Novo Banco | SD – WAN

WAN network renewal

Challenge

Due to the technological evolution and the increasing digitalization of its services, Novo Banco needed to renew its WAN network. The main objective was to have a more resilient, secure, fast, and scalable solution. At the same time, the banking institution wanted to reduce complexity in daily management, obtain better monitoring and alarming, and guarantee scalable authentication to the Group’s universe Given the opportunity to invest in a technological renewal, as usually happens in this type of evolutionary projects, the engineering team conducted a market survey and pre-selected equipment and manufacturers in order to develop a proof of concept.

Solution

Warpcom’s methodology was based on three stages: technical workshops to ascertain existing needs and expected results, presentation of the SD-WAN approach as the best response to the Novo Banco’s challenges, and identification of the main differentiating characteristics between the various manufacturers. Using its in-house technological laboratories, Warpcom tested, in a preliminary phase, the solutions that best met Novo Banco’s requirements. Subsequently, the solution that was chosen was tested in the banking institution’s environment, under the supervision of the engineering team specialized in SD-WAN technology.

SD-WAN?

SD-WAN refers to a software-defined WAN (Wide Area Network), i.e. it is the software that “commands” in a remote, simplified, flexible and integrated way, the network infrastructure, in order to maximize its performance, security and control. SD-WAN connects with security and less costs, any user, any application, anywhere. The main virtues of this type of solution include the possibility of using several links simultaneously, greater resilience and optimized access to workloads in public and private clouds, as well as visibility at application level and permanent information on network consumption and availability.

Results

It was possible to improve internal technical knowledge about SD-WAN, test the maturity level of the solutions in technical, operational and support terms, and to protect the return on investment. The option ended up falling on the CISCO SD-WAN solution. Users immediately perceived greater speed of navigation in the applications and, as the implementation was aligned in time with that of a collaboration solution (email, videoconferencing, file-share), it was possible to avoid constraints with potential impact on the success and adoption of these new tools, without having to scale the infrastructure or increase communications speeds. The benefits:
  • Centralized management of the equipment park and its configurations;
  • Reduction of errors associated with manual work and/or inconsistencies that severely impact security and operability;
  • “Layers of services” that could be added to the handling of traffic at branches, Novo Banco will address on a larger scale the possibility of using diversified and lower cost communications means, thus further lowering the solution’s TCO.
“The success that made a complex project of extended infrastructure simple and ‘silent’, implemented in an adverse context with the pandemic, resulted mainly from the excellent interaction between the Warpcom and Novo Banco teams, in the design and sizing of the solution, together with the rigor of the planning and the professionalism and competence of execution in the field”, concludes the responsible of Novo Banco’s about the partnership between both companies.
  • “Layers of services” that could be added to the handling of traffic at branches, Novo Banco will address on a larger scale the possibility of using diversified and lower cost communications means, thus further lowering the solution’s TCO.
“The success that made a complex project of extended infrastructure simple and ‘silent’, implemented in an adverse context with the pandemic, resulted mainly from the excellent interaction between the Warpcom and Novo Banco teams, in the design and sizing of the solution, together with the rigor of the planning and the professionalism and competence of execution in the field”, concludes the responsible of Novo Banco’s about the partnership between both companies.

About Warpcom

Warpcom is the leading technology integrator in the development of Networking & Infrastructure, Collaboration & Customer Experience, Data Center & Multi Cloud and Cybersecurity & Public Safety solutions. As a business partner that supports the digital transformation of organizations, whatever their technological maturity is, Warpcom also provides specialized services that address the management of the entire technology lifecycle: Managed Services (NOC and SOC), Consulting Services, Support Services and Professional Services.

About Novo Banco

NOVO BANCO is a reference institution in the Portuguese financial sector, recognized for the high standards of service quality and commercial dynamics with which it serves its clients. Operating across all financial services areas, NOVO BANCO ensures a wide coverage of the financial needs of its clients. In Portugal, NOVO BANCO has an important branch network, business centers and one of the most innovative digital banking systems. More information at https://www.novobanco.pt/
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