Computer Associates` Unicenter TNG provides lifeline for Copeland Associates` IT infrastructure

Computer Associates International, Inc. (CA) today announced that Copeland Associates (Copeland), one of the nation`s premier personal retirement planning specialists, has chosen CA`s award-winning Unicenter TNG to monitor its ongoing network activity. The software enables customers and salespeople to seamlessly exchange large amounts of data across the network 24 x 7 x 365. Copeland, now part of CitiStreet, chose Unicenter TNG to create the most secure and reliable environment for handling sensitive data and numerous daily transactions. CA Services assisted Copeland with the Unicenter TNG implementation.

Copeland provides state-of-the art retirement planning products and services to non-profit organizations in the health care, government and education markets, as well as 401(k) plans designed towards for-profit businesses. It currently serves 10,500 clients and 1.5 million individuals within those companies. The company`s network environment consists of Windows NT, UNIX, and Linux operating systems. Operated by the company`s account executives, these systems run on approximately 30 servers, 600 desktops and 500 laptops. The East Brunswick, N.J., corporation opted to become an eBusiness company and required software that could minimize or even eliminate difficulties with security and system uptime. The IT staff decided that CA`s Unicenter TNG enterprise management solution was the ideal choice to fulfill its requirements.

"Because CA`s software is not product specific and designed exclusively for customer-driven solutions, all of our requirements were taken into account," said Ira Schwartz, Copeland`s executive vice president and chief operating officer. "It was essential for us to prepare for the future and inquire as to whether or not CA would update our software as needed. After a thorough investigation of their services, we concluded that CA would definitely be able to fulfill our needs."

Unicenter TNG now monitors all of the network traffic from 500 account executives in 35 regional service centres nationwide, as well as client requests received through the company`s voice response unit and its Web site.

Copeland`s account executives are required to visit each participant to update and review their individual accounts. Salespeople replicate account changes and/or additions to databases on the network so that customers can connect to the voice response unit to make additional changes. All transactions are Internet-based and on the company`s Web browsers. If one small glitch is undetected, there is a possibility that important transactions might not take place.

"If our system went down, it would be the equivalent of putting a lock on our door and not opening for business at all," said Schwartz. "We can`t afford for that scenario to occur and neither can our clients. Unicenter TNG provides this lifeline by immediately alerting us with specific details on any problem - even overnight or on weekends. It is imperative for this service to be fast because we are an Internet delivery organization and we depend on instantaneous solutions."

Not only does Unicenter TNG help facilitate monitor network transactions, but it also assists Copeland financially by eliminating the need for additional staffing. "Unicenter TNG provides a superior level of service that definitely saves us money in the long run," Schwartz said.

Schwartz initially selected Unicenter TNG as a base, but is planning to build Unicenter TNG into an office program for Neugents predictive technology and is currently under contract for proof of concept. The company also remains under contract for the utilization of the Software Delivery Option (SDO) and Advanced Help Desk (AHD) Option of Unicenter TNG. "The CA staff that helped us with the installation were easily accessible. We look forward to adopting more CA products which would suit our needs," noted Schwartz.

Copeland has become even more competitive because the sales force can tangibly illustrate to its clients how it securely manages their sensitive data through Copeland`s system. According to Schwartz, clients now have the utmost confidence in their salespeople and their ability to deliver on the promise of superior service.