Case Study | Technology
Recognized as one of the top financial institutions worldwide and renowned for its expansive reach and influence in the financial sector, this organization holds a prominent position within the largest banks in the US and the world. From retail and investment banking to asset & wealth management, this enterprise offers a comprehensive suite of financial products and services to a broad spectrum of clients.
With a deep understanding of the evolving financial landscape and dynamic client needs, this company places a premium on innovation and technology. It has embraced ongoing digital transformation to set new standards in financial services, integrating cutting-edge technology for more efficient, secure, and personalized client experiences.
However, a rich history and extensive reach bring about inherent challenges associated with legacy systems that have become outdated, expensive to maintain, and challenging to integrate with modern technologies, acting as a barrier to the seamless adoption of state-of-the-art solutions.
Additionally, the need for swift adjustments in technical resources to accommodate evolving requirements is essential for scalability, and addressing this challenge is pivotal to enhancing operational flexibility.
To this end, this organization sought a comprehensive threefold strategy. Firstly, to explore and evaluate multi-cloud vendor solutions, placing a particular emphasis on enabling micro-segmentation capabilities. The overarching goal was to establish a reliable and efficient infrastructure capable of managing connectivity to and from applications defined as Virtual Network Boundaries (VNBs).
The second facet of the improvement initiative focused on the development and enhancement of a pivotal network automation tool. This tool was designed to play a crucial role in automating and streamlining network device configuration processes, contributing to increased efficiency and reduced manual intervention.
The third aspect involved harnessing the combined power of Ansible for configuration automation and AWS cloud resources deployed via Terraform. This synergy aimed to elevate network management capabilities and overall operational efficiency.
In response to these overarching challenges, the organization initiated a quest for a strategic partner with the proficiency to address obsolete technology, facilitate the migration of legacy systems, and guide the transition toward next-generation solutions.
Having the right combination of skills, talent pool, and expertise, Brillio emerged as the ideal candidate to support the client in its digital transformation journey. By entering into a strategic partnership with Brillio for staff augmentation, the client gained the flexibility to scale its technical workforce based on specific requirements, eliminating the time-consuming process of recruiting and training full-time employees.
In addressing the first challenge, the teams collaboratively selected cloud platforms and technologies, creating tailored cloud environments for various Proof of Concepts and vendor validation scenarios. This ensured a robust foundation for testing and validation, with a focus on micro-segmentation for precise control over IP and security flows. Connectivity management mechanisms were established to govern access to applications across multiple cloud providers, while security group integration enhanced overall security within the multi-cloud environment.
To enhance internal deployment, Automation and DevOps practices were integrated comprehensively. This initiative streamlined Network Automation, daily operations tools, Infrastructure as Code, Configuration Management, and more. By incorporating these advanced practices, the organization aimed to optimize efficiency, foster collaboration, and ensure a more agile and responsive operational environment.
Additionally, network device configuration was automated using Ansible, reducing manual errors significantly. Terraform was utilized for the strategic deployment of AWS cloud resources, ensuring efficient resource utilization and scalability while improving the reliability of the network infrastructure.
A phased approach is being implemented for a technology upgrade and refresh to minimize disruptions to ongoing operations. This structured strategy ensures that outdated technologies are systematically replaced with more efficient and secure solutions across the entire Network Product Line (NPL). This comprehensive upgrade spans various sectors, including core network, business partners, retail, and corporate.
With technical divisions requiring specialized skills and expertise, having access to professionals with specific knowledge and experience was vital. Tasks involving intricate configurations of cloud infrastructure, optimization of network performance and management, and expertise in areas like cloud DevOps or Security demanded a skilled workforce for project success.
However, by partnering with Brillio, the client efficiently tapped into a pool of skilled and readily available professionals. This approach enabled effective cost control while ensuring a sustained high level of technical expertise, addressing skill gaps, providing additional resources as needed, and managing cloud environments.
The technology upgrades and talent augmentation initiatives have positioned the organization for sustained success, allowing it to navigate the complexities of the financial industry with increased efficiency, flexibility, and adaptability.
Streamlining of internal deployment processes through Automation and DevOps practices resulted in increased operational efficiency, with the selection of suitable cloud platforms and technologies facilitating the creation of essential cloud environments, supporting diverse testing and validation requirements seamlessly.
Additionally, the technology upgrade and refresh initiative addressed challenges associated with legacy systems, enhancing the overall reliability and security of the Network Product Line (NPL), including core network, business partners, retail, and corporate sectors.