution delivered lowest total cost of ownership and manageability due to the centrally managed infrastructure. It also provided increased security through controlled user access and secure connections. User productivity also increased due to improved user experience, system performance and continuity. Accountability was also improved due to a more reliable system which doesn't drain IT costs and time allocated to address issues with performance. In the event of a planned or unplanned business interruption, the solution made it easier for employees at home or in temporary offices to connect via the web to a backup server and access whatever information and applications they required. The solution itself was also flexible, meaning that the number of remote users can change as the business and employee demands change.
Key Benefits
- Reduced costs
- Improved efficiency
- Improved staff productivity
- Increased security
- Improved mobility
Richard MacLennan, IT Manager for the Law Society of Scotland commented:
"Having undergone a detailed technical tender to investigate a suitable remote solution, we needed to ensure that our key objectives of efficiency, integration and flexibility were met. Northgate's remote working solution using Citrix technology not only met our key objectives, but also provided a cost effective solution that was easy to implement and maintain whilst giving our staff a seamless user environment. Northgate IS understood our business requirements and met our expectations in delivering a project that was on time and within budget."
