Small IT Staff Handling Numerous Issues

This retail client in the entertainment sector was dealing with a variety of issues from integrating new acquisitions to upgrading IT infrastructure in a business without much focus on IT in the past. Its small IT group worked to support business initiatives and recognized the need to immediately outsource two projects, which were to get an IT infrastructure in place and to meet PCI compliance requirements.

Network and Security Services for Now and Later

A strong IT infrastructure is important to PCI compliance and will become increasingly important as the industry moves to digital operations. The six main control objectives for PCI compliance and validation in fact emphasize network management, monitoring and security.

• Build and Maintain a Secure Network
• Protect Cardholder Data
• Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program
• Implement Strong Access Control Measures
• Regularly Monitor and Test Networks
• Maintain an Information Security Policy

After a highly competitive bid process, the company selected Getronics based on our depth of ITIL knowledge and experience, network management and security expertise, client references, flexibility, and the packaged service offerings that enable lower, predictable operating costs over the next several years.

Additionally our strategic partnership with a major telecommunications service provider was a compelling solution. The client was seeking a long-term partnership with a service provider for the next five years and the Getronics partnership team met and, in some cases, exceeded the client's technical requirements.

The Getronics solution includes:

• Total visibility and control of mission critical devices in 500 locations
• 24x7x365 proactive monitoring and management of routers, switches and main servers
• Security log threshold monitoring to identify and address security breaches before impact to business
• Port management to prevent unauthorized access of computers, terminals, or rouge devices on the network
• Reporting for identifying security strengths and areas for improvement
• Cable records development and maintenance for every site, which is a major component in PCI compliance 

Quick and Smooth Implementation, Ongoing Satisfaction

To ensure the project went smoothly, the Getronics team developed a solid transition plan, based on industry best practices and lessons learned. This plan outlined how relevant information was defined, collected and validated before activating the managed service.

The Getronics team replaced legacy switches with smart switches that enable remote management of the switches.

During the three-month transition Getronics also worked with the client to cutover its sites to MPLS. We worked with onsite cable techs to verify the new routers and circuits were up, and we also helped configure new switches that were being installed (adding VLANs and port security). We performed extensive and in-depth testing, validation, troubleshooting, ping sweeps, and management.

As part of the ongoing services, our alliance partner provides the client with data transport services while the Getronics Network and Security Operations Center continually monitors, manages, and supports all routers and switches, including managing more than 2,000 LAN and WAN devices.

The Getronics network and security analysts ensure network stability and immediately respond to events. In addition to monitoring performance thresholds, the analysts look to identify trends and determine causes. Getronics also monitors the client's main servers and monitors and manages PCI log data collected by each location.

Moving Forward

Getronics will also provide network and security consulting expertise that will assist the client in developing the design and deployment of their future infrastructure enhancements.

Why Getronics?

This leader in the entertainment sector selected Getronics because of our strong and demonstrable partnership approach to business - with our clients and our service partners. We also showed that our culture is one of honesty, performing to the highest standards, and doing what it takes to get a project done on time and within budget.

"We were under a tight deadline to meet PCI compliance requirements or pay monetary penalties. The Getronics team worked with our IT teams, often beyond the scope of the contract, to ensure those deadlines were met," stated one of the client's executives.

About Getronics USA

Getronics is an IT infrastructure improvement specialist. Whether advising IT executives, transforming technologies, or managing the infrastructure, Getronics raises an IT organization's effectiveness in terms of agility, efficiency, and resiliency while increasing the productivity of their people - providing them with the ability to share information and to work together efficiently, securely and effectively, wherever and whenever they need. For further information about Getronics, visit www.getronics.us.