- Case Study
Bank of Canada
- Overview
The Bank of Canada, a cornerstone of the nation’s financial stability, manages extensive IT infrastructure crucial to banking operations, monetary policy implementation, and economic research. Ensuring the continuous health, performance, and security of IT resources is a top priority.
Challenge
The Bank of Canada required an advanced monitoring solution covering its comprehensive 7-tier data center architecture, including cross-platform servers, hosted applications, network devices (switches, routers, firewalls), and UPS systems. The existing monitoring system lacked customization for different user groups (IT staff, managerial staff, and stakeholders), and security standards needed upgrading to align with Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) Protected B standards and stringent banking cybersecurity protocols. Timely alerts for critical incidents were essential to mitigate potential disruptions proactively.
Solution Implemented
To address these challenges comprehensively, a tailored monitoring solution was implemented, delivering real-time health and performance tracking across all critical components
- Cross-Platform Server and Application Monitoring: A robust monitoring framework was established to cover all operating systems and hosted applications, ensuring proactive detection of performance anomalies.
- Network Infrastructure Monitoring: Comprehensive monitoring of switches, routers, and firewalls provided real-time visibility into network health and security, significantly reducing network vulnerabilities.
- UPS System Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems ensured uninterrupted power delivery, vital for maintaining operational continuity.
- Customized Dashboards and Reporting: User-specific dashboards were developed for IT staff, managerial personnel, and key stakeholders, offering customized, real-time data views and actionable insights to facilitate quick and informed decision-making.
- Enhanced Cybersecurity Standards: The monitoring infrastructure was designed and configured to comply strictly with CCCS Protected B and industry-standard banking cybersecurity practices, ensuring high-level protection against potential cyber threats.
- Automated Critical Alert System: Critical incidents automatically triggered immediate email alerts to system administrators and managerial staff, enhancing response times and minimizing operational disruptions.
Additional Technical Achievements
- Built, configured, and deployed new SCOM 2016 and SCOM 2019 monitoring infrastructure.
- Established SCOM 2016, SQL Database, and a comprehensive notification framework.
- Implemented System Center Orchestrator (SCORCH) to automate notification systems for specialized technical groups.
- Developed automation Runbooks for various operational requests within SCOM 2016.
- Refined legacy PowerShell monitoring scripts into optimized scripts under 25 lines.
- Customized SCOM 2016 infrastructure to meet specific Bank security requirements.
- Tailored the SCOM console for enhanced data capturing.
- Created comprehensive SCOM build books and documentation procedures for Bank of Canada staff.
- Collaborated with the infrastructure team to incorporate additional management packs and overrides to enhance existing infrastructure monitoring, providing thorough documentation.
- Worked on Siebel CRM system.
Results and Benefits
The strategic implementation delivered immediate and ongoing value:
- Proactive Incident Management: Real-time monitoring and automated alerts enabled quick identification and resolution of issues, significantly reducing downtime.
- Improved Decision-Making: Customized dashboards empowered various stakeholders with timely, relevant insights, enhancing operational oversight and strategic planning.
- Compliance with Security Standards: Rigorous adherence to CCCS Protected B and banking cybersecurity standards strengthened the Bank’s defense against cyber threats.
- Operational Stability: Continuous monitoring of all critical infrastructure components improved reliability, ensuring uninterrupted banking operations.
Conclusion
The customized monitoring solution significantly elevated the Bank of Canada’s operational performance, security, and efficiency. By delivering targeted, real-time insights and automated critical alerts, the system empowered stakeholders, ensured compliance with stringent cybersecurity requirements, and reinforced the stability of the Bank’s critical IT infrastructure.
Benefits of managed IT services
If your technology is draining resources rather than optimizing them, we can get you back on track. A professionally managed services provider can give you the decisive edge to
