How to implement the restructuring of your WAN in a risk-minimized & cost-efficient manner through smart migration

Digitalization and the increased use of cloud services require higher bandwidths. This usually results in a restructuring of the company network, as the existing network cannot keep pace with the new requirements. The WAN is often migrated according to the "big bang principle". However, this harbors numerous risks. In addition, business operations can be impaired under certain circumstances. A "smart" migration minimizes operational risks, costs and effort.

Big bang migration

In a big bang migration, all existing connections are usually completely replaced by new lines. Although these are equivalent - with the same bandwidths, SLAs and with the same carrier - they require the allocation and setup of new IP addresses and adjustments to the local IT infrastructure. This in turn entails costs and operational risks.

From a certain size, all data networks also have lines with different, non-harmonized contract terms, so that a migration can lead to considerable double or replacement costs if the restructuring of the WAN is accompanied by a change of service provider.

A big bang migration therefore harbors additional risks and disadvantages:

• High one-off costs for setting up the new connections
• Double line costs during parallel construction and for remaining contract terms
• High IT resources required for the conversions
• Long project times with at least two parallel providers
• Uncertainties regarding the timing of the changeover due to delays or unexpected problems
• Malfunctions due to malfunctions during installation
• unknown service processes of the new, local carrier and line quality
• "Friction losses" due to the transition and change of contact persons and responsibilities, or disputes over responsibilities between the old and new service provider
• Coordination efforts and time coordination with many project participants
• High complexity of the overall project

Migration can also be smart - risk-minimized and cost-efficient.

Smart migration aims to minimize operational risks and reduce time expenditure.

Smart migration makes it possible to replace connections at a commercially favorable time, depending on the data network structure. This almost completely avoids operating risks without neglecting economic aspects and quality parameters.

The availability and performance of the entire network can be achieved through the targeted development of redundancies and quality-improving measures.

If quality deficiencies are identified on existing WAN lines from the previous provider, they can be brought forward in the migration process in order to achieve the desired performance and stability more quickly.

Smart migration also offers further benefits and advantages:

• Reducing the complexity of the IT infrastructure by integrating several network components in a virtual platform.
• Improvement of the user experience through the use of innovative routing algorithms.
• Increasing the level of security through greater transparency, especially with regard to new services and applications
• Scalability and flexibility for the connection and operation of additional locations and own lines
• Security through encryption of all data traffic
• Real redundancy through multi-carrier strategy
• Active use of all existing lines after redesign on an SD-WAN basis

The resulting added value is obvious.

Added value:

• Minimization of costs, expenses and operating risks
• Shortening the project duration
• Flexibility in terms of time by separating the transfer of responsibility from the migration process
• Faster achievement of cost and quality benefits
• single, overall responsible partner from the beginning

Find out more about how to migrate your WAN to SD-WAN in a smart, cost-efficient and risk-minimized way. Get in touch with us.

Our experts will be happy to advise you and support you with the migration of your data network.

nicos and 128 T combine their strengths: Innovation and managed services for secure, global data networks

The need for communication and reliable, secure networks at every location in the world is growing rapidly in all industries. Many projects and modern business processes are no longer conceivable otherwise in the context of digitalization, integration of multi-clouds, IoT and Industry 4.0. nicos AG has been managing the networks of well-known medium-sized companies for almost 20 years and ensures the secure operation of data networks worldwide, around the clock.

As the new requirements for security, flexibility, mobility, quality of service, connectivity and cost efficiency cannot be effectively realized using conventional methods, nicos AG has entered into a partnership with 128 Technology GmbH to combine its managed services with innovative technology.

"With 128T, we offer our customers an innovative type of site networking that makes WANs simpler, more secure and less complex at the same time," says Thomas Brosch, founder and CEO of nicos AG. "The Session Smart Network technology from 128T is an important building block for us to offer our customers worldwide the highest availability and the best application performance, as well as the highest level of security. Even complex requirements can be implemented efficiently. Together with 128T, we enable our customers to turn their IT into a unique selling proposition for their companies."

