Companies Overcome Challenges to Workplace Continuity with Real-Time Access and Online Collaboration from Citrix

Business Wire, Nov 22, 2005

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- On-Demand Software Solutions GoToMyPC, GoToMeeting and GoToAssist Double as Built-in Contingency Plan for Working from Anywhere

Staying productive when faced with inevitable workplace disruptions is no longer an issue for businesses. Companies that rely on real-time, remote access and collaboration services offer employees the ability to work from anywhere. According to Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS), the global leader in access infrastructure solutions, many customers are reporting that on-demand collaboration software from its Online Group has enabled them to weather disruptions without impacting the bottom line. Poignant examples of real-time PC access have emerged from the challenges caused by recent hurricanes.

Texas case workers use GoToMyPC Corporate while aiding Hurricane Katrina victims

Case workers from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) assisting Hurricane Katrina victims left their office computers behind while traveling to disaster relief centers scattered throughout the state. With 8,200 employees and 250 offices, DFPS is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of that state's children, elderly, and disabled residents. Using the relief centers' Internet-only PCs provided by the Red Cross and county, case workers used Citrix(R) GoToMyPC(R) Corporate to easily access their computers back at the office to enter data and research information for hurricane victims.

"Our case workers remained productive by helping to expedite the search for missing foster children, and obtaining essential Medicaid and Social Security information for elderly or disabled adults," explains Shirley Scott, director of operations for IT for DFPS. "While many of our employees are routinely mobile and frequently use GoToMyPC Corporate to work away from the office, an unexpected benefit was having this low-maintenance remote access tool ready and available to us for assisting the hurricane victims."

Data rescued with GoToMyPC helps business owners rebuild

Being miles away from her office computer as Hurricane Katrina approached New Orleans would have made it impossible for Kate Chrisman, executive director of the Women's Business Council Gulf Coast, to access extensive financial information and other critical business data. "Fortunately, I was able to use GoToMyPC and easily download our organization's financial records and membership database to my laptop computer the night before the storm struck. With that data, I began tracking the whereabouts of our Gulf Coast chapter's 275 members and started helping them put their businesses and lives back together."

Highly secure and fully encrypted, GoToMyPC Corporate can be set up and ready to go in minutes, without the need for training or IT support -- even for novice users. Employees have fast, easy access to their e-mail, files, programs and network resources from home or the road via any Web browser anywhere in the world. For small businesses that require less administrative reporting functionality, the GoToMyPC Pro version is available in addition to the more robust Corporate version.

Schools in the Gulf Region avoid lost data via Citrix GoToAssist

Quick thinking by Data Futures, Inc., a software and services provider to the education market, enabled them to prevent a complete loss of data for K-12 schools located in the path of Hurricane Katrina. Schools in those areas were literally saved when Data Futures responded by using Citrix(R) GoToAssist(TM) to back-up all of their data, which otherwise would have been destroyed.

"With the schools and other customers about to be hit by the storm, there was no time to spare. We had to act quickly," says Data Futures Support Manager Todd Meziere. "Citrix GoToAssist gave us the fast, secure, and reliable connectivity that allowed us to successfully back-up our customers' data and push it to safe locations -- just in time."

Delivering best-in-class technical support and services over the Internet, Citrix GoToAssist is purpose-built for remote technical support. In seconds, a technical consultant can, with customer permission, run diagnostics on the customer's desktop, download patches, collaborate and provide visual training or update files in real time. Citrix GoToAssist provides highly scalable and reliable connectivity to desktop applications, with no requirement to invest in hardware or software.

Readily available resources minimize risk of disruption

"The reality of workplace disruption, regardless of cause or origin, is that advance planning is essential to maintaining business continuity," says Brett Caine, group vice president and general manager for Citrix. "With the onset of the winter storm and flu season, employees may not always be able to get to the office. Our remote access and collaboration solutions offer powerful, reliable and convenient tools to help companies maintain a productive workplace during inevitable disruptions."

Making it easy for individuals and organizations to connect and collaborate online, Citrix(R) GoToMeeting(TM) is another convenient tool for maintaining workplace continuity. With the speed and immediacy of real-time communication, and without the need to travel, employees can hold meetings, conduct training sessions, present information and demonstrate products in a secure environment from any Windows PC connected to the Internet. In fact, while the DFPS executive management team was on the move to help hurricane victims throughout Texas, they needed an easy way to stay in touch with each other on a regular basis. "GoToMeeting was surprisingly simple to set up and use, allowing DFPS executives to coordinate the day-to-day activities of all 7-12 disaster centers from any location," adds Shirley Scott.