Organisational Restructure case study

The client, a multinational manufacturing organisation, was splitting into two separate entities due to the sale of one half of its operations. As part of this demerger, the client's entire IT infrastructure had to be separated.

O2 Networks was engaged to head up the networking component of this separation – to turn a single network environment into two completely independent networks.

With over 20 applications shared across the existing network, including several business-critical applications, this was a major undertaking.

What the project involved

The components that had to be separated included:

• WAN
• VRF
• Communications software
• Network management and authentication services

The project also involved building a new data centre and implementing an internet gateway.

We were required to match functionality "like for like" with the previous, now obsolete, technology. We worked with project managers and other outsourced providers to make sure everything happened according to a strict schedule, with multiple intra- and inter-organisational dependencies.

Our solution used a variety of technologies:

• Cisco routers and switchers
• Check Point firewall system
• Statseeker and CiscoWorks network management
• Nortel Contivity and RSA Authentication

The results: on schedule, on budget, no interruption to business

O2 Networks delivered the project on schedule and on budget, with very aggressive timelines. We managed the scope and resourcing even though this was not part of our brief.

We added value to the project in many ways. For example, we implemented a solution that gave the client complete visibility and detailed reporting about their interconnect - the amount and nature of the traffic that was going back and forth between the two halves of the demerged organisation.

Tracking this traffic had previously been the job of three different staff members, using a spreadsheet. Our solution not only freed up these resources, it also enabled the client to "cut the cord" between the separated networks with complete confidence and no subsequent issues.
In short, we delivered the demerged client a network matching all the functions of the previous joint network, with no interruption to any service, and no significant issues during the 90 day warranty period.

The client has subsequently engaged us for a program of ongoing work including Riverbed WAN Acceleration (which has quadrupled their WAN capacity in under 2 months), and a redundant Internet gateway. We are in the process of completing a network refresh to standardise and mature all their brand sites .