NOC Support - 1 - Case Study

27th September 2024


Introduction

In today's globalized business landscape, maintaining a robust and secure IT infrastructure is paramount for success.


In an increasingly interconnected world, the demand for seamless, reliable, and secure network infrastructure is paramount. This case study explores the comprehensive Managed IT Services provided by our company to a diverse industry client based in Malaysia. Our client operates in three key sectors: Healthcare, Automobile Manufacturing, and Industrial Manufacturing.



Our services encompass 24x7 Network Operations Center (NOC) support, ensuring uninterrupted, highquality network performance across the client’s entire infrastructure. We manage a wide range of firewalls, including Fortigate, Cisco ASA, and PaloAlto, and oversee switches, access points, and controllers from leading providers such as Cisco, Ubiquiti, and Rujie. All being carefully monitored using SolarWinds.



In addition, we handle Mellanox Fabric Switches and offer configuration and management services for VeloCloud SD-WAN, a crucial component in today’s distributed, cloud-based business environment. Our team also provides Data Center to Disaster Recovery (DC-DR) support, which includes configuration, migration, firmware upgrades, and L1 to L3 support. This ensures business continuity and resilience in the face of potential disruptions.



Moreover, we manage AWS Route53 for our client, handling all aspects of this scalable cloud Domain Name System (DNS) web service. This plays a vital role in directing end users to Internet applications by translating human-readable domain names into the numeric IP addresses that computers use to connect.



This case study will delve into the specifics of these services, demonstrating how our holistic approach to IT management supports our client’s diverse operations, promotes efficiency, and safeguards against potential network vulnerabilities


Customer Background

The client, a prominent conglomerate headquartered in Malaysia, holds a distinguished position as a global leader in various industries, including Healthcare, Automobile Manufacturing, and Industrial Manufacturing. With a rich history spanning over a century, the company has established itself as a cornerstone of Malaysia's economy and a key player in the international market.


Within the Healthcare sector, the client operates a network of hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities, catering to the diverse medical needs of communities across Malaysia and beyond. Their commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare services is reflected in their state-of-the-art medical infrastructure, cutting-edge technologies, and a team of skilled healthcare professionals.


In the Automobile Manufacturing domain, the client stands at the forefront of innovation, producing a wide range of vehicles catering to both domestic and international markets. With a focus on sustainability, efficiency, and technological advancement, their manufacturing facilities boast worldclass production processes and adhere to the highest standards of quality and safety.


Similarly, in the realm of Industrial Manufacturing, the client's operations encompass a diverse portfolio of products and services, ranging from heavy machinery and equipment to industrial components and solutions. With a global presence and a commitment to excellence, they play a pivotal role in driving industrial growth and innovation, both regionally and internationally.


As a conglomerate operating across multiple sectors, the client's IT infrastructure serves as a critical backbone supporting their day-to-day operations, facilitating communication, data management, and business processes across their vast network of facilities, branches, and subsidiaries. Given the diverse nature of their operations and the mission-critical nature of their businesses, the client places a premium on reliability, scalability, and security in their IT infrastructure, seeking partners who can deliver tailored solutions to meet their evolving needs and drive continuous innovation and growth.

Challenges

Prior to engaging with Ssquad, the client encountered several challenges pertaining to their IT infrastructure management: :


Diverse Infrastructure Landscape: Operating within multiple industries, the client's IT infrastructure encompassed a wide array of technologies and devices, including firewalls, switches, access points, controllers, SD-WAN solutions, and cloud services. Managing this diverse landscape posed significant operational complexities and resource constraints.


24x7 Operational Demands: With operations spanning across different time zones and critical business functions running round the clock, the client required continuous monitoring and support for their network infrastructure to mitigate potential disruptions and ensure uninterrupted service delivery.


Security and Compliance Requirements:Given the sensitive nature of data within the Healthcare sector and the stringent regulatory frameworks governing data protection and privacy, the client sought robust security measures and compliance adherence across all aspects of their IT infrastructure.


Efficient Disaster Recovery: Recognizing the importance of business continuity, the client emphasized the need for a robust Disaster Recovery (DR) strategy to safeguard against unforeseen disruptions and minimize downtime in the event of system failures or natural disasters.


Benefits and Outcomes

Through the implementation of SSquad's managed IT services, the client realized a multitude of benefits, including:


Enhanced Operational Efficiency: By entrusting the management of their IT infrastructure to SSquad, the client experienced streamlined operations, proactive issue resolution, and optimized performance across their network environment, resulting in improved productivity and reduced downtime.


Heightened Security and Compliance: With robust security measures, continuous monitoring, and adherence to regulatory requirements, SSquad fortified the client's IT ecosystem against potential threats and ensured compliance with industry standards, safeguarding sensitive data and enhancing customer trust.


