The HK$1.5 million project will protect the bank against current security threats, while a long-term security roadmap - devised by Dimension Data consultants - will ensure that its security infrastructure remains up-to-date and fit for purpose as the threat landscape evolves over time.

The bank had become increasingly conscious that its legacy security systems were gradually becoming obsolete in the face of today's rapidly-evolving cyber threats. While the bank recognised the importance of security and was prepared to make the necessary investments to protect itself, it was hampered by the need to maintain business as usual during the migration process. Any unexpected event could threaten business continuity or even the integrity of its network, a significant risk. It also did not have sufficient in-house IT expertise to handle the process. Instead, it turned to Dimension Data, which held in-depth discussions with key senior executives at the bank before proposing an architecture, timeline and project plan and proof-of-concept.

"In Dimension Data, we found a consultant in which we had total confidence to entrust this mission-critical project," said a spokesperson for the bank. "They first invested the time to understand our needs and our existing IT environment thoroughly, which enabled them to propose solutions that were cost-effective and an exact match with our needs. Throughout the process, we were very impressed by their professionalism and attention to detail."

The core components recommended by Dimension Data are McAfee's intrusion prevention system (IPS) and a next-generation firewall solution from Palo Alto Networks - both vendors with whom Dimension Data has long-standing relationships and considerable experience. As well as providing more effective security, the new infrastructure enables any security incidents to be handled more efficiently, saving time and boosting productivity for the bank's IT department.

This initial design and deployment also marked the start of a longer-term relationship between the two companies, which will see Dimension Data act as consultant to the bank on its long-term security strategy, reviewing and updating security measures as new IT security threats emerge.

"From our work with other financial services sector clients, we are keenly aware of how vital IT security is to the business, so I'm delighted that we were able to win the client's total confidence on this project," said Steve Lam, Managing Director, Dimension Data Hong Kong. "Security is an area in which companies need to remain ever-vigilant to ensure their infrastructure keeps pace with the dynamic threat landscape. I believe that this initial deployment paves the way for a long-term consultancy relationship that will deliver real value to the client going forward."