Oxford University

The Challenge

The analytical and data processing applications that Oxford Social Sciences Division (OSSD) use, are deemed legacy, in as much as they do not run on modern Windows operating systems and are not cross platform.

One of the key applications, Stata did have a MacBook version available, unfortunately it only had 20% of the functionality the Window version.

The analytical and data processing applications that Oxford Social Sciences Division (OSSD) use, are deemed legacy, in as much as they do not run on modern Windows operating systems and are not cross platform.

Over the last few years, the IT Team at (OSSD) has used various methods to deliver app; including Citrix, VMware Fusion, VMware View, Parallels, Jukebox, and Software2.

These solutions presented various obstacles, like limited compatibility with Windows devices, sluggish performance on MacBooks, expensive setup and maintenance costs, and complex app packaging and processes.

The (OSSD) team required a simplified solution which could enable flexible working and compliment a student BYOD policy, whilst reducing the admin overhead of supporting legacy and moderns Windows apps on any device.

The Solution

The four main applications that were identified to be delivered where:

• Stata – Statistical software for data science
• ArcGIS – Desktop Geographic Information System
• NVivo – Qualitative data analysis
• IBM SPSS Statistics – Interactive statistical analysis

These applications are pivotal to the (OSSD) work and are not just in their faculties but also in universities across the world and the research, analysis and data garnered from them is shared globally.

Working with Droplet Computing channel partner MSS UK, who was instrumental in the introduction and deployment of Droplet Computing, the IT team at (OSSD) embarked on a proof of concept and have determined that Droplet Computing containers are an ideal solution.

“Given that our students turn up to class with a variety of their own devices, we needed a solution that would enable us to deliver these critical applications regardless of the device or operating system that students use.”
The IT Manager at Oxford University Social Sciences Division

The chosen solution needed to include the following features:

• Centralised cloud delivery, local execution
• Application Portability
• Run Non-native apps
• Enhanced end user experience

The Business Benefits

“The fact that we no longer have to script each individual application for each single device our students may, or may not, bring to class is a huge benefit to us. Plus, I no longer need to know, or care, what those devices are!”
OSSD IT team

Droplet enables us to create one delivery mechanism to deliver every single application that we have and deploy them easily via MobileIron.
Plus, it allows us to provide consistency of full functionality of Windows applications across the many different devices and operating systems that we manage across the campus.

This simplified approach has resulted in significant cost savings and frees up the (OSSD) IT team to continue to innovate within their IT department.

Due to the isolation architecture of the Droplet container means that OSSD are confident that their applications will be delivered securely