Logistics

Logistics firm improves competitiveness by strategically using Network Access’ managed remote access infrastructure and security offerings to improve time to market.

The company manages 30 million square feet of warehouse space at over 94 facilities, a network of freight carriers, and numerous supply chain system installations throughout North America, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Challenge

A period of rapid growth quickly overwhelmed the company’s IT staff. Though knowledgeable and highly skilled, they simply were not able to keep up with the increased number of new projects and still respond to daily issues.

One challenge was to evaluate and improve the existing network that connected dozens of warehouses to central headquarters. The firm was using an expensive leased line to connect multiple sites. The complexity of the carrier-based frame relay installation was leading to some reliability and network management issues. The speed afforded by the line was not adequate for the growing business and was inherently inefficient because Internet traffic had to be carried from each location all the way back to the Internet portal at the network core. With each new location, internal staff faced a communications infrastructure that was increasingly complex to manage.

Solution

Solution: Network Access Selection & Implementation and Co-Managed Services

By off-loading time-consuming and complex functions to Network Access, the company was able to relieve the burden from their internal staff and allow them to focus on other mission-critical projects. Network Access worked closely with the IT team to develop a plan for sourcing carrier services and to implement, install and maintain each network subsystem.

“Network Access’ services didn’t stop at the installation and implementation phase,” stated the Service Delivery Manager at Network Access. Network Access’ Uptime Advantage, a managed services offering, provided ongoing support of the entire communications infrastructure.

Technology Overview

Network Access determined that the best way to improve speed and efficiency was to move to a secure, Internet-based virtual private network (VPN).

NAC’ Service Delivery Manager explained, “We used Cisco’s switching and routing as a foundation and combined it with the Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliances from Fortinet.” Starting with Fortinet technology, we were able to implement a secure VPN to connect multiple sites and reinforce security with intrusion detection and content filtering. The high availability features of the Fortinet technology ensure constant uptime of the VPN.

At other locations, Network Access reinforced the need for 100% uptime with an F5 Big-IP local traffic manager so that users would be automatically directed to the most readily available and best performing server in a given pool. This allows Network Access to create redundancy. If the primary data center loses connectivity, traffic is seamlessly routed to the backup server.

Results

• Reduced costs
• Greater uptime
• Better network visibility
• Improved network speed and efficiency
• Proactive remediation

The company’s Internet-based VPN network delivered significant ongoing savings over the frame relay installation. Then, by outsourcing network implementation and management to Network Access, the company was able to save by eliminating the need to recruit, hire, train, and support additional internal staff. “The carrier sourcing alone can be a full-time job,” noted Frank K. of the logistics company. “It’s been a very successful partnership at every step. Network Access addressed every concern, and delivered the best possible network infrastructure for our needs.”