Networking Continuity Solutions

Financial institutions today are experiencing an unrelenting pressure from non-traditional players to digitally transform themselves. The expanding data sources and volumes especially with the rise of online banking and purchasing create a new challenge for the banking & financial services industry in building robust network security essential for overall cyber security. Digitalized business applications are supported by network security services with application traffic flows being encrypted when passing over un-trusted domains in the end–to–end communication path. Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) and businesses have an ever growing need for highly qualified cyber security professionals such as network security analysts and network security engineers for building their security systems and securing their network from plausible vulnerabilities.

Network installation requires skilled network professionals to Install, configure and test the networking hardware devices some of which may comprise gateways, routers, network bridges, modems, wireless access points, networking cables, line drivers, switches, hubs, and repeaters and may also include hybrid network devices such as multilayer switches, protocol converters, bridge routers, proxy servers, firewalls, network address translators, multiplexers, network interface controllers, wireless network interface controllers, ISDN terminal adapters and other related hardware.

This has created a need for professionals with expertise in network installation, network configuration management, network architecture development among others.

Our network setup, installation, and troubleshooting services are ideal for companies with networks of all size.

Remote network support refers to the ability to monitor, control and provide technical solutions & support to a network anywhere and anytime.  This could apply to local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) or even virtual private networks (VPNs) so that data and systems can be accessed and supported remotely in a secure environment.

There are a few remote network access technologies that are widely used, which have the ability to change how we work, some of which are IPsec VPN, SSL VPN, Microsoft DirectAccess.

• IPsec VPN

The VPN client software is installed on the end user’s computer and is configured with details about the target network, such as its gateway IP address and a pre-shared security key. Users that need to connect to the corporate network, start the VPN client whereby a secure connection is established to the corporate firewall.

• SSL VPN

The SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer) is a common encryption technology used for providing secure communication via the Internet. While setting up an SSL VPN, the network administrator publishes the VPN client to the firewall, providing it for download via. the firewall’s public connection. For accessing the corporate network, end users need to visit a public web page from where they can install the SSL VPN client and download the configuration details.

• Microsoft DirectAccess

DirectAccess developed by Microsoft, creates an “always on” secure connection at the Operating System level. Users do not need to install any software or launch any programs. Whenever the user’s computer is connected to the Internet, the Windows OS connects in the background to the corporate network.

The way a network operates is to connect computers and peripherals using two pieces of equipment – switches and routers. These two let the devices connected to your network talk with each other as well as talk to other networks. Though they look quite similar, routers and switches perform very different functions in a network.

Switches are used to connect multiple devices on the same network within a building or campus. For example, a switch can connect your computers, printers and servers, creating a network of shared resources. The switch would serve as a controller, allowing the various devices to share information and talk to each other. Through information sharing and resource allocation, switches save you money and increase productivity.

There are two basic types of switches : managed and unmanaged.

• An unmanaged switch works out of the box and does not allow you to make changes. Home-networking equipment often will have unmanaged switches.
• A managed switch allows you access to program it. This provides greater flexibility because the switch can be monitored and adjusted locally or remotely to give you control on how traffic travels over the network and who has access to your network.

Routers are used to tie multiple networks together. For example, you would use a router to connect your networked computers to the Internet and thereby share an Internet connection among many users. The router will act as a dispatcher, choosing the best route for your information to travel so that you receive it quickly. Routers analyze the data being sent over a network, change how it is packaged and send it to another network or over a different type of network. They connect your business to the outside world, protect your information from security threats, and can even decide which computers get priority over others. Depending on your business and your networking plans, you can choose from routers that include different capabilities. These can include functions such as:

• Firewall : Specialized software that examines incoming data and protects your business network against attacks.
• Virtual Private Network (VPN) : A way to allow remote employees to safely access your network remotely.
• IP Phone network : Combine your company’s computer and telephone network, using voice and conferencing technology, to simplify and unify your communications

How Businesses Use Routing and Switching

Routers and switches are the building blocks for all business communications from data to voice and video to wireless access. They can improve a company’s bottom line by enabling your company to increase productivity, cut business costs, and improve security and customer service.

