Windows 7 Key to Cutting Bandwidth Utilization with BranchCache

The latest iteration of the Windows client and server platforms come with enhancements specifically designed for companies with branch offices. BranchCache is a feature illustrative of the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 ‘Better Together’ concept, allowing business customers to cut costs associated with wide area network (WAN) access for branch offices. Nick MacKechnie, a principal technical account manager at Microsoft New Zealand, revealed that Microsoft published a new case study titled “Reducing Bandwidth Utilization with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 BranchCache.” The resource is available free of charge on Microsoft TechNet.

“Learn how Microsoft IT uses the BranchCache feature available in the Windows 7 operating system and the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system to improve performance and availability to branch offices. Services at the branch office level include file and print management, offline folder redirection, operating system and application distribution, and patch management. By implementing BranchCache, Microsoft IT significantly improved service availability while maintaining network traffic encryption including HTTPS and IPsec and reducing WAN usage and server demand. Using BranchCache, Microsoft IT expects to save money while increasing branch user productivity,” reads the introduction of the study.

BranchCache does exactly what the label implies. The feature is capable of caching data locally for access from users in branch offices provided that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 are used in conjunction. Essentially, the only requirement is that BranchCache be enabled on client computers running Windows 7 Enterprise or Ultimate, or on Windows Server 2008 R2. Microsoft designed BranchCache to be passive cache, and as such data is retrieved from a server only when the client requests, without increasing WAN utilization.

“BranchCache improves the responsiveness of common network applications that access intranet servers across slow links. Because it does not require any infrastructure, you can improve the performance of remote networks simply by deploying Windows 7 to client computers, deploying Windows Server 2008 R2 to server computers, and enabling BranchCache,” Microsoft added. “BranchCache works seamlessly alongside network security technologies such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Server Message Block (SMB) Signing, and end-to-end IPsec. You can use BranchCache to reduce network bandwidth utilization and improve application performance even if the content is encrypted.”