STCI powers retail lending expansion with secure and scalable infrastructure

Summary

To support their growth, STCI made the strategic decision to move to a modern retail lending platform. However, this meant they had to upgrade their existing infrastructure to support their new platform. They chose NTT DATA’s SimpliZCloud. This change opened an opportunity to adopt network as a service and managed services for security, protecting sensitive data.

Infrastructure that supports a modern retail lending platform

To capitalize on growth opportunities in the retail lending market, STCI decided to implement a comprehensive solution from Pennant Technologies, a leading provider of lending and digital transformation technology. However, this strategic decision brought its own set of infrastructure challenges:

Finding the right infrastructure

STCI quickly realized their existing on-premises infrastructure couldn’t support the demands of Pennant’s modern retail lending platform. The financial institution needed a solution that could deliver the performance, scalability and security required for successful retail lending. This led them to evaluate various options, including migrating their entire IT infrastructure to the cloud and finding a more cost-effective on-premises alternative.

Solution consolidation

Beyond supporting the new platform, STCI sought to consolidate other existing applications and services on a single infrastructure to improve efficiency and to simplify infrastructure management.

Security and compliance

Ensuring robust security and compliance with industry regulations is paramount for STCI. This need remained constant as they ventured into handling larger volumes of sensitive customer data.

STCI needed a solution that could support their immediate needs and provide a flexible and scalable foundation for future growth and innovation in the retail lending space.

Infrastructure migration and managed services transform the IT landscape

STCI implemented NTT DATA’s SimpliZCloud, a comprehensive solution with IBM Linux One at its core. They took a multifaceted approach to their infrastructure modernization.
They migrated from 40 virtual cores (20 physical cores) on x86 to just 2 cores on the SimpliZCloud solution, consolidating computing. The inherent efficiency of IBM Linux One provided the necessary processing power with a smaller carbon footprint.
The new infrastructure, including a primary data center and a disaster recovery site, provided STCI with a robust and scalable platform for growth. This adaptable foundation supports retiring legacy applications while offering a test environment for deploying new applications and services as STCI expand their retail lending portfolio.
Recognizing the critical importance of data security, STCI opted for a comprehensive suite of managed security services:

• DDoS Protection
  Shields against distributed denial-of-service attacks, ensuring uninterrupted service availability.
• Web Application Firewall (WAF)
  Safeguards web applications from common vulnerabilities and attacks, maintaining data integrity and customer trust.
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) 
  Utilizing IBM QRadar, STCI gains real-time threat detection and incident response capabilities, bolstering their security posture.
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
  Continuous monitoring and rapid response to endpoint threats provide an additional layer of protection against sophisticated cyberattacks.
• Vulnerability Assessment Service (VAS)
  Regular vulnerability assessments and remediation help STCI proactively identify and address potential security weaknesses before they can be exploited.

To ensure seamless data flow and optimal application performance, STCI implemented a suite of managed network services:

• Network management
  Expert management of switches, routers, firewalls and load balancers ensures network efficiency and minimal downtime.
• Performance monitoring
  Continuous monitoring of network performance allows for the proactive identification and resolution of potential bottlenecks, maintaining optimal user experience.

Supporting growth and expansion into new markets

Adopting SimpliZCloud and managed services creates a solid foundation for STCI to expand as a retail lender. The new infrastructure supports their existing solutions and will support long-term growth and ongoing innovation.

Significant cost savings

STCI significantly increased their computing power with consolidated infrastructure. Combined with optimized Oracle database licensing, this could lead to millions of dollars in savings.

Enhanced performance

With each IBM Linux One core delivering approximately 10 times the performance of comparable x86 cores, STCI experiences significantly faster processing speeds, ensuring optimal application performance and responsiveness.

Strengthened security posture

Comprehensive managed security services provide peace  of mind, with multilayered defenses protecting STCI’s sensitive financial data and customer information against evolving cyberthreats.

Optimized network performance

Managed network services, including continuous performance monitoring, ensure efficient data flow and minimal downtime, contributing to a seamless user experience for employees and customers.

Reduced operational overhead

By entrusting their IT infrastructure management to a specialized partner, STCI frees up valuable internal resources to focus on core business initiatives and strategic goals.

Scalability for future growth

The new infrastructure provides STCI with the flexibility to rapidly deploy and scale new services as they expand their retail lending portfolio, positioning them for continued success in the competitive financial services market.