Times Higher Education (THE) is focused on servicing the needs of higher education institutions, from powerful, data-driven insights and unrivalled news to strategic consultancy and hiring solutions.
Best known for its World University Rankings, THE is considered as the world’s most authoritative source of information about higher education.
Headquartered in Holborn, London, THE has office locations nationwide as well as globally in Australia, Singapore and USA. The company has adopted a hybrid work model and employs remote workers across the world.
Highlights
Faster time-to-prevention and more efficient security operation
Increased flexibility for future growth
Faster time-to-prevention and more efficient security operation
The Challenge
THE needed a new network solution that would align with the company’s Cloud First strategy, was easy to manage and provided the right level of security. Forge Technologies was selected to design and deliver the new network infrastructure, and then manage and optimise the environment through managed service. Andy Foreman, Head of IT at THE, explains what made Forge Technologies an ideal partner: “I had worked with some of the team members in the past, and so I knew they had the right technicalexpertise and specialist skillset in network transformation. That, and the company’s strong partnerships with industry leading vendors were a real guarantee of success for our project!”
The Approach
Forge Technologies performed a discovery exercise that gave insight into THE’s existing environment and requirements for the new network. Embracing a Cloud First IT strategy, THE’s IT infrastructure is entirely SaaS based. With no on-premise equipment, the organisation has built its environment around off-the-shelf solutions that are easy to run and keep up to date. With this mind, it is essential that every new solution and platform is accessible to anyone, from anywhere.
Taking insights from the discovery phase into consideration, Forge Technologies built a roadmap for the overarching IT strategy. The team proposed a Fortinet Network Transformation solution that would complement the SaaS based strategy perfectly, simplify the management process and remove the complexity of integrating acquired businesses into the centralised environment.
Delivery
To support THE’s recent transition to public cloud, Forge Technologies delivered redundant DIA circuits combined with a Fortinet SD-WAN solution for a reliable, high-speed network connectivity dedicated to the needs of its users. SD-WAN was accompanied by Fortinet LAN and Fortinet Wireless LAN, with a management portal that provides a single pane of glass to monitor the entire cloud managed solution.
Transition to the new network environment was seamless, with no disruption to business operations. “What I most liked about working with Forge Technologies was the stress-free delivery process. The team was on top of all matters along the way and I never had the need to chase people up on the tasks”,Andy comments. “Thankfully, Forge Technologies has strong supplier relationships that helped keep the project on time despite the global supply chain issues.”
When the work took place, the market was undergoing supply challenges because of Covid-19 and economic fluctuations. As a Fortinet Advanced Partner, Forge Technologies was able to leverage its close relationship with Fortinet to source required switches and keep the project within agreed schedule and budget. Implementing temporary switches helped mitigate disruption and delays.
Network transformation was just the first step of the partnership. Forge Technologies also took over the management of THE’s Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. Delivered as a fully managed service, Forge Technologies administers the purchase process for new Microsoft licenses. Performing regular reviews and audits the team makes sure that the Microsoft 365 environment is continuously optimised for maximum delivery and security.
Results
THE now has complete visibility across the estate through a single pane of glass, making network management a breeze. Introducing Fortinet SD-WAN has given increased flexibility for future growth, while Fortinet Security Fabric has enhanced protection, providing faster time-to-prevention and more efficient security operations.
As well as being able to monitor the network through the management portal, THE can count on a quick response from Forge Technologies when questions or concerns arise. “If I need to get hold of the team, my call is always picked up and I can speak with the appropriate person directly. It’s rare to find a partner with the same level of dedication to customer care that Forge Technologies has. It’s exactly the kind of trusted partnership you want when working with a Managed Service Provider”, says Andy.
And while THE continues to grow through acquisition, the new standardised approach helps streamline processes through guidelines and policies set to ease the integration of new businesses. To provide a total peace of mind, the stress-free managed service by Forge Technologies keeps the environment always optimised.
THE has built a relationship of trust with universities spanning 50 years, and reputation is one of the most important aspects of the business. Protecting its reputation from the increasing threat for cyber-attacks puts security at the centre of THE’s IT strategy.
