Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2
Customer Solution Case Study
Hawaii Bank Streamlines Software
Distribution, Print and Storage Management
Overview
Country or Region: United States
Industry: Banking
Customer Profile
American Savings Bank (ASB) is Hawaii’s
third-largest financial institution with more
than 1,600 employees. It provides a range
of financial products and services, including business banking, consumer deposits,
and loans.
Business Situation
ASB could not manage the rollout of new
software and upgrades effectively. Timeconsuming print server management and
lack of control over storage resources also
caused significant inefficiencies.
Solution
To increase the efficiency of software
distribution and streamline print and
storage management, the company
deployed Microsoft® Windows Server™
2003 R2 with the help of technology
partner Microsoft Services.
Benefits
 Enhanced software distribution
 Effective management of printers and
print servers to save IT staff time
 Increased control over storage to reduce
cost
 Reduced backup times
“We can conduct all kinds of IT operations more
efficiently, from new software rollouts to
troubleshooting and issue resolution.”
Elston Kitamori, Vice President and Technology Infrastructure Manager, American Savings Bank
Historically, American Savings Bank used batch files to deploy
and update software across the organization, a time-consuming
approach that could not guarantee availability of applications
locally. To enhance software replication, streamline print management, and increase control over storage resources, the
company deployed a new software architecture based on
Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 R2. This technology offers fast,
reliable replication of applications and files to local distribution
points. In addition, the new system supports centralized print
management, significantly reducing unplanned downtime. And
while administrators previously could not see how employees used
storage resources, they now can monitor files being stored to
servers. By ensuring that only business-critical data is uploaded,
the bank has reduced its storage requirements and streamlined the
backup process.
“We needed a new
system that could ensure
timely, reliable rollout for
our key applications.”
Elston Kitamori, Vice President and Technology
Infrastructure Manager,
American Savings Bank
Situation
American Savings Bank (ASB) is Hawaii’s
third-largest financial institution, holding
U.S.$6.7 billion in assets. The organization,
which has been serving the state since 1925,
provides a range of financial products and
services, including business banking, consumer deposits, and loans. ASB has the
second-largest branch network in the state,
with 65 branches and 170 automated teller
machines.
ASB depends on a variety of software applications to operate effectively—from business
productivity tools such as Microsoft® Office
desktop programs to highly specialized
banking client programs. All software
resources were replicated and distributed
to campus and branch sites using weekly
batch processing.
Software Distribution Failures
With between 200 and 300 applications in
use at ASB, the replication of applications,
upgrades, and files to software distribution
points presented significant challenges. The
existing processes for file replication and
distribution, which relied on batch processing
technology, could not guarantee the availability of critical applications at distribution
points.
Elston Kitamori, Vice President and Technology Infrastructure Manager, American
Savings Bank, says, “We often used to get
calls from local IT administrators. This is
because branch users needed access to new
applications that were not on local distribution points because batch files hadn’t copied
properly. To avoid compromising the effectiveness of the IT team and end users, we
needed a new system that could ensure
timely, reliable rollout for our key
applications.”
Inefficient Print Server Management
In addition to the software distribution
requirement, ASB wanted to streamline the
management of local print servers. Previously, up to 20 printers were managed at
each remote office, requiring an administrator to view a large number of open dialog
boxes simultaneously. As a result, issues with
printers were often left undetected, resulting
in unplanned downtime.
“By the time printer problems were identified
and registered with the IT team, some
employees were without print services for up
to an hour,” says Kitamori. “This really slowed
down our operations at affected locations. To
address this issue, we wanted a new system
that could centralize print management and
reduce the administrative burden for IT staff.”
Need to Streamline Storage
Management
To increase efficiency still further, ASB
wanted to improve manageability of its
storage resources. In the past, employees
were able to upload large files to corporate
servers without restriction. It was difficult for
administrators to view what data was being
uploaded for personal use and which employees were using excessive storage space on
the network.
