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PersonalizationMall.com Ensures Fast, Reliable Remote Access with BIG‑IP Edge Gateway
Technology Category
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Computing
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Hybrid Cloud
Applicable Industries
- Retail
- E-Commerce
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
Use Cases
- Remote Asset Management
- Remote Collaboration
- Remote Control
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
PersonalizationMall.com, an online retailer, was facing challenges with its existing VPN solution. As more employees required remote access, the Cisco technology they were using no longer delivered acceptable performance. This was especially evident after the company migrated to Windows 7. Mobile users needed the 64‑bit operating system but were unable to connect to the VPN. Another concern was the slow connection speed between office and home, which was limited by the older VPN technology. Users were also experiencing difficulties with dropped calls on VoIP, which was frustrating and negatively affected the business.
About The Customer
PersonalizationMall.com is an online retailer founded in 1998 that specializes in personalized gift buying. The company has seen significant growth, achieving $50 million in annual sales, and recently consolidated in a 120,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Woodridge, Illinois. PersonalizationMall.com employs 200 full‑time staff, adding up to 500 during peak seasons. The company operates in a demanding and highly competitive retail industry, and its executives and IT staff require reliable and fast remote access to stay in constant touch with the business.
The Solution
To address the challenges, PersonalizationMall.com turned to F5 and its BIG‑IP Edge Gateway technology. The company had previously used F5 BIG‑IP solutions to manage website traffic, which traditionally spikes with seasonal activities. To ensure a fast, seamless customer experience, IT implemented F5 BIG‑IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) Application Delivery Controller for load balancing, and BIG‑IP Global Traffic Manager (GTM) to intelligently manage traffic across data centers. With the success of BIG‑IP LTM and BIG‑IP GTM, the company researched solutions for VPN issues and learned about F5 BIG‑IP Edge Gateway, an advanced access solution that brings together SSL VPN remote access, security, application acceleration, and availability services for remote users.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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