Why VertiGIS chose oneclick™ as its solution and what goals and successes have been achieved through its use.
About VertiGIS
The VertiGIS group of companies is a leading solution provider and software developer in the field of geographic information systems (GIS). VertiGIS focuses on developing software solutions and services that help customers in the utilities, land management, government, energy, telecommunications and industrial markets build bridges between the processes of their industries and geospatial technologies. Thousands of customers and millions of end users around the world use the VertiGIS product portfolio, which was developed to extend the capabilities of leading GIS software solutions, in particular Esri’s ArcGIS®. Key product brands include UT for ArcGIS®, the 3A product line, VertiGIS Studio, GEONIS, ConnectMaster™, M4® Solutions, GeoOffice, WebOffice, ProOffice and GEBman.
For more information see www.vertigis.com
Initial Situation
• Remote access to our software via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
• Project-related acquisition of hardware and installation of (VPN) clients
• Customers asked for a flexible training concept and a cloud solution
Impact
• Longer coordination processes with customers
• Complex provision of a training infrastructure by establishing a VPN connection
• Implementation challenge if clients have not allowed VPN
Solution
• Fast and uncomplicated deployment of the applications in the cloud
• Training environment with usage-based billing
• Introduction of high safety standards
What IT solutions were you using for application delivery before you switched to oneclick™?
Our applications require computers with a Windows operating system. In the past, the hardware was provided either by the client or via our internal data centre. The required access by the users had then been conducted via the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) from Microsoft. The protocol is pre-installed on all Windows systems and enables direct access to the desktop interface of the server. To establish the connection, the IP address of the server as well as a user name and password were required. In addition, a virtual private network (VPN) was applied to secure the connection, which all users had to establish via a client on their terminal device.
What problem did VertiGIS solve with oneclick™?
The applications we develop have a high level of functionality. Users therefore go through a lengthy training process. For security reasons, the clients’ IT increasingly forbids the use of RDP via the internet. Access via VPN was also not a viable option because the clients can only be installed on client systems with time-consuming approval processes. For our training courses, we wanted to implement a pay-as-you-go model in which environments are provided as uncomplicatedly as possible and billed according to actual use.
Where did VertiGIS start looking for a solution to the problem?
The emergence of Covid-19 has given a strong boost to the topic of “easy and secure remote access”. We were looking for a solution that would ideally allow us to access our applications from any device via the browser. In the end, oneclick™ was recommended to us by T-Systems.
How did oneclick™ stand out from other options?
We wanted to provide our software as a virtual desktop infrastructure. Other virtualisation solutions we looked at were very complex and would have required a lot of training on the part of the customer. With oneclick™, we liked the ease of use of the solution right from the start. In terms of security, oneclick™ stood out because of its innovative streaming technology. Unlike VPN, there is no longer a direct connection between the end device and the application, but only images of the target environment are transmitted as a highly encrypted stream.
Was there an obstacle that almost prevented the deployment of oneclick™?
When we took a closer look at oneclick™ in early 2021, the solution did not yet have a multi-monitor function. Our systems for capturing, editing, organising, analysing and presenting spatial data are often used on multiple screens. From our customers’ point of view, this feature was a mandatory requirement for the acceptance of the new solution. oneclick™ developed the requested feature in a very short period of time.
What was the decisive product feature for your decision?
In addition to multi-monitor support, there were several. With oneclick™, users can connect to the applications we provide from any device via the browser. This means they are no longer dependent on Windows computers. In the area of security, the zero-trust architecture implemented by oneclick™ was crucial for us, especially for our customers in the government environment. With this approach, no one requesting access to resources or services on the network is granted access in advance. All access, whether from outside or inside, is authenticated individually. Users are not only checked each time they log in, but their trust status is continuously questioned during sessions. Finally, the easy to add 2-factor authentication was important to us, as well as the transfer drive, which can be used to securely exchange files between local end devices and the virtual environment.
What does VertiGIS like best about working with oneclick™?
Instantly, the collegiality comes to mind. We always have the feeling that the contact persons at oneclick™ take care of our concerns immediately. oneclick™ reacts individually to our requests. The contact persons think along with us so that we can implement the best solution for us based on the possible design alternatives.
What have you achieved by using oneclick™?
In terms of training, deployment times have reduced by around 70 %, especially when taking into account internal and external reconciliation work that was necessary with the installation of clients. Thanks to so-called event profiles, virtual machines can be switched on and off automatically. This means that our trainers no longer have to remember to switch off the resources after completing a training course. This also eliminates the need for our central IT department to check the status of the virtual machines after each training session. But more importantly, the solution for our training has become our new cloud solution. oneclick™ is now an integral part of our managed service offering. And there is a productivity gain there as well: Compared to the purchase of new servers and the associated ancillary costs for our own operation and maintenance, we can save around 25 % of the project-related total operating costs with the new pay-as-you-go model.
What has exceeded your expectations in working with oneclick™?
The immediate response to our request for a multi-monitor function and the rapid development of the feature.
