Helvetia Selects Arista for Data Centre Consolidation and Software Defined Networking Upgrade
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- Europe
Country
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
Product
- Arista 7050 Switches
- Arista 7150 Switches
- Arista 7280 Switches
- Arista EOS
Tech Stack
- Software Defined Networking (SDN)
- VMware NSX
- Virtual eXtensible Local Area Network (VXLAN)
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Productivity Improvements
- Cost Savings
- Digital Expertise
Technology Category
- Networks & Connectivity - Ethernet
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
Applicable Industries
- Finance & Insurance
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Facility Management
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
About The Customer
Helvetia is a European insurance provider with a rich history spanning over 150 years. It has grown from a collection of Swiss and foreign insurance companies into a successful international insurance group. Helvetia operates in its home market of Switzerland and has subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, Austria, and Spain. The company employs approximately 6,500 people and serves more than 5 million customers. In the 2016 financial year, Helvetia reported a business volume of CHF 8.51 billion and underlying earnings of CHF 491.8 million. The company is one of Switzerland's top-3 insurers and a leading multi-line insurer in the country. Helvetia's commitment to innovation and operational efficiency is evident in its recent merger with Nationale Suisse, which required a significant IT project to consolidate and upgrade its infrastructure.
The Challenge
Following a major merger, Helvetia faced the challenge of consolidating its data centres and upgrading its network infrastructure. The merger involved five data centres, 1600 servers, and over 300 applications, creating a complex IT environment. The primary goal was to streamline operations, reduce complexity, and enhance automation. Helvetia's existing network infrastructure needed an upgrade to support future growth and operational efficiency. The company evaluated various software defined networking technologies to find a solution that would integrate well with its existing VMware and Cisco systems. The decision to use VMware NSX as the core software defined networking technology was driven by its flexibility and compatibility with a broad ecosystem of vendors.
The Solution
Helvetia selected Arista's networking solutions, including the Arista 7050, 7150, and 7280 switches, along with Arista EOS, to support its data centre consolidation and network upgrade. The project involved migrating from five data centres to two, using Arista's Data Center Interconnection (DCI) solution. This solution provided an open and cost-effective method for layer-2 connectivity between data centres over a layer-3 transport network, based on the Virtual eXtensible Local Area Network (VXLAN) protocol. The deployment schedule was designed to consolidate 1600 servers and corresponding applications over five weekends within a six-month period. The process involved moving batches of linked application servers, conducting detailed application testing, and performing any necessary remediation work. The project was executed smoothly, with no unplanned outages and only minor issues that were quickly resolved. The network operations team is now delivering additional benefits to the business, managing more applications and capabilities without increasing headcount. The use of NSX has virtualized 80% of previously manual network administration tasks, enabling faster and more reliable processes.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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