In a strategic move to modernize its IT infrastructure, JS Bank, a leading commercial bank headquartered in Karachi, has adopted Sangfor’s Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. As a majority-owned subsidiary of Jahangir Siddiqui & Co. Ltd., JS Bank sought to replace traditional desktop PCs with VDI in two crucial scenarios – one for the SWIFT department and the other for regular office users, totaling over 5,000 desktop PCs across the organization.
The SWIFT department required high availability (HA) for desktop operations and robust protection for sensitive data, while normal office users aimed to utilize Linux with simpler applications to reduce Windows OS license costs and enhance data protection.
JS Bank selected Sangfor VDI to address these diverse IT needs. In the initial phase, the bank deployed two nodes of Sangfor Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) to facilitate virtual desktops with high availability for 60 users. The HCI server cluster, located in PTCL, utilized fiber connections with HQ, and XUbuntu OS was chosen for the virtual desktops. In the subsequent phase, an additional HCI node was integrated to support a total of 120 users. The future plan includes replacing desktop PCs in branches with virtual desktops through Sangfor VDI.
The implementation of Sangfor VDI has brought several benefits to JS Bank’s IT environment. All data is securely stored on the server end, allowing for the configuration of policies to control users’ network connections and USB functions, mitigating the risk of data leakage. The HCI infrastructure ensures high availability for data, and built-in VM backup mechanisms contribute to preventing data loss. Notably, the adoption of Linux virtual desktops eliminates the need for Windows software licenses, resulting in substantial cost savings.
JS Bank now enjoys centralized management of virtual desktops through two user-friendly consoles – the Virtual Management Platform (VMP) for server-end management and the Virtual Desktop Controller (VDC) for user-end management. The comprehensive solution from Sangfor, covering HCI servers, hypervisor, and VDI controllers, ensures seamless compatibility and convenient support services.
This strategic collaboration signifies JS Bank’s commitment to modernizing its IT landscape, enhancing data security, and optimizing operational efficiency through Sangfor’s advanced VDI solution.