Improved Scalability and Flexibility: Leveraging cloud services and SD-WAN solutions, SSquad empowered the client with scalable, agile, and cost-effective infrastructure, enabling them to adapt to evolving business needs, expand their operations, and explore new growth opportunities with confidence.Seamless Disaster Recovery: Through meticulous planning, regular testing, and rapid response mechanisms, SSquad bolstered the client's resilience to unforeseen disruptions, minimizing downtime and enabling swift recovery in the event of system failures or emergencies.


Solution

In response to the client's challenges, SSquad proposed a comprehensive suite of managed IT services tailored to address their specific requirements:


Network Operations Centre (NOC) Support: SSquad established a dedicated NOC facility equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring tools and a team of skilled technicians to provide round-the-clock monitoring, proactive issue resolution, and performance optimization for the client's entire network infrastructure. This includes overseeing a vast array of devices, including:


Over 100 Firewalls: Managed using advanced platforms such as FortiCloud and FortiManager, ensuring centralized management, configuration, and security policy enforcement across the client's network.


113 VeloCloud Edge Devices: Configured and managed to optimize the client's SD-WAN connectivity, enhance application performance, and ensure efficient traffic management across distributed locations.


More than 280 Switches & 300 Access Points (APs): From leading vendors such as Cisco, Ubiquiti, and Rujie, meticulously monitored and maintained to guarantee seamless network connectivity and performance across the client's facilities.


Multi-Vendor Support: With expertise spanning across leading vendors such as Fortinet, Cisco, PaloAlto, Ubiquiti, Rujie, and Mellanox, SSquad ensured seamless integration and management of diverse networking equipment, including firewalls, switches, access points, and fabric switches.


SD-WAN Configuration and Management: Leveraging advanced technologies such as VeloCloud SD-WAN, SSquad optimized the client's network connectivity, enhanced application performance, and streamlined traffic management across distributed locations, ensuring efficient and reliable communication channels.


Data Center and Disaster Recovery Support: SSquad implemented robust data center solutions, including configuration, migration, firmware upgrades, and comprehensive DR planning, to fortify the client's infrastructure against potential disruptions and ensure business continuity in adverse scenarios.


End-to-End Cloud Management: From AWS Route53 configuration to ongoing management and optimization of cloud resources, SSquad facilitated seamless integration with cloud services, enabling scalability, agility, and cost-efficiency for the client's IT operations.


Advanced Monitoring and Traffic Analysis: : Utilizing industry-leading tools such as SolarWinds, SSquad continuously monitors all network nodes, devices, and traffic patterns. SolarWinds' Network Performance Monitor (NPM) and NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA) functionalities provide comprehensive insights into network performance, bandwidth utilization, and traffic behavior, enabling proactive troubleshooting and optimization.Through the implementation of SSquad's managed IT services, the client realized a multitude of benefits, including heightened operational efficiency, enhanced security and compliance, improved scalability and flexibility, seamless disaster recovery capabilities, and unparalleled visibility and control over their network infrastructure.


Device Type Device Vendor Device Model Quantity
Firewall Fortigate (With FortiManagerLicense) FG-601E 110
Firewall Fortigate (With FortiManagerLicense) FG-201F 110
Firewall Fortigate (With FortiManagerLicense) FG-100F 110
Firewall Fortigate (With FortiManagerLicense) FG-80E 110
Firewall Fortigate (With FortiManagerLicense) FG-60F 110
Firewall Fortigate (With FortiManagerLicense) FG-60E 110
Firewall Fortigate (With FortiManagerLicense) FG-60D 110
Firewall PaloAlto PA-3220 2
Firewall Cisco ASA FPR FPR-2110 4
Firewall Cisco ASA FPR ASA 5506 4
Datacenter Fabric Switch Mellanox MSN2010 32
Distribution/Access Switches Ubiquiti USW-PRO-48-POE 180
Distribution/Access Switches Ubiquiti USW-PRO-24-POE 180
Distribution/Access Switches Ubiquiti US-48-500W 180
Distribution/Access Switches Ubiquiti US-16-200W 180
Distribution/Access Switches Cisco C3750G 110
Distribution/Access Switches Cisco C2960S 110
Distribution/Access Switches Rujie RG-CS86-48MG 26
Distribution/Access Switches Rujie RG-CS86-24MG 26
WLC CISCO Cisco WLC 2
WLC Ubiquiti Ubiquiti WLCVM 4
WLC Rujie RG-WLAN 1
Proxy Proofpoint Proofpoint VM 3
SDWAN VeloCloud Edge 640 97
SDWAN VeloCloud Edge 610 17

Conclusion

In conclusion, the partnership between SSquad and the industry client in Malaysia exemplifies the transformative impact of managed IT services in enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring reliability, and driving business success across diverse sectors. By leveraging a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored to the client's unique needs, SSquad enabled them to navigate the complexities of modern IT infrastructure with confidence, empowering innovation, growth, and sustainability in an increasingly competitive landscape.