Microsoft Case Study

Broadview Networks has been featured in a Microsoft Case Study!

Cisco Select Partner Program

Broadview Networks is a Cisco Select Certified Partner with Sales and Technical staff certified to design, implement, and support Cisco SMB networking solutions.

Hewlett Packard Grows in the Entry-Level Storage Market

New products from HP introduce enterprise-class features at prices to meet limited IT budgets.

Server 2008 Feature Review: Terminal Services

Windows Server 2008 brings considerable improvements to traditional Terminal Server functions, plus adds new functionality that is sure to draw the interest of Windows Server administrators and end-users alike.

Broadview Networks is pleased to announce that the company was featured in a recent Microsoft Case Study. The case study can be found online, published at: http://www.microsoft.com/canada/casestudies/broadviewnetworks.mspx

This case study exposes the success that Broadview Networks realizes through the development of a strong partnership with Microsoft and through increasing specialization in the design, implementation, and support of advanced IT infrastructure solutions based on Microsoft technologies. A key contributing factor to this success is the extensive use of Microsoft technologies for the company's own internal use.

Broadview Networks is a 100% employee owned organization that has established itself as a trusted provider of quality IT solutions offering superior expertise and exceptional service to the Manitoba business community. Working alongside both Technical and Business Professionals, Broadview's philosophy is one of collaboration and teamwork. In January 2008, Microsoft listed Broadview First in Manitoba and within the Top 10 in Canada out of 9400 Microsoft Partners. These listings are based on competencies, certifications, and customer satisfaction.

Broadview Networks would welcome an opportunity to show you why we are one of the fastest-growing companies in Manitoba, and a top ranked Microsoft Gold Certified Excellence Partner! Please contact us.

Broadview Networks is pleased to announce the achievement of Cisco Select Partner designation! This small and medium-sized business (SMB) Select Partner designation from Cisco Systems demonstrates to Broadview Networks customers that the company designs and supports networking solutions for the small and medium-sized business market, defined as companies that have between 20 and 500 employees.

The Cisco SMB Select Partner program provides Broadview Networks with a tailored set of resources, training offerings, and sales and marketing tools to enhance the company's expertise in designing, implementing and supporting Cisco networking solutions for SMB customers.

In order to qualify for this partner designation, Cisco channel partners are required to demonstrate a focused business practice selling into the SMB market, along with meeting specific program requirements in the areas of training, employee certification, sales volume and sales mix. In meeting the program requirements, Broadview Networks is demonstrating a commitment to providing outstanding service to customers in this market with our capable technical and sales staff.

For more information about the Cisco Select Partner Program, or if your organization is interested in learning more about a Cisco networking solution for your business, please contact Broadview Networks.

Broadview Networks is pleased to announce the achievement of Cisco Select Partner designation! This small and medium-sized business (SMB) Select Partner designation from Cisco Systems demonstrates to Broadview Networks customers that the company designs and supports networking solutions for the small and medium-sized business market, defined as companies that have between 20 and 500 employees.

The Cisco SMB Select Partner program provides Broadview Networks with a tailored set of resources, training offerings, and sales and marketing tools to enhance the company's expertise in designing, implementing and supporting Cisco networking solutions for SMB customers.

In order to qualify for this partner designation, Cisco channel partners are required to demonstrate a focused business practice selling into the SMB market, along with meeting specific program requirements in the areas of training, employee certification, sales volume and sales mix. In meeting the program requirements, Broadview Networks is demonstrating a commitment to providing outstanding service to customers in this market with our capable technical and sales staff.

For more information about the Cisco Select Partner Program, or if your organization is interested in learning more about a Cisco networking solution for your business, please contact Broadview Networks.

Microsoft has long provided remote access to Windows systems through the use of Terminal Services in both remote desktop and application server modes. In Windows Server 2008 there are some great enhancements to Terminal Services that are sure to be a key upgrade motivator for many Windows Server administrators. Microsoft Terminal Services provides a reliable method for systems administrators and application users to work from remote locations just as if they were located inside the corporate network. Applications are executed in one location, but controlled from another, through presentation virtualization which creates virtual sessions for each connected user. The processing happens on the server while graphics, keyboard, mouse, and other end-user interaction are handled at the remote terminal. So what are the benefits and improvements in Windows Server 2008 with respect to Terminal Services?

