stc deploys VMware solutions to support employees during COVID-19

The relevance of flexible working practices and supporting diversity in the workforce has long been recognized by stc. stc embraced flexible and hybrid working models with the help of distributed working solutions from VMware, which made it straightforward for stc to adapt to the ‘new normal’ during COVID -19. This became even more critical as the epidemic spread in 2020, necessitating remote working practices for most organizations.

Mr Yazeed Alfaris, Applications VP, stc, explained, “stc was able to embrace distributed working and allow thousands of employees to work from home securely, with full access to their work email and applications, throughout the COVID-19 crisis, thanks to our early adoption of virtual desktop solutions from VMware”. He added that stc was able to safeguard its employees and continue to provide essential services uninterrupted to individuals and businesses, helping the country’s economy and society navigate the challenges presented by the global pandemic.

Mr. Badr Alshewair, GM, Applications Operations at stc, went on to say that the company had shifted staff to secure remote working using VMware Horizon and Workspace One. “Since March 2020, stc’s remote work users have increased by almost 300 percent. Horizon users number in the tens of thousands at stc.

Mr Khalid Alghamdi, stc’s Applications Infrastructure Operations Director, said that by expanding its remote working capabilities during the pandemic, stc increased efficiency and security, provided world-class customer service, and ensured that our employees had the flexibility that today’s workers expect.

Mr Ahmad Alkthiry, CSO & Smart Solutions Operations Section Manager, explained that stc originally deployed the remote work solutions in 2015 and expanded them throughout 2020, bringing numerous advantages.“VMware Horizon helps IT efficiently deploy and scale virtual desktops and apps from a single control plane with rapid provisioning, automation and simplified management. Workspace One integrates access control, application management and multi-platform endpoint management into a single platform and is available as a cloud service or on-premises deployment,” Alkthiry said.

With recent research from VMware indicating that 45 percent of Saudi Arabian employees now see remote working as a requirement rather than a perk, and 64 percent of Saudi organizations realizing the benefits of remote work and unable to go back to the way things were, stc’s decision to invest in VDI appears even more foresighted and demonstrates the company’s long-term vision of embracing employee-friendly working practices.

“As Saudi Arabia and the world move towards a post-pandemic future, employees expect to have the option to work flexibly from their choice of location,” Badr Alshewair said.

He added,  “We look forward to expanding VMware’s VDI solutions to other areas of our business in the future, and to enabling our workforce, and wider society, to benefit from the increased flexibility afforded by these solutions.”