“Our previous storage management system
was nonexistent,” Kitamori says. “We didn’t
know which users were uploading what kind
of data to servers, and we couldn’t assess
the volumes of data involved. As a result,
servers were reaching their limits in terms of
storage capacity and we were faced with the
task of transferring excess data to our storage area network at considerable expense.
In order to prevent this, we wanted to deploy
new software tools that help us track files
being uploaded to servers and manage user
data more effectively.
“The Distributed File
System, a key element
of Windows Server 2003
R2, serves as a
centralized repository
for our software
resources. From here,
business owners in
remote locations can roll
out applications quickly
and reliably to their end
users.”
Elston Kitamori, Vice President and
Technology Infrastructure Manager,
American Savings Bank
“By increasing the efficiency of storage
management, we also hoped to reduce the
time required to back up corporate data,”
adds Kitamori. “Because we process large
data volumes during the day and also after
hours, we have a backup window of just three
hours. As a result, we wanted to deploy a new
solution that could help us increase the efficiency of backup processes.”
Solution
To improve software distribution and
streamline print and storage management,
American Savings Bank decided to deploy
Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 R2—the
second release of the Windows Server 2003
operating system, which is the foundation of
Windows Server System™ integrated server
software. To help ensure the success of the
deployment, the organization chose to work
with longstanding technology partner
Microsoft Services.
“During the last five years, Microsoft Services
has provided consultancy and implementation support for almost all our IT projects,”
Kitamori says. “Because they know our
infrastructure, we trust them to provide
solutions that help protect our technology
investments and minimize operational risk.”
Windows Server 2003 R2 was rolled out in
the ASB environment in November 2005. It is
being used to replicate and distribute a large
number of critical applications to centralized
software distribution points.
“The Distributed File System, a key element
of Windows Server 2003 R2, serves as a
centralized repository for our software
resources,” says Kitamori. “From here,
business owners in remote locations can roll
out applications quickly and reliably to their
end users. We have a rapidly growing repository of software on the Distributed File System, which will eventually include every one
of our 200 to 300 client applications.”
The new system provides a range of centralized management features, and ASB is in the
process of migrating all print servers to the
new management console. Administrators
can view up-to-the-minute details on the
status of printers and print servers across the
network. They can also see where excessive
print queues are compromising service
delivery and address potential issues before
users experience unplanned downtime.
In addition, the new system provides Folder
Quota Management features that increase
visibility and control of storage resources.
Administrators can see how much operational
data each application is uploading to servers
and monitor files that are saved on the system by employees.
The ability to monitor and increase control
of data uploaded to servers will reduce the
number of files that are saved by employees
for personal use. This is expected to cut
storage requirements significantly. As a
result, the need to transfer excess data to a
storage area network (SAN) will be greatly
reduced along with associated costs and
backup times.
Benefits
The deployment of the new operating system
has enhanced management of software distribution and helped ensure the availability of
critical business and client banking applications at local distribution points. In addition,
streamlined print management is delivering
significant timesavings for the IT department,
while greater control over storage has
resulted in significantly reduced costs
and more efficient backup processes.
Enhanced Software Distribution
Improves Quality of IT Services
Prior to the deployment of Windows Server
2003 R2, the replication of applications to
local distribution points could not be
monitored effectively. Applications were
sometimes unavailable because of faults in
batch processing, causing delays in software
rollouts and upgrades. “Before, we never
knew the status of applications that we tried
to replicate to local software distribution
points,” Kitamori says. “Where they were not
replicated correctly, we had to conduct timeconsuming analysis of individual servers at
local branches.”
“Using centralized
backup, we hope to
reduce hardware
requirements at local
branches and cut the
time previously required
to administer the
backup process.”
Elston Kitamori, Vice President and
Technology Infrastructure Manager,
American Savings Bank
administrators to monitor a large number of
devices. In the event of a printer failure or
excessive print queue, ASB frequently
experienced unplanned downtime to print
services, resulting in reduced end-user
productivity.
