Case Study
Achieving 100% network
Objective
Refresh and simplify the Rabobank
branch oice network serving 600 bank
locations with minimal impact on network
availability, and in a way that lowers the
bank’s total cost of ownership for the
network
Approach
Engaged HPE TS Consulting to create an
HPE Networking open-standards-based
access layer solution that is interoperable
with Rabobank’s existing Cisco MPLS
core infrastructure
IT Matters
• Upgraded Rabobank’s branch oice
network design to support a multivendor infrastructure compatible with
Rabobank’s existing core infrastructure
• Helped Rabobank achieve a futureproof network infrastructure—including
interoperability—through open
standards
• Enabled Rabobank’s IT team to use
existing tools to centrally manage the
branch oice network
• Prepared Rabobank to implement
network virtualization at the branch
oice level
Business Matters
• Created an infrastructure that provides
more network services at the branch
level to support the use of cloud-based
applications, and to ensure a high level
of security
• Completed network migration of 600
oices in six months, and with minimal
downtime
• Lowered total cost of ownership by
using open-standards-based HPE
technology
• Reduced overall network power
consumption and carbon footprint
interoperability
Rabobank Nederland chooses HPE
Networking and cuts TCO in half
Rabobank is a Netherlandsbased cooperative bank with
over 10 million customers
and 50,000 employees.
HPE Technology Services
Consulting worked with
Rabobank to implement a
network solution that cut
Rabobank’s TCO in half.
Goal: Refresh the branch
oice network; lower TCO
Rabobank is one of the three largest banks
in the Netherlands. With more branch
oice locations and ATMs than any of its
competitors, the bank is able to fulfill its
mission to be “Close to the Customer.” Three
years ago, the bank decided to update the
Cisco network that provides LAN and WiFi,
building automation, security solutions,
and PCI solutions support for payment
devices to its distributed branch oices. The
bank wanted the network migration to be
completed within half a year with minimal
impact on network availability. It wanted
to be able to provide more services to its
branch oices. And, in the end, it wanted a
significantly lower total cost of ownership for
the network.
Case study
Rabobank
Industry
Financial Services
“HPE enabled us to extend the security zones from the data center into the
branch oices using our existing Cisco MPLS core infrastructure. Using just
one switch, they were able to deliver MPLS CPE functionality in a single
box.”
— Jim Habernickel, Manager IS CD Distributed Networks, Rabobank Nederland
Page 2
Bringing interoperability and
new skills to a closed system
In designing the new branch oice network,
Rabobank faced two challenges. First, the
bank’s current network design required it to
use only Cisco hardware. Secondly, the bank’s
network engineers were trained and certified
for a Cisco infrastructure and had no specific
knowledge of an Hewlett Packard Enterprise
(HPE) network.
A common concern among all businesses is
the ability to introduce new vendor hardware
into an existing network. Rabobank wanted
its network core to remain with Cisco and
to build the access layer with HPE. To
address these concerns, HPE Technology
Services (TS) Consulting first assumed all
responsibility for delivering the solution
Rabobank was looking for. It then conducted
extensive stress testing, development
and, eventually, installation of the HPE
5800 Top of Rack Switch Series capable of
interoperating within the Cisco MPLS core.
Successful interoperability enabled Rabobank
to simplify its infrastructure by using a single
HPE 5800 series switch to enable end-toend connectivity. It could now progress to
the HPE “branch-in-a-box” design, unlocking
considerably lower TCO overall.
In short, HPE TS Consulting reduced risk for
customers who are taking the very delicate
step of changing vendors and moving out of
their technology and technical comfort zone.
“We were very impressed with how responsive
the HPE TS Consulting team was, and how
capable they were of delivering an enterpriselevel solution to our interoperability concern,”
says Jim Habernickel, Rabobank’s manager
for IS CD Distributed Networks. “Thanks
to the support we got from the Consulting
Services team, we were able to achieve 100%
interoperability with the existing Cisco core
infrastructure.”
Lower CapEx, OpEx
Rabobank’s decision to include HPE
Networking as its second vendor paid
o. First, because the new infrastructure
eliminated the need for separate branch
routers and switches, Rabobank was able
to lower its capital expenses. Secondly, with
its systems engineers now managing a less
complex, easier-to-maintain network made
up of fewer components, Rabobank saves on
operating expenses as well—while increasing
customer satisfaction.
