IBM South Africa has installed a multimillion-rand, internationally connected, new network architecture at its Johannesburg data centre - moving service delivery, security and performance for outsourced services in SA into a new league.
The system securely connects customers into IBM`s support systems and allows IBM support staff to access customer sites or systems for which they are authorised. At the same time it provides secure isolation between customers, IBM and the support system.
Designed to international open standards as well as integrated IBM standards and business rules, the network will connect IBM SA, via IBM`s Europe, Middle East and Africa region, to all other IBM networks worldwide.
It therefore gives IBM SA outsourcing customers access to globally consistent network security, stability and performance - at levels of quality not available before.
Says Cathy Smith, IBM Global Services delivery executive: "The new network is an investment in increasing our own efficiencies and reducing our skills requirements - thereby reducing our costs.
"So, customers will not pay more for the extra security and performance they`ll be getting."
Smith points out that although the new network benefits all outsourcing customers, it is particularly beneficial to South African companies moving into global markets.
"It gives them the ability to share the facilities of a global, leading-edge network at normal outsourcing rates."
The system is known locally as the e-SNIZA project, denoting a `secure, shared, standard, stable, scalable` network infrastructure in SA.
It has been extensively proven in European IBM facilities. The local implementation will also be certified by the global IBM organisation.
IBM SA`s project manager, Matt Brozio, says the architecture is entirely new - making innovative use of technology, centralising and consolidating global IBM support and system management services and avoiding the traditional `demilitarised zone` approach to network security.
"We don`t have to duplicate facilities, such as firewalls, for each customer, so we actually step up efficiency and security effectiveness.
"Also, we can scale up easily without having to redesign the system - by just plugging in more of the same components. So it doesn`t matter how fast our customers grow.
"And, with e-SNIZA giving us far greater capacity to share global IBM resources and intellectual capital, we can expand our services to customers without having to increase our local resources proportionately.
"So, we can keep outsourcing costs to customers well within market rates."
Share
IBM is the world`s largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business.
IBM can be found on the Web at www.ibm.com/za.
Editorial contacts