Delivering a next generation network for a household name in banking

Overview

Moving to an infrastructure that’s agile, flexible, and secure

To stay at the forefront of performance and public perception, this bank – a household name across the UK – needed to move to a modern network that would better support new cloud models and collaboration. The key here was to ensure that the infrastructure was agile, flexible and secure. It’s the perfect combination to help future-proof operations and move forward with dynamism, but without the right technology and expertise, that’s easier said than done.

The challenge

The challenge was multi-faceted. As well as optimising operational costs and replacing end-of-life equipment, the client wanted visibility of their application performance across the network. They wanted to align and improve network KPIs to support business processes. And they needed to increase levels of automation and self-service, whilst creating a platform of continuous service improvement.

It required the roll-out of a bespoke technical strategy.

The solution

A dynamic SD-WAN network with security at the core

Partnering with Cisco, and their long heritage in cloud and innovation, we combined market-leading technology with trusted managed services to deliver a network strategy built on several key components:

• MPLS and internet WAN
• Cisco (Viptela) SD-WAN
• Cisco LAN services
• BT wi-fi

With technology across WAN, LAN and data centre, this is a network for faster and more cost-effective connectivity which enables better collaboration. Critically, it delivers security from the core. Network governance is easier and customised security policies can be designed, implemented and managed consistently.

The result 

Our banking client is now seeing impressive results from a robust, next generation network that’s built for future growth and flexibility.

They’ve got:

• a 2,000 branch network built on Cisco SD-WAN
• real-time visibility of performance with BT Service Intelligence
• agile control of their network resources
• a platform to enable automation and orchestration
• lower TCO
• commercials modelled to offset CapEx
• SLAs closely aligned to their business requirements.