Specifically, routers and switches support:

Sharing applications

• Provide staff access to business applications
• Improve employee productivity

Using routing and switching technologies allows your staff, even those located in different locations, to have equal access to all your business applications, information and tools. Keeping everyone connected to the same tools can increase employee productivity. Routing and switching also can provide access to advanced applications and enable services, such as IP voice, videoconferencing and wireless networks.

Speeding access to information

• Manage information efficiently
• Review what is happening across your business

Accurate, timely information is essential for making prudent business decisions. Routing and switching provides access to allow great visibility into real-time business information and provides a sound basis for effective decision-making.

Enhancing customer service

• Provide ready access to customer information
• Improve customer responsiveness

Today’s customers expect rapid responses and personalized services whenever they’re dealing with your business, either by phone, email or on a website. A responsive, reliable network is an absolute necessity to give your employees speedy access to customer information, and enable them to respond rapidly and intelligently to resolve customer requirements.

Reducing operating costs

• Share office equipment for reduced costs
• Provide high-speed Internet access

Routing and switching technologies can make a positive impact on your bottom line. You save expenses by sharing equipment, such as printers and servers, and services, such as Internet access. A reliable network also can grow with your business, keeping you from having to replace it as your needs grow.

Improving security

• Reduce risk

Protect valuable business information. Because high-speed Internet connections are always on, you may be vulnerable to security threats. Viruses, spyware, Internet attacks, e-mail assaults, and other security concerns are real dangers. By installing a networked solution with switches and routers, you can protect valuable business data. For example, routers can protect your network with a built-in firewall and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) – specialized software that examines incoming data and protects against attacks.

Enabling remote connections

• Provide secure remote access for mobile workers
• Get work done from anywhere

Globalization has changed the way we work. Virtual teams, mobile workers, and home-based telecommuters all need to share information at any time. Modern businesses need networks that can connect employees, suppliers, partners and customers regardless of location, whether they are across town or halfway around the globe. With remote connectivity through a VPN, employees can securely access company resources and tools and work more productively.

Telemetry is the automatic recording and transmission of data from remote or inaccessible sources to an IT system in a different location for monitoring and analysis. Telemetry data may be relayed using radio, infrared, ultrasonic, GSM, satellite or cable, depending on the application. Telemetry is not only used in software development, but also in meteorology, intelligence, medicine, and other fields.

Telemetry works through sensors at the remote source which measures physical parameters such as precipitation, pressure or temperature or electrical parameters such as current or voltage data. This is converted to electrical voltages that are combined with timing data. They form a data stream that is multiplexed and transmitted over a wired or a wireless medium, or a combination of both. At the remote receiver, the stream is de-multiplexed and the original data is displayed or processed based on the user’s specifications.

In the software development world, telemetry can offer insights on which features end users use most, detection of bugs and issues, and offering better visibility into performance without the need to solicit feedback directly from users. Once a project is released, however, telemetry is what you’re looking for to enable automatic collection of data from real-world use. Telemetry is what makes it possible to collect all that raw data that becomes valuable, actionable analytics.

Data Analytics is the science of analyzing raw data in order to make conclusions about that information. Many of the techniques and processes of data analytics have been automated into mechanical processes and algorithms that work over raw data for human consumption.

Data analytics techniques can reveal trends and metrics that would otherwise be lost in the mass of information. This information can then be used to optimize processes to increase the overall efficiency of a business or system.

An increasing number of business applications are running on devices other than traditional computer hosts. A Cisco DNA infrastructure extends the network to seamlessly include any connected device types used in various vertical industries (i.e., healthcare, transportation, retail, etc.). Applications controlling such devices or telemetry data collected from them can be networked to run in the enterprise data centers or the cloud, or they can even be distributed onto network elements with compute resources.

Artificial intelligence plays a growing role in IoT applications and deployments. The value of AI is its ability to quickly wring insights from data. Machine learning, an AI technology, brings the ability to automatically identify patterns and detect anomalies in the data that smart sensors and devices generate – information such as temperature, pressure, humidity, air quality, vibration, and sound. Compared to traditional business intelligence tools – which usually monitor for numeric thresholds to be crossed – machine learning approaches can make operational predictions up to 20 times earlier and with greater accuracy.

AI applications for IoT enable companies to avoid unplanned downtime, increase operating efficiency, spawn new products and services, and enhance risk management.