A global network company with a large number of regional sites was experiencing pain when trying to support individual per site network configurations. Simplifying and standardising how their networks were designed, supported and monitored was recognised as a key way to improve operation. A migration path was needed to make the changes seamless and invisible to users. Their main focus is in producing high quality documentary and educational programs for a wide audience. They work closely with a large number of other broadcasters and depend on their systems and networks to provide close support to both the office environment and also the broadcast chain. 

The Challenge
The complexity of networking within the company had grown over the last few years as an increasing number of business partners required a network connection. All of these links have required extra firewall functionality and some of these have been implemented with low cost application level gateways. This growing level of network and systems complexity needed to be consolidated into a world class design, reducing single point failure risk and simplifying support across multiple time zones. The requirement was to address the above issues and where possible to simplify the overall design without compromising security or reliability, increasing robustness where possible. The ideal design would be a common worldwide solution that could be understood and supported by staff anywhere in the world. Layer3 could take full responsibility for the design and plan and design changes so that there would be no loss of live operation, maintaining 24x7 operation.

The Solution
Layer3 documented the current configuration of all European inter-network devices and brought this together into a single document to summarise operation. Layer3 then carefully analysed each sites requirements to identify the need for and types of security present in each site design. Layer3 used its knowledge to translate the solution into a universal design that could support all European centres. Layer3 then showed how the design was extensible to cover requirements for the rest of the world. 

Outcomes
• Layer3 provided a cost effective solution for under £2,500 per month. 
• £500000 saving in network links, support and maintenance.
• Great simplification and standardisation of design
• Cost saving design can be fully managed globally 24x7
• Scalable and consistent approach
• Design understood by all technical staff worldwide
• Fully secured and can be made robust according to requirement
• Reduces dependency on main office
• Low bandwidth network usage.

How Can We Help?
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