Within Rabobank’s six-month time frame, the
access layer at all 600 branch locations was
replaced (at the rate of about four oices per
evening) with very little impact on network
connectivity. The HPE Networking branch
solution now provides Rabobank with a
stable infrastructure capable of delivering
more bandwidth, virtually zero downtime,
and security solutions able to defeat even the
most sophisticated intrusion attempts.
Case study
Rabobank
Industry
Financial Services
Customer at a glance
About Rabobank
With nearly two million members,
Rabobank is one of the largest
cooperatives in the Netherlands.
Measured by Tier 1 capital, the
Rabobank Group is one of the world’s
largest financial institutions. The bank’s
cooperative identity dates back to
the late 19th centur y, when a group of
farmers founded the first agricultural
loan banks. With its agrarian origins, the
food and agriculture sector is Rabobank ’s
natural environment. In the Netherlands,
Rabobank is by far the largest food and
agriculture bank, and aims to become the
leading such bank in the world.
Hardware
• HPE 5800 Switch Series
• HPE 5120 El Switch Series
• HPE 5920 Switch Series
• HPE 5500 El Switch Series
HPE services
• Technology Services Consulting
“The big bonus,” Habernickel says, “was that
with the HPE solution we saw a reduction
of more than 50% in total cost of ownership
of our branch oice network. In these times,
savings like that are very important for a
bank.”
Rabobank can continue to save money
by leveraging its new network’s agility.
Previously, for example, the access layer at
the bank branches was used mainly for oice
automation—to connect clients, printers, and
other equipment.
“We see a shift from simply connecting
oice equipment to connecting appliances,
including everything from security cameras
to entrance gates,” Habernickel says. “We’re
doing a project right now with IP-connected
toilets. We connect a toilet to the HPE
network so we can monitor usage and the
level of detergents inside the tank so that it
can be refilled as needed. This is just another
example for us of how HPE’s agile, opensource-based network gives us the flexibility
to save money by working smarter.”
Less power use means
greater sustainability
Rabobank also wanted better eiciency.
With its roots in the food and agriculture
sector, Rabobank is committed to sustainable
development. Experience has taught
Rabobank that “caring for people, the climate
and the environment often goes handin-hand with the creation of new income
opportunities.” It is for this reason that
Rabobank included lower power consumption
among its top goals for the project.
“What we’ve seen on the environmental
side,” Habernickel says, “is that the power
consumption of the HPE network is a lot less
than it was with the incumbent vendor. We
feel strongly about social responsibility and
sustainability, so being able to operate more
eiciently from an energy standpoint is a big
plus for us.”
Next step: A strong
partnership grows stronger
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More branch functionality
demands more bandwidth
Part of Rabobank’s motivation to upgrade
the network is the changing face of retail
banking. In the past, bank sta used
applications loaded on their desktop
computers, and customers were content to
stand in line with nothing else to do. Today,
many of the operations of a bank branch are
managed using cloud-based applications,
while customers expect to be able to access
the Internet on their digital device or read
digital signage as they await service. Guest
WiFi, BYOD support, SaaS, IP telephony,
video conferencing, security cameras, digital
signage, and kiosks have become standard
features in most enterprise retail banking
environments. Rabobank now has the robust
network solution it needs to meet these new
demands for service.
With its HPE TS Consulting solution in place,
Rabobank is now ready to move to the next
phase: implementing network virtualization at
the branch oices, which will allow it to quickly
deliver more flexible solutions to the market.
Rabobank will also migrate its local oices
and headquarters to HPE 5500HI and 5900
Switch Series, introduce HPE into its data
centers, and further investigate HPE’s SDN
and WiFi capabilities.
Habernickel says that “throughout the entire
process, from selection to implementation to
testing, HPE’s TS Consulting team has been
ready to help us whenever we need them. In
terms of both its products and its product
teams, HPE has proven itself to be a very
solid partner.”
© Copyright 2015, 2017 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP. The information contained herein is subject to change without
notice. The only warranties for HPE products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products
and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HPE shall not be liable for technical or editorial
errors or omissions contained herein.
4AA5-9023ENW, March 2017, Rev. 2
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