As a continuation of our discussion on hyper-converged infrastructure solutions, let’s explore how Manifold has successfully partnered with a prominent commercial bank to enhance their data center security. This case study demonstrates the real-world impact of Manifold’s expertise in delivering cutting-edge security solutions that protect critical assets and ensure regulatory compliance.
The Challenge
The commercial bank, with an extensive network spanning Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, was undertaking a significant migration of its workload to a new data center located in the Eko Atlantic Africa Data Centre. Recognizing the paramount importance of safeguarding this infrastructure, the bank sought to prioritize data center security. Their primary objective was to enhance the security of the new data center infrastructure against external threats and vulnerabilities, thereby protecting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of critical assets.
Manifold’s Solution
With our deep expertise in data center security and hyper-converged infrastructure solutions, we were selected as the trusted partner to design and implement a comprehensive security strategy for the bank’s new data center. Leveraging Cisco’s industry-leading technologies, we proposed a solution that encompassed Cisco Firepower firewalls, Firepower Management Center (FMC) appliances, and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE).
The integration of Cisco’s Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) technology with the Firepower Management Center (FMC) and Identity Services Engine (ISE) provided the bank with a robust and unified security framework. These solutions enabled centralized policy management, application control, threat prevention, and access control across the bank’s entire network, including wired, wireless, VPN, and 5G connections.
Implementation and Results
We worked closely with the bank’s IT team and Cisco experts to design and implement the security solution. The project, spanning from November 2023 to September 2024, involves key milestones such as firewall design, implementation, testing, and knowledge transfer, as well as Identity Services Engine planning, execution, and migration.
Throughout the project, we maintained a strong focus on meeting the bank’s specified security requirements, enhancing infrastructure resilience, and ensuring compliance with regulatory obligations. Regular feedback and collaboration sessions were conducted to align the project with the bank’s objectives and expectations.
The successful and continuous implementation of our data center security solution yields significant benefits for the bank, including:
1. Enhanced Security Posture: The integration of Cisco’s advanced security technologies strengthens the bank’s defense against external threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring the protection of critical assets.
2. Centralized Policy Management: The Firepower Management Center (FMC) provides a unified platform for managing security policies across the entire network, simplifying administration and reducing the risk of misconfigurations.
3. Granular Access Control: The Identity Services Engine (ISE) enables the bank to enforce granular access control policies, ensuring that only authorized users and devices can access sensitive resources.
4. Regulatory Compliance: By implementing a robust security framework, the bank will be able to meet stringent regulatory requirements, demonstrating its commitment to data protection and customer trust.
5. Scalability and Future-Proofing: The solution’s scalability and flexibility ensured that the bank’s security infrastructure would adapt to future growth and evolving threats.
Our partnership with the leading commercial bank showcases the transformative impact of our hyper-converged infrastructure solutions and security expertise. By leveraging industry-leading technologies and our deep understanding of data center security, we empowered the bank to strengthen its security posture, protect critical assets, and ensure regulatory compliance.
This case study underscores Manifold’s commitment to delivering tailored solutions that address the unique challenges faced by organizations in the ever-evolving digital landscape. By partnering with Manifold, businesses can benefit from our expertise in hyper-converged infrastructure, intelligent storage services, and advanced security solutions, enabling them to focus on their core objectives while we safeguard their critical assets.If you’re looking to enhance your data center’s security and leverage the power of innovative and tailored IT solutions, contact Manifold today. Our team of experts is ready to collaborate with you to design and implement a comprehensive solution that meets your unique requirements and drives your business forward.
