Building Three New International Data Centers for a Manufacturing Company

The Challenge:

Transforming Outdated Data Centers into a Scalable, Automated Infrastructure  

An international electronics manufacturer needed to transform their existing data centers to a more automated, software-driven infrastructure that could support their business growth. The company faced several challenges in achieving this transformation.  

1. Despite having a large IT staff in place, the internal resources lacked the expertise required to deploy the new technology on their own.
2. The existing data centers were outdated and not equipped to handle the demands of modern, automated systems.  
3. Additionally, the company needed to ensure that the new infrastructure would be scalable and flexible enough to accommodate future growth and changes in technology.
4. The transformation required a comprehensive approach, including the integration of new software, hardware, and processes to create a cohesive and efficient system.  
5. The company also needed to minimize downtime and ensure a smooth transition to the new infrastructure to avoid disruptions to their business operations.  

Overall, the challenge was to create a robust, automated infrastructure that could support the company's growth while leveraging their existing IT staff and resources. 

The Solution:

Implementing a Unified Software-Defined Network Infrastructure 

C1 built the software-defined network infrastructure (SDN) for three new international data centers to help the customer migrate out of its legacy data centers. This transformation was crucial for the company to modernize its infrastructure and support its growing business needs. All three data centers use one standardized design to maximize efficiency and cohesiveness, allowing the customer to holistically manage its environment. The standardized design ensures that the data centers operate seamlessly together, providing a unified platform for the company's operations. 

The implementation of the SDN infrastructure involved integrating advanced networking technologies and automation tools to enhance the performance and reliability of the data centers. C1's team worked closely with the customer's IT staff to ensure a smooth transition, providing training and support throughout the process. This collaboration enabled the customer to leverage their existing resources while adopting the new technology. 

By adopting the SDN infrastructure, the customer can now manage their data centers more effectively, with improved scalability and flexibility to accommodate future growth. The new infrastructure also allows for better resource allocation and reduced operational costs, contributing to the overall efficiency of the company's operations. 

The Result:

Achieving Seamless Automation and Efficient Management     

Administrators now have the ability to use automation across all sites, allowing them mobility of services between sites. This capability has significantly enhanced the operational efficiency of the company's data centers. The customer required zero staff increase to manage the new data center internally, as C1 trained the customer’s existing internal resources and guided them on best practices for their industry. This training ensured that the existing IT staff could effectively manage the new infrastructure without the need for additional personnel. 

The implementation of automation tools has enabled the company to streamline its processes and reduce manual intervention, leading to faster and more reliable service delivery. The mobility of services between sites allows for better resource allocation and flexibility, ensuring that the company can adapt to changing business needs and demands. Additionally, the standardized design of the data centers has contributed to a cohesive and efficient management system, making it easier for administrators to oversee operations and maintain consistency across all sites. 

Overall, the results of the transformation have been highly positive, with improved scalability, reduced operational costs, and enhanced performance. The company's ability to leverage its existing IT staff and resources has been a key factor in achieving these outcomes, demonstrating the effectiveness of C1's training and support.