Sussex HIS Optimizes IT Infrastructure With Infoblox and Khipu Networks to Better Service Customers
LONDON and SANTA CLARA, CA--(Marketwire - August 21, 2007) - The Sussex Health Informatics
Service (HIS) announced today that is has commenced a significant overhaul
of its IT infrastructure, working towards centralization of IT services for
all its customer organizations. This requires a unified approach to
networking, security and application delivery to ultimately increase the
level of patient care across Sussex.
Part of this forward-thinking ethos is a Community of Interest Network
(COIN) that provides a Gigabit-speed WAN, linking core node sites to over
270 National Health Service (NHS) sites in Sussex. The COIN is being
leveraged to provide common network services, including a single global
Microsoft Active Directory repository. It also will serve as the backbone
to eventually deliver IP Telephony services for all the NHS sites.
This consolidation and centralization of network services was a daunting
task. Microsoft Active Directory (AD) is the distributed directory service
and the information hub of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and 2000 Server
operating systems. AD provides critical services such as Windows login,
and also supports a wide range of directory services for Microsoft
applications.
Two core network services upon which Active Directory relies are the
Domain Name Service (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
DNS and DHCP are provided as part of Microsoft AD and are often deployed on
Microsoft Domain Controllers along with other services, such as print and
file sharing. However, loss of these services results in loss of Microsoft
application services (e.g. Windows Domain Logon, Exchange, file and print
sharing) and also impacts all non-Microsoft applications (e.g. Unix) that
utilize DNS services. As a result, the security and availability of DNS
and DHCP services is especially critical.
Previously, many of the 270+ sites across Sussex were running Microsoft NT4
Domain Controllers. But, to achieve the levels of reliability and central
manageability the team required to support the COIN, Sussex HIS set out to
migrate all the sites to a resilient appliance-based platform.
Mark Walker, infrastructure consultant for the Sussex HIS team and
responsible for the project, commented: "Leveraging the Microsoft Domain
Controllers, we previously found that DNS and DHCP services were often a
source of network downtime."
As a result, Khipu Networks suggested the use of purpose-built
Infoblox-1550 appliances, which provide a unified platform for DNS, DHCP,
IP address management (IPAM) and other services, such as network time. The
Infoblox appliances provide a migration path as well as many high
availability features to ensure core network services are always available.
Mark Walker added: "We found Khipu Networks' approach innovative. They
suggested the use of Infoblox-1550 appliances so that the Sussex HIS could
unify DNS, DHCP, IPAM and network time. We worked with Khipu Networks in a
design workshop where our Microsoft, infrastructure and security teams
discussed the minimum and ideal requirements for core network services. We
were impressed by their understanding of our requirements and the related
recommendations. Since installing the Infoblox devices that Khipu
recommended, we have a more effective, available, secure and resilient
solution that also decreases the administration overhead for us. The
Infoblox appliances are essential to delivering our vision and requirements
for the COIN."
The Sussex HIS team deployed eight Infoblox-1550 appliances in three
consecutive days without any interruption to their network uptime. They
are now able to migrate sites onto their centralized network whenever they
require.
Infoblox's appliances -- certified and recommended by Microsoft as a
certified Microsoft partner -- are purpose built to provide non-stop
availability of standards-based, Microsoft-compatible DNS and DHCP
services, among others. The appliances are based on the security-hardened
Infoblox NIOS™ operating system, which allows no root access and
presents no unnecessary open ports.
Infoblox appliances are easy to install and manage and can load updated
software with a single click. They also provide extensive built-in support
for high-availability, delegated management, logging and auditing.
Collections of Infoblox appliances can be easily linked into robust grids
that extend these capabilities across a distributed enterprise while
providing centralized management.
These features, combined with transparent integration with Microsoft Active
Directory make Infoblox appliances an excellent choice for offloading DNS
and DHCP services from Domain Controllers. In conclusion, the Infoblox
solution has positively impacted the successful implementation of the COIN
and is a key infrastructure component to enabling additional applications
in the future, like IP Telephony.
About Infoblox
Infoblox appliances deliver utility-grade core network services, including
domain name resolution (DNS), IP address assignment and management
(IPAM/DHCP), authentication (RADIUS) and related services. Infoblox
solutions, which provide the essential "glue" between networks and
applications, are used by over 1,800 organizations worldwide, including
over 90 of the Fortune 500. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara,
Calif., and operates in more than 30 countries. For more information, call
+1.408.625.4200, email info@infoblox.com, or visit www.infoblox.com.
About Khipu Networks
Khipu Networks are a UK-based advanced systems integrator, focussing on
supplying innovative, secure, compliant infrastructure solutions across the
public and private sector. The company is a leading adopter of new and best
in breed technology, expert technical staff ensure that customers get the
solutions they need, when they want them and how they need them. The ethos
is to ensure that the customer has the edge on the security and compliance
of their network and not the attacker.
Hampshire-based Khipu Networks Ltd is the security division of the White
Clarke Group of companies. For more information, visit
www.khipu-networks.com.
Contact Information: Media Contacts:
Jennifer Jasper
Infoblox
408.625.4309
Matt Ashman
Khipu Networks Limited
+44 (0) 1252 773184