An aging network infrastructure nearing the end of its expected lifespan and a need for a more redundant network were among the key factors in CN Investment Division’s switch over to a new
Cisco Systems Inc. network.
“The executives here wanted to have the network and all communications up all the time with no or very minimal downtime,” said Francois Coallier, supervisor of systems support for CN Investment Division in Montreal, which manages the pension assets of CN’s employees and pensioners. “Our communications and telecom equipment were about seven or eight years old, so it was time to change and invest some money.”
At the top of CN Investment’s list was installing redundant switches that provided consistent network capabilities. The organization found that in two of Cisco’s Catalyst 6500 Series Switches that it placed at the core of its network, supplemented by Catalyst 3560e Switches running out to desktops. The new implementation replaced CN Investment’s aging single Catalyst 6500 Series Switch.
“Not only did they see a need to maximize a business application availability, but they also recognized the need to develop a holistic approach to security,” said Barbara McKeeman, security specialist for Cisco Canada. “So a defense-in-depth approach is what they’ve achieved here by this design and implementation.”
According to McKeeman, with the new implementation, CN Investment achieved security “at the edge” and inside of the network. From a network and security standpoint, the new network achieved redundancy, ensuring that no interruptions will be caused by any one malfunctioning device, thereby helping to “achieve and maintain the integrity of the data that flows through the network.”