By contrast, the new Distributed File System
(DFS) offers a centralized repository for all
applications used at American Savings Bank.
These can be replicated to local software
distribution points quickly and reliably, and
made available to IT administrators.
Using the Print Management Console
provided with Microsoft Windows Server
2003 R2, ASB has centralized the
management of its entire printer and print
server architecture. Instead of monitoring
between 10 and 12 open dialog boxes at
each remote office, an administrator can view
the status of all print services through a
single user interface.
“Employees working in the support group can
now troubleshoot or reimage workstations by
accessing applications centrally through
DFS,” says Kitamori. “That means they
always have the resources they need on hand
and they never have to travel back to the
head office to collect the required software.
With all our applications on DFS, our jobs will
be faster and easier. We can conduct all
kinds of IT operations more efficiently, from
new software rollouts to troubleshooting and
issue resolution.”
“Previously, we were unable to manage our
print services effectively. The best we could
do was react to problems when they arose,”
says Kitamori. “Now, we are using the centralized Print Management Console to view
the status of printers and print servers,
access print queues, and identify potential
problems before they even occur. As well as
saving time for administrators, these new
capabilities significantly reduce downtime for
print services and increase the productivity of
our end users.”
DFS helps ensure the consistency of applications and files across the infrastructure.
Consistent data replication throughout the
ABS enterprise means that current, accurate
data will always be available for IT administrators. This, in turn, will help increase the
overall quality and availability of IT services.
“When the rollout of DFS is complete, we will
be sure that applications are available to all
our users,” says Kitamori, “and this will
enhance the productivity of IT staff and
end users across the business.”
Better Management of Storage
Resources Reduces Costs
With Folder Quota Management features provided by Windows Server 2003 R2, ASB has
increased visibility of stored data. IT staff
can now monitor employee use of storage
resources and assess the volumes and types
of data being uploaded. Where files are for
employees’ personal use and unnecessary in
terms of supporting the bank’s core business,
they can be blocked. This significantly
reduces storage requirements and removes
the need to purchase additional, expensive
SAN technologies.
Streamlined Print Server Management
Increases Availability, Saves IT Time
All printers and print servers were previously
managed individually, requiring IT
“Previously, when a server reached its limits
in terms of storage, we had to transfer excess
For More Information
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using the World Wide Web, go to:
www.microsoft.com
For more information about American
Savings Bank, visit the Web site at:
www.asbhawaii.com
data to a storage area network at great
expense to the business,” says Kitamori.
“Because we can now ensure that our
storage resources are used properly, we can
save on our storage costs. By reducing
unnecessary data stored on our systems, we
also hope to reduce backup times, further
increasing efficiency for IT administrators.”
Centralized Backup Delivers Potential
Timesavings for IT Administrators
Before deployment of Windows Server 2003
R2, data from 65 remote branches was
backed up over the ASB network on a nightly
basis. This process was time consuming and
difficult to complete in the three-hour backup
window available. Using the new system, IT
staffers at ASB will create backup points that
receive data from branch servers in real time.
This data will then be transferred to a central
server that is backed up continuously.
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2
The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2
family helps organizations do more with less.
Now you can run your IT infrastructure more
efficiently, build better applications faster,
and deliver the best infrastructure for
enhancing user productivity. And you can
do all this faster, more securely, and at a
lower cost.
For more information about Windows Server
2003 R2, please visit:
www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003
“Using centralized backup, we hope to reduce
hardware requirements at local branches and
cut the time previously required to administer
the backup process,” Kitamori says. “These
benefits further illustrate how Windows
Server 2003 R2 will help increase the
efficiency of our IT operations.”
Software and Services
Microsoft Windows Server System
− Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2
 Microsoft Office
− Microsoft Office XP Professional

© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT
MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
SUMMARY.
Microsoft, the Windows logo, Windows Server, and Windows
Server System are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective
owners.
Document published February 2006
© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved. This case study is for
informational purposes only. MICROSOFT

Services
− Microsoft Services