London-based software house ICL has launched Windows Accelerated Deployment, an IT service that claims to lower the cost and halve the normal implementation time of Windows 2000 to around six months for medium to large enterprises.
Initially, the service will be aimed at the local government and financial services sectors.
Scottish Building Society is ICL's first customer for the service, which is initially being pitched at banks and government offices. ICL designed, tested and installed a new network infrastructure in less than 12 weeks for all six of the building society's locations (head office and five area offices) which together control 115 agencies covering the whole of Scotland.
Martin Doxsey, principal consultant at ICL says up to 80% of the implementation is very similar for most organisations. "With Windows Accelerated Deployment, these elements can be implemented immediately with only the bare minimum of tailoring."
The service covers core Windows 2000 elements such as active directory design, server infrastructure with standard builds, network infrastructure such as DNS (Domain Name System), WINS (Windows Internet Naming Service) and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). The service also includes standard Windows 2000 Professional build with Office 2000 and a standard level of security.
Other elements, which are not included as part of the initial deployment package but can be addressed subsequently, include Exchange 2000; terminal services; Web services; remote access; server consolidation; and advanced security features such as PKI (Public Key Infrastructure).