• Terminal Services RemoteApp
• Terminal Services Gateway
• Terminal Services Web Access
• Terminal Services Session Broker
• Expanded Solution Scenarios

Introduction to Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008

Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 grants organizations the means to provide centralized access to applications without the need to provide the entire remote desktop to the user. Applications running remotely can be integrated with the local user's desktop - looking, feeling, and behaving like local applications.

With Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008, organizations can provide more secure access to centralized applications or desktops (and other resources from the Internet) by using HTTPS - without needing to provide access via a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or opening up unwanted ports on firewalls. This reduces the complexity needed to provide secure remote access to applications and data for users, partners, or customers. And for deployments with several servers, new load-balancing features provide a simple way to ensure optimal performance by spreading sessions among the least-loaded available resources.

Terminal Services RemoteApp

TS RemoteApp programs are accessed through Terminal Services, and look and act as if they are running on the end user's local computer. Users can run TS RemoteApp programs side by side with their local programs, and can run more than one RemoteApp on the same terminal server, in the same Terminal Services RemoteApp session. After opening the TS RemoteApp on a local computer, the user can interact with the application as if it were running locally.

Users can access TS RemoteApp in a number of ways, including the following:

• A program icon can be deployed to the user's desktop or start menu, which may be created and distributed by the system administrator
• Double-click on a file which has an extension associated with a TS RemoteApp
• Follow a link to the TS RemoteApp on a Web site by using TS Web Access

Terminal Services Gateway

TS Gateway uses Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) tunneled over HTTPS to form a secure, encrypted connection between remote users on the Internet and the computers in the corporate network, even if the system is located behind a network address translation (NAT) Traversal-based router. TS Gateway enables authorized remote users to connect to terminal servers and remote desktops on the corporate network from any Internet-connected device that is running Remote Desktop Connection.

TS Gateway can eliminate the need to configure Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections to permit remote users to access the corporate network in order to remotely control systems on the local network with Remote Desktop Connection. The TS Gateway Management snap-in console provides a single interface that enables administrators to configure policies to define conditions that must be met in order for connections to work, and is compatible with Network Policy Server.

Terminal Services Web Access

TS Web Access is the means by which Terminal Services RemoteApp is made available to remote users from a Web browser. From a customizable Web page, TS Web Access allows a user to see a list of available TS RemoteApp programs and launch the TS RemoteApp program which will initiate a TS session on the server that hosts the application.

Terminal Services Session Broker

TS Session Broker provides an alternative to the Microsoft Network Load Balancing for Terminal Services for balancing Terminal Server sessions across multiple Terminal Servers. While not limited to a specific number of servers, the feature is suggested to scale well in the two to five server farm size. Under TS Session Broker, any new Terminal Server session is routed to the least-loaded server within the farm which offers greater utilization of available resources. Reconnecting users do not need to know the specific information about which server they need to reconnect to, simplifying end-users jobs. The Session Broker also offers fault tolerance in that the broker manages to balance TS sessions across the remaining servers in a farm if one or more of the servers is unavailable

Terminal Server Solution Scenarios

Along with the previously mentioned Terminal Server features, there are many improvements in Terminal Server functions that add even more business and technology value to TS in Server 2008, and expand the common scenarios where Terminal Services is helpful.

Remote access to applications improves productivity with TS RemoteApp, TS Gateway, and TS Web Access components, which make it possible to extend the experience of being in the office even when working remotely. Centralizing data reduces the risk of loss or exposure as backups are simplified. TS Gateway and TS RemoteApp enable the publishing of only a single application to remote users, reducing the risk of confidential data being exposed to unauthorized employees, partners, or vendors. And Terminal Services as a solution for companies who have non-assigned desk policies. With Terminal Services, the programs for users can be installed on a terminal, and can be accessed as if the programs were locally installed, regardless of which workstation is used to access the session.

If your organization is interested in learning more about Terminal Server in Windows Server 2008 or if you would like to discuss implementation options for your environment, please contact Broadview Networks for more information.