Banking on a WAN

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: Netsol, an IBM company, for its partner. IBM Netsol had already established itself as an expert in setting up networking infrastructure and it specialised in converged WAN solutions. Netsol collaborated with the bank’s internal IT team to kick-start the project, starting off with a testing phase that ensured smooth connectivity. The implementation was still in the testing phase and the bank had not got around to calculating the return on investment from the project. However, it had already managed to save 50% on costs, thanks to the upgrade.

The implementation of a WAN assisted the bank in improving time-to-market. In addition to tapping different delivery channels, the bank benefited in the sense that the defined functionality of each layer enabled it to seamlessly add branches anywhere. The defined hierarchical IP addressing made room for sufficient subnets that were reserved for future expansion. In addition, features like remote network configuration enabled the network administrator to configure network components from a central location. Also, manageability of the network that included management of equipment, fault, and the like had become easier.

The modular nature of the network ensured upgradation, re-configuration, and modifications, if any, in a phased manner.

The deployment of WAN ensured the availability of relevant information to the bank’s stakeholders. Leased lines, secondary ISDN connections, as well as dial up connections were established as part of the contingency plan. Also, connectivity to the disaster recovery site housed at a different location was laid down.

IBM Netsol automated the migration path to redundant connections. Hence, in case of a failure in a leased line, connectivity would automatically be shunted to the secondary ISDN link and from there to the dialup link. The bank took the step of providing training to its staff on operating the network infrastructure, allowing them to hone their IT skills in-house.

Kulkarni says, “Our insistence on availability resulted in primary and secondary media at the access level. This ensured availability of the network during failure of the primary link.” According to Kulkarni, the products have high mean time between failure rates and low mean time to repair. Furthermore, the two routers at the core have redundant power supplies that automatically took over in the event of the failure of a router’s primary power supply.