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Customer Case Study
State Agency Leads the Way in Wireless Network Security
Unified Wireless Network helps Washington Department of Ecology increase employee
productivity and efficiency.
productivity and efficiency.
Challenge
© 2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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The State of Washington’s Department of Ecology is
responsible for protecting, preserving, and
enhancing the state’s environment. Using a diverse
set of tools and processes, the Department works to
prevent and clean up pollution, supports sustainable
communities and natural resources, and promotes
the effective management of air, land, and water.
“With twelve buildings spread across the State of
Washington, maintaining effective communications
between our field, regional, and headquarters
employees is key to delivering on our mission,” says
Jim French, network manager at the Department of
Ecology.
responsible for protecting, preserving, and
enhancing the state’s environment. Using a diverse
set of tools and processes, the Department works to
prevent and clean up pollution, supports sustainable
communities and natural resources, and promotes
the effective management of air, land, and water.
“With twelve buildings spread across the State of
Washington, maintaining effective communications
between our field, regional, and headquarters
employees is key to delivering on our mission,” says
Jim French, network manager at the Department of
Ecology.
In 2005, the Department of Ecology’s IT team sent a
customer service survey to the agency’s
approximate 1600 employees. “We wanted to find
out what services we could provide our employees
to help them work more efficiently,” says French.
“The number-one response was wireless access.”
Despite the overwhelming demand for wireless,
however, the IT team knew that convincing the
decision-makers in the Department of Information
Services (DIS), the agency that approves
customer service survey to the agency’s
approximate 1600 employees. “We wanted to find
out what services we could provide our employees
to help them work more efficiently,” says French.
“The number-one response was wireless access.”
Despite the overwhelming demand for wireless,
however, the IT team knew that convincing the
decision-makers in the Department of Information
Services (DIS), the agency that approves
technology for the State of Washington, would be challenging. “At the time, most government
agencies in the State of Washington believed that wireless networks could not provide the security
levels needed to protect highly-sensitive information. We needed to build a strong business case
for wireless security,” says French. With a significant number of employees to support, the
Department of Ecology required an easy-to-use wireless solution that could also provide
government-grade security.
agencies in the State of Washington believed that wireless networks could not provide the security
levels needed to protect highly-sensitive information. We needed to build a strong business case
for wireless security,” says French. With a significant number of employees to support, the
Department of Ecology required an easy-to-use wireless solution that could also provide
government-grade security.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
● Washington State Government
● Olympia, WA
● 1682 employees
● Olympia, WA
● 1682 employees
CHALLENGE
● Create wireless network to meet employee
demand for increased work convenience and
efficiency
efficiency
● Provide easy-to-use mobile solution with
government-grade security
● Build a strong case for wireless security to
convince decision-makers to approve wireless
network adoption
network adoption
SOLUTION
● Unified wireless network enables staff to meet
and work from any Department of Ecology
office or site and gives visiting guests Internet
and VPN access
office or site and gives visiting guests Internet
and VPN access
● Cisco Secure Services Client automatically
authenticates laptop users and enables them
to move smoothly between wired and wireless
networks
to move smoothly between wired and wireless
networks
RESULTS
● Provided continuous connectivity for
bandwidth-intensive applications, reducing
helpdesk calls
helpdesk calls
● Increased staff mobility, flexibility, and
productivity which allowed Department’s
employees to use their laptops more fully
employees to use their laptops more fully
Solution
A Cisco
®
partner for nearly a decade, the Department of Ecology knew where to turn for an
enterprise-class wireless solution. Working with the Cisco team, the Department of Ecology
presented the Cisco Unified Wireless Network design to the Department of Information Services.
To provide maximum security, the Cisco representatives proposed using the Cisco Secure
Services Client (CSSC) as a critical component in the network. “The Cisco team, together with the
presented the Cisco Unified Wireless Network design to the Department of Information Services.
To provide maximum security, the Cisco representatives proposed using the Cisco Secure
Services Client (CSSC) as a critical component in the network. “The Cisco team, together with the