Mobility + End User Devices

Easing Mobile Enablement

Iron Bow’s client faced several key challenges when it came to deploying new tablets and phones, including how to safeguard sensitive information and control what apps would be installed. It was also cumbersome for users to access the network, as it required a network passcode and VPN. The Iron Bow team proposed an on-premise, central management solution to securely improve wireless access. The project was on an aggressive deadline to deploy within a 60-day timeframe.  Upon completion, the client could remotely configure and monitor all the devices through a single web-based console that also provided enhanced password controls and the ability to remotely lock and wipe any lost or stolen device. The VPN was configured to automatically connect users for instant access to the network allowing on-demand access to an entire workflow.

Iron Bow worked with the client to put an Enterprise Application Catalog in place to allow technical staff to control the applications end users can download to their devices. Providing an approved app store ensured users did not download unauthorized, unsafe or inappropriate apps. This also allowed mobile device users instant, and secure, access to applications built by the in-house team. Iron Bow also installed a secure tunneling interface connecting enterprise resources with mobile devices to deliver application updates and data to authorized users.

Enabling Trusted and Untrusted Access

In partnership with Century Link, Iron Bow was contracted to design, implement and test a Cisco Unified 802.11n capable wireless network across four buildings. This network provided wireless Internet access for internal (trusted) and external (untrusted) users.

The implementation of the wireless solution enabled the client to monitor and track web usage, as well as provide web filtering, and enforce a content management policy. The deployed solution also enabled wireless LAN utilization planning, configuration and management to include Radio Frequency prediction, policy provisioning, network optimization, troubleshooting, reporting, asset tracking, location-based services, security monitoring and overall wireless LAN systems management.

Windows of Opportunity

The IRS was facing a migration need of all of their desktop and laptop systems from Windows XP to Windows 7. The Agency had 103,000 individual systems across 600 different sites with users that handle financial data on every U.S. citizen and corporation. Iron Bow did an assessment of IRS’s infrastructure and applications to determine how each would support or react to the migration.  A plan was put in place to upgrade or replace non-viable components. Iron Bow automated self-scheduling of migrations and notified computer users allowing them to select available windows of time for their machine’s migration. The legacy IRS enterprise included nearly 6,000 unique software applications. The number of titles in use was reduced to just over 1,800 as part of the migration. More than 103,000 workstations were upgraded.

Developing a Modern Wireless Campus

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needed a new Enterprise Class Wi-Fi infrastructure at their Las Vegas campus. Beginning with an on-site instrumented survey of the existing wireless infrastructure at each of the six facilities on the Las Vegas campus, Iron Bow designed, integrated, and deployed a solution that met current and future needs. The solution integrated with the existing components to support existing and future VHA Bar Code Dedication Administration (BCMA), Bar Code Expansion (BCE), mobile medical devices, data, voice, and wireless video systems, biomedical engineering applications, electrocardiogram (EKG) systems, radio frequency identification (RFID) and other location services and other wireless applications.

In meeting the VA’s requirement for seamless roaming, scalability and redundancy, the Iron Bow Team equipped the Las Vegas campus with a solution that far extends their previous wireless infrastructures capabilities. Scalability was provided throughout the campus to include clinical and administrative areas as well as external areas such as walkways and parking areas, and enough redundancy is engineered into the solution to ensure continued operation at 100 percent capacity and to support a 50 percent expansion of wireless clients without impacting performance.

Improving Guest Wireless

An armed forces recreation center required an update to their wireless network to better meet the demands of its guests. In partnership with CenturyLink, Iron Bow conducted a wireless assessment of the resort and based on the findings developed a wireless solution that substantially upgraded the existing system. The new system was installed in 45 days without disrupting the operation of the resort or impacting guests. Following this engagement Iron Bow was selected to conduct similar surveys at other resort hotel locations in Germany, Hawaii and Korea.