Alexander Hoffmann, Managing Director of 128 Technology Germany GmbH, adds: "Today, there is a need to be constantly online everywhere, whether in production facilities and factories, on the move on ships or trucks, in chain stores and in many other scenarios. We provide intelligent networks that make companies faster, more agile and more secure."

nicos AG and 128T offer their services as a complete solution from a single source.

Visit the nicos experts at Münster's largest IT conference

On May 22, 2019, the 6th IT Strategy Congress North Westphalia will once again feature an exciting supporting program of interesting presentations by top-class speakers who will provide you with entertaining information on IT megatrends. Under the motto "Strategy 2024", we want to discuss together what it means to prepare for the digital future.

nicos CEO Thomas Brosch cordially invites you. Our network specialists will be on site and look forward to seeing you!

Top topics & speakers at the event:

• The digitalization strategy of a hidden champion
  Dr. Gunther Olesch, Managing Director PHOENIX CONTACT GmbH & Co. KG
• The digital vision of a global corporation
  Thorsten Herrmann, Managing Director of Microsoft Deutschland GmbH
• Do we need criminal law for machines?
  Dr. Thomas Klindt, lawyer (digital business) and partner at Noerr law firm

After the presentations, you can also discuss the opportunities, limits and effects of digital transformation interactively and together with us. IT specialists from the region will inform you. This includes nicos AG as an expert in secure, global data communication. Digitalization offers great opportunities to open up new value chains.

However, the demands placed on corporate networks are growing with the increasing complexity of business and the ever-increasing use of cloud services. The security requirements for global networks are also becoming increasingly demanding.

As a specialist for worldwide corporate networks and secure, global data communication, we at nicos AG ensure a reliable, high-performance IT infrastructure and secure collaboration between your locations worldwide. Around the clock. 365 days a year.

You are cordially invited!

Meet us at the IT KONGRESS STRATEGIE 2024 and secure your ticket your ticket NOW!

We look forward to seeing you!

Further information can be found on the official website of the 6th IT Congress "Strategy 2024".

Location

Münster's largest IT conference for CIOs, IT managers and other decision-makers will take place at the new IHK education center in Münster. The event is organized by IT-Forum Nord Westfalen, IHK Nord Westfalen and the Digital Hub münsterLAND

IHK North Westphalia | Education Center | Sentmaringer Weg 61 | 48151 Münster

Further information can be found on the official website for the 6th IT Congress "Strategy 2024".

System solution supports business customers in overcoming the network barriers of digital transformation

128 Technology expands its leading position in Germany through partnership with nicos AG

April 18, 2019: BURLINGTON, Mass, U.S.A. and Münster, Germany - 128 Technology, the leading provider of Session Smart Routing, today announced its partnership with nicos AG, a leading managed services provider that delivers secure, global data communications with SmartWAN Solution and supports the digital transformation of business customers through high-performance enterprise networks.

nicos AG, based in Münster/Westphalia, is one of the first partners of the company in Europe to participate in the "128 Technology Solution Partner Program", which opens up new business opportunities for managed service providers via the "128T Networking Platform". The 128T Networking Platform provides answers to common problems in enterprise networks such as bandwidth inefficiencies, security risks and high operating costs that often hinder digital transformation. Business customers benefit from the partnership through more stable and reliable connectivity provided by global access to the best resources and technologies combined with the customer-centric service offered jointly by nicos AG and 128T. nicos AG has been providing customized and requirement-specific IT services for business customers for almost 20 years and will offer IT outsourcing for business customers as part of this partnership.

"Our managed services guarantee the highest possible IT security and availability in data communication. Well-known, globally active companies have relied on our know-how and expertise for almost 20 years. The Session Smart network technology from 128T is an important building block for us to offer our customers the best possible application performance and the highest possible level of security, while at the same time supporting our growth strategy," said Thomas Brosch, CEO and founder of nicos AG.

"European customers looking for flexible, cost-effective WAN connectivity will benefit from this partnership. They will get an efficient and reliable solution for network security," said Alex Hoffman, Managing Director of 128 Technology Germany GmbH. "Through our partnership with nicos AG, we offer our customers a truly intelligent SD-WAN solution where their network speaks the language of applications and services and can drive digital transformation in the enterprise."

About 128 Technology Germany GmbH

128 Technology wants one thing above all: to ensure that networks can continue to meet the requirements of companies in the future. The solution is to change the way networks work so that session smart routers are able to recognize and understand applications in the local network and the cloud. The routers can then use SDN to automatically and logically organize the network architecture according to their requirements. In this way, unauthorized access is reliably prevented, data is protected from unauthorized access and a service-oriented structure is created overall. This makes networks simpler, more agile and more secure, allows significantly greater flexibility and reduces overall costs.

nicos AG at the Hannover Messe 2019: Premiere for the motic® Broker

Münster-based network specialist nicos ensures sovereignty in the protected data room

"Industrial Intelligence - The networking of man and machine in the age of AI" is the motto of this year's Hannover Messe, which will take place for the 72nd time in the capital of Lower Saxony from April 1 to 5. More than 6,500 exhibitors from 75 countries will be presenting their innovations at the Deutsche Messe AG exhibition center. nicos AG will also be represented at the world's leading trade fair for the industry. At the joint stand of the International Data Spaces Association in Hall 8 C25, nicos will be presenting its use case on the topic of "Management of Things, Identities and Credentials" and the "^motic® Broker for the protected data space". These measures for data sovereignty in IoT components ensure secure and trustworthy data communication in times of digitalization and the associated mass use of networked devices and collaborative value creation.

Management of Things, Identities and Credentials in production facilities

nicos AG specializes in secure, global data networks. With a high-performance IT infrastructure, the Münster-based network specialists enable collaboration and the secure exchange of data between locations. This is the basis for smart factories. The primary goal is for users to retain sovereignty over their data.

In production facilities, workpieces communicate with machines and control production itself. A prerequisite for trustworthy data communication is reliable proof of the technical security level of the communication partners involved. This is where the ^motic® Broker developed by nicos comes into play:

^motic® stands for "Management of Things, Identities and Credentials". The ^motic® Broker addresses the questions of who may use which data, for what purpose, for how long and under what conditions. Decisions as to whether - and if so - which data is exchanged are defined in guidelines and are based on authentic information about the identity and security level of the participants. In addition to the mechanisms for authorization and usage controls for communication participants in production facilities, ^motic® Broker also offers options for monitoring and logging transactions.

With the ^motic® Broker, nicos is providing another core component for the International Data Spaces (IDS) eco-system, which also forms the basis for further data processing such as machine learning and artificial intelligence.

International Data Spaces: protected virtual data rooms

International Data Spaces are virtual data rooms that enable the secure exchange of data and the simple linking of data in business ecosystems on the basis of standards and with the help of shared governance models. Data is securely networked "on demand" when it is requested by certified, trustworthy partners.

Identity provider: The heart of the IDS architecture

nicos presented one of the core components of the entire IDS architecture at the Hannover Messe 2018 with the Identity Provider it developed. Only this crucial building block enables the interfaces involved to authorize and authenticate themselves. This enables users to prove their identity to the system. Only then can they communicate with other users. The data provider has information that it makes available to other participants in the International Data Space. Thanks to the IDS Identity Provider, this data is only exchanged if it is requested by certified partners. All participants retain sovereignty over their own data at all times.

At Hannover Messe 2019, nicos AG will be presenting its use case Management of Things, Identities and Credentials: ^motic® Broker for a Secure Data Room at the joint stand of the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) in Hall 8, Stand C25.

Change in the Supervisory Board of nicos AG

Henrik Hasenkamp was appointed as a new member of the Supervisory Board of nicos AG with effect from April 1, 2019.

As CEO of Cologne-based gridscale GmbH, Henrik Hasenkamp is responsible for the strategy and direction of the infrastructure and platform-as-a-service provider, which creates the basis for sophisticated cloud solutions with its innovative technology. Hasenkamp was already at home in the hosting business before he co-founded gridscale in 2014. He gained experience at PlusServer AG, IaaS provider ProfitBricks, Vodafone's Cloud & Hosting Germany division and the Host Europe Group.

"Thanks to his extensive industry experience, particularly in the cloud business, Henrik Hasenkamp is an ideal addition to our Supervisory Board. His in-depth expertise will support nicos AG in implementing its growth strategy," explains Thomas Brosch, founder and CEO of nicos AG.