Anglicare SA adopts Enterasys Secure Networks Solution for VoIP and converged network rollout
Announcement posted by Enterasys Networks 04 May 2004
Anglicare SA, the South Australian member of the national network of care and social justice agencies of the Anglican Church, has slashed communications costs and improved data security between 12 Adelaide area locations by using a wireless voice over IP (VoIP) network that relies on an Enterasys Networks' Secure Networks solution, including the Company's Matrix switching and RoamAbout wireless LAN technology.
With 800 employees and 600 part-time volunteers working at dozens of sites across Adelaide, Anglicare SA has a significant requirement for internal telephony and secure data transfer. In the past, this need was met through a network of six conventional PABXes linked to the outside world by a large number of leased ISDN circuits. However, in 2002 the organisation began implementing a completely new communications solution based on VoIP technologies.
Anglicare SA originally considered basing its VoIP network on conventional ADSL broadband connections, but instead decided to run the connections over a permanent wireless network with direct line-of-sight connections.
Working in conjunction with Enterasys partners MIMP and Commander, Anglicare designed and implemented a wireless wide area network (WWAN) that now provides scalable 11Mbps connections between 12 Adelaide locations and a repeater atop an Adelaide office building.
"The Enterasys Secure Networks approach was the best solution to meet our business and technology requirements," said Daryl Eckermann, IT Manager, Anglicare SA. "It had the lowest level of latency through the wireless bridge, and had a dedicated point-to-point solution that would switch and route traffic directly between our sites."
IP-enabled Siemens PABXes now handle all inbound and outbound phone calls, with Enterasys RoamAbout R2 Wireless Access Platform providing outdoor wireless access and steering VoIP and conventional network traffic between locations on the network. Enterasys Matrix E1 switches provide routing and edge switching between the WWAN and the sites' local office networks. A standard fixed-line backup connection is also installed for telephony to ensure that emergency services are always available, a critical requirement given Anglicare's role as a health and convalescence services provider.
Secure Networks
VoIP data travelling between locations is encrypted; and is further secured using the Secure Network features of the Matrix E1 and RoamAbout R2. These features restrict the range of destinations to which each wireless access point is able to connect. Anglicare SA also conceals the network names that it uses for the network links, and uses virtual LANs to maintain quality of service as well as segregate the wireless WAN from internal network traffic.
The secure design and segregation of the network prevents outside parties from connecting to the network, and ensures that both voice calls and enterprise data remain private. In the future, Anglicare SA will utilise additional features of the Enterasys switches to deliver more granular control over network data and VoIP traffic by deploying advanced policy based switching to the edge of the network. The policies will eliminate and prevent unwanted traffic from utilising expensive network-based resources that are not aligned with Anglicare's business needs. This will further improve call quality and prevent congestion in times of heavy network and phone usage.
"There are a lot of people using our facilities and infrastructure," said Daryl Eckermann, IT Manager, Anglicare SA. "With this policy based prioritisation we're going to be doing with the Enterasys Secure Networks solutions, it will give us the ability to prioritise our WAN based on individual applications. That will let us ensure that traffic carrying line of business software is prioritised over email and file copies, for example, but not as highly prioritised as voice. We can keep the traffic segmented within each physical LAN and keep the WWAN purely for stuff that?s designed to go to other sites."
Cost Savings
Switching from a conventional to a VoIP telephony infrastructure has delivered considerable savings for the organisation. Eckermann estimated that the organisation has reduced telephony costs dramatically by reducing the number of ISDN circuits it must lease to support voice calls - from 250 previously to just 70 now. Many offices don't have direct telephony connections, instead routing calls to a larger hub location where bundles of ISDN lines provide outside connections.
This design translates into baseline savings of $45,000 per annum for data alone, even before factoring in the considerable savings from being able to place inter-office calls for free. "Line leasing is the most significant cost component," said Eckermann. "By being able to create centres where we have ISDN circuits rather than having a myriad of lines into every site, we?ve reduced telephony costs by 25% just on line leasing. If you?re leasing 250 lines at $20 to $25 per month, it adds up."
With the converged VoIP and data network, and wireless WAN, now well established, Anglicare SA is exploring new ways to build on the capabilities of the Enterasys switches it has installed. Several new sites will soon be brought into the network, and a pending move from 11Mbps 802.11b wireless technology to 54Mbps 802.11g or 802.11a technology will be as simple as inserting new PC Cards into the modular RoamAbout R2s.
Ends
About Enterasys Networks
Enterasys Networks (NYSE: ETS) is a global provider of Secure Networks for enterprise customers. Enterasys' innovative network infrastructure offerings deliver the security, productivity and adaptability benefits required by Global 2000 organizations, coupled with the industry's strongest service and support. For more information on Enterasys and its products