Enhancing Efficiency with Thin Client Desktop in NYC's Human Resources Administration

1. HRA’s Thin Client Desktop Evaluation: The POS Job Center Solution NYC Human Resources Administration Richard Siemer – Deputy Commissioner MIS Management Information Systems

2. The POS Job Center Solution • HRA’s Challenge • HRA’s Project Objectives • The Solution/ Benefits Management Information Systems

3. HRA’s Challenge • POS – Job Centers located throughout the 5 Boroughs • Insufficient Power at POS Centers • Client Server Applications • Upgrades are difficult to install and are time consuming. Management Information Systems

4. HRA’s Challenge (cont.) • Security management tasks like virus protection and user profile management which add unnecessary support costs. • Data Security issues – Transfer of client data to portable media • Physical Security issues Management Information Systems

5. HRA’s IT Project Objectives Defined • Significantly Reduce Power/Cooling Requirements • Simplify Administration of the POS Application at the 30 Separate Data Centers • Eliminate Desktop as Entry Point for Viruses and Worms Management Information Systems

6. HRA’s IT Project Objectives Defined (cont.) • Ease Desktop Administration (Patches, Security Updates and Software Upgrades) • Eliminate Costs Associated with Moves/ Adds/ Deletes • Take “Personal” out of Desktop Computing • Reduce Licensing Costs Management Information Systems

7. Increase Efficiency Reduce Cost of Ownership Keep Pace with Change Expand Services and Accommodate Growth HRA’s IT Project Objectives Management Information Systems

8. HRA’s Review • 2004: We opted to deploy the Thin Client technology in selected Job Centers to address the issue of limited electrical power. • 2005: Revisited other Thin Client technology and decided to pilot the Sun Ray technology solution. Management Information Systems

10. Pilot Observations • Electrical Power: 15 Watts for Sun Ray as compared to the 450 Watt usage for the traditional HRA desktop configuration. • Because the applications, data, and operating system reside on the server (Data Center), the Sun Ray is a “DISPLAY Only” device that requires no local administration. Management Information Systems

11. Benefits • This computing model creates a “Stateless” desktop environment that is both highly secure and efficient to maintain while preserving and/or improving the end user current desktop look and feel. • Virus Protection at the server rather than the desktop • No noise, No operating system and No upgrades to local machine Management Information Systems

12. Benefits (cont.) • No Embedded Operating System on DoIP Desktop Device to Maintain • Secure Centralized Management of the DoIP Desktop Client • Eliminates Desktop Viruses and Worms • Use Existing Network Bandwidth to Centralize Applications Management Information Systems

13. Benefits (cont.) • Day to Day Management Benefits • Power Consumption Savings • Eliminates PC Upgrade Cycle Future: • SmartCard Mobility Management Information Systems

14. Where Does HRA Position this technology? • Remote Offices: Reduce desktop management complexity support; • Call Center, Administrative and or Non Technical user Applications; • Virus Prone environments, such as heavy internet usage; • Environments where user tampering is likely Management Information Systems