VPN-1 Power Facilitates IT Consolidation at Electrolux

Since the 1990s, Electrolux has experienced significant growth and acquisitions, leading to a lengthy process of reorganization. For the IT organization, this meant consolidating infrastructure, focusing resources into a few data centers, and emphasizing connections between these data centers, business offices, and production plants. Connections with the remaining server farms at local sites were equally important. Electrolux had approximately 600 UNIX and Windows servers and about 70 AS/400 systems in Europe, as well as a mainframe. Over time, especially following acquisitions, various problems arose due to the integration of disparate information systems. VPNs had to be established to link different equipment and operating environments while maintaining their ability to be remotely managed. In 2005, Electrolux accelerated the process to optimize its infrastructure and solve the problems of managing such a widely distributed system.

Electrolux Group is a leading international market player in the kitchen appliances, housecleaning solutions, and gardening equipment industry. The company prides itself on being at the forefront of technological and innovative progress in its industry. Every year, consumers from more than 150 countries purchase over 55 million products from Electrolux. Its well-known brands for home and professional applications include AEG, Electrolux, Eureka, Frigidaire, Husqvama, and Zanussi. In 2006, Electrolux had sales of 104 billion Swedish Kronor (U.S. $15.9 billion) and 59,500 employees.