AN4 finds a window of opportunity

VAR AN4 Group has successfully completed a security project at glass, aluminium and PVCu manufacturer, AC Yule & Son.

The manufacturer, which employs over 400 staff across offices in Aberdeen, Elgin, Livingston, Clydebank, Boldon and Forfar, turned to AN4 for support in offering access to its core Citrix applications across the UK.

Steven Ward, group IT manager at AC Yule & Son Ltd, said: “We have used an IPsec client technology for a number of years and although it is very secure – it is difficult to manage and our help desk always has a steady stream of calls regarding user issues with it.”

The VAR implemented Secure Computing SafeWord 2008, which integrates with Microsoft infrastructure and deploys a two-factor authentication for VPNs, Citrix applications, Web applications, Webmail, and Outlook Web Access.

“It was only when we were approached by AN4 Group and they demonstrated the simplicity and potential benefits offered by SafeWord that we agreed to an initial small scale pilot.”

Consulting advice from AN4 Group enabled Ward and his team implemented the SafeWord pilot in one day.

“We had the system up and running quickly and solved a couple of minor configuration issues with AN4’s help and after testing it for about a week – we decided that we could roll it out to another 50 users,” he said.

AC Yule & Son Ltd has deployed SafeWord to 30 per cent of its staff requiring remote access, within one month.

Ward added: “We have had no issues, the number of calls related to remote connectivity has dropped down to nearly zero and we now have the ability to provide secure access to key partners with ease.

“Working with AN4 has been faultless. They did what they said they would, on time and a good price and delivered to us a solution that will grow with our business.”