Optimizing and Securing Global Network Andrew Thomson Director of IT Systems and Services BioIVT is a provider of biological products to life sciences and pharmaceutical companies. Mergers and Acquisitions Challenges BioIVT’s network was a 14-site, old Cisco network, with branches running local firewalls interconnected via Internet-based VPNs. The company’s applications included an ERP system, Active Directory, and Office 365. Complexity Cost Accessing the company’s ERP system and Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are part Office 365 meant traversing the Internet, of BioIVT’s DNA, yet quickly integrating and which became a problem particularly securing new company networks required for remote users. too much time and resources when running appliances. “ On top of that there was the security “ issue. “Updating our security With every new site, we needed to build architecture was going to require tunnels to every other location. Configuring running around to different vendors, those tunnels took time. We budgeted 90 piecing together a solution, and going days or so to get new locations up and through all of the deployment and running.” management pains.” Adding New Locations, Delivering Performance and Security was Too Complicated Like many fast-growing companies, BioIVT depends on its network being agile and secure. Yet, fast integration of new networks as a result of many M&As is challenging when running appliances. And protecting the network from Internet-borne threats is also complicated. Cloud application performance was also a problem. The company’s New York-based ERP system and Office 365 instance were accessed by the other branches. Accessing both applications meant traversing the Internet, which became a problem particularly for users working from home or overseas. And then there was the security issue. “We knew we’d have to look at our security strategy. Penetration testing with our Cisco routers was going to be a step. But updating our security architecture was going to require running around to different vendors, piecing together a solution, and going through all of the deployment and management pains.” The Network for Whatever’s Next 5 Manufacturing Case Studies 5