INDUSTRY: Finance

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

Company Z is a UAE based, partner-led, independent global alternative investment manager with more than 160 employees and $105 billion* of assets under management. Company Z primarily invests across the entire private markets spectrum. Company Z aims to be one of the world’s leading private markets solutions providers through SMAs and multi-asset class funds, seeking to generate best-in-class risk-adjusted returns for its clients.

CHALLENGES

Company Z faced several challenges and has identified key objectives, including:

• Data Security and Compliance
• Network Reliability and Performance
• Scalability
• Remote Collaboration
• Threat Protection

SOLUTIONS

Cisco Meraki Firewall

- Overview: The Cisco Meraki MX series is a cloud-managed security and SD-WAN appliance that provides unified threat management (UTM) capabilities.

- Features: It includes content filtering, intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS), advanced malware protection (AMP), and site-to-site VPN. The cloud management aspect allows for centralized control and monitoring.

- Benefits: Enhanced security through comprehensive threat protection, simplified management through the Meraki dashboard, and scalability for distributed networks.

Cisco Umbrella

- Overview: Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-delivered security service that provides DNS-layer security and threat intelligence.

- Features: It blocks malicious domains, IPs, and URLs before a connection is ever established, preventing potential threats from reaching the network.

- Benefits: Improved threat detection and response times, reduced risk of malware and phishing attacks, and seamless integration with existing security infrastructure.

Cisco Meraki Switching and Wireless

Cisco Meraki Switching:

• Overview: Meraki MS series switches are cloud-managed and provide layer 2 and layer 3 switching capabilities.
• Features: They include PoE, PoE+, and multigigabit Ethernet options, QoS for prioritizing network traffic, and robust security features like access control lists (ACLs) and port security.
• Benefits: Simplified deployment and management, high performance and reliability, and enhanced network security.

Cisco Meraki Wireless:

- Overview: Meraki MR series access points offer cloud-managed wireless LAN solutions that deliver high-speed, reliable Wi-Fi.

- Features: They support the latest Wi-Fi standards (Wi-Fi 6), have integrated security features, and provide seamless roaming and high-density performance.

- Benefits: Reliable and high-speed wireless connectivity, ease of management through the Meraki dashboard, and robust security for wireless networks.

Cisco IP Telephony Solution

- Overview: Cisco IP telephony solutions provide a comprehensive set of voice communication services over the IP network.

- Features:

• Unified Communications: Integration of voice, video, messaging, and conferencing.
• Scalability: Solutions that scale from small offices to large enterprises.
• Mobility: Support for mobile and remote workers with features like Cisco Jabber and Webex.

- Benefits: Improved communication and collaboration, reduced costs through the use of a single IP network, and enhanced mobility for employees.

Scalable Architecture Design

- Overview: Designing a scalable network architecture involves creating a network that can grow and adapt to increased demands without significant changes to the overall design.

- Features:

• Modular Design: Use of modular components that can be easily expanded.
• Future-Proofing: Incorporating technologies that support future growth and new services.
• Redundancy and High Availability: Ensuring that the network remains operational even in the case of hardware failures.

- Benefits: Supports business growth, reduces the need for frequent redesigns, and ensures consistent performance and reliability as demands increase.

Managed Services:

- Overview: Managed services involve outsourcing the management and maintenance of network infrastructure to a third-party provider.

- Features:

• 24/7 Monitoring and Support: Continuous monitoring of the network to identify and resolve issues promptly.
• Proactive Maintenance: Regular updates and maintenance to ensure the network remains secure and performs optimally.
• Expert Management: Access to a team of experienced network professionals.

- Benefits: Reduced operational costs, improved network performance and reliability, and the ability to focus on core business activities while leaving network management to experts.

OUTCOME

1. Operational Excellence

• Business Initiative: Achieved 99.9% network uptime for critical services.
• KPI Achieved: Reduced service downtime to less than 1 hour per month.
• Impact on Business: Ensured continuous access to critical applications, enhancing operational excellence.

2. Digital Transformation Enablement

• Business Initiative: Provided reliable and high-speed wireless connectivity.
• KPI Achieved: Maintained -67dBm signal strength with 95% coverage.
• Impact on Business: Facilitated digital initiatives and agility by ensuring robust and widespread wireless connectivity, fostering digital transformation.

3. Technological Integration Optimization

• Business Initiative: Maximized efficiency through Cisco technologies.
• KPI Achieved: Reduced integration time by 20%, resulting in a 15% decrease in operational costs related to system integration.
• Impact on Business: Enhanced overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness in technological
• Growth and Expansion Facilitation
• Business Initiative: Enabled future growth without disruption.
• KPI Achieved: Network capacity is designed to accommodate scalability of 20%, supporting a projected 15% increase in users/data transfer.
• Impact on Business: Enabled Company Z for seamless growth, accommodating a 15% increase in user base and data transfer without disrupting operations to support evolving business needs and demands.

5. Key Benefits Delivered by the Project:

• Enhanced network security and reliability.
• Improved communication and collaboration capabilities.
• Strengthened web and DNS security with Cisco Umbrella.
• Streamlined IT management and support through managed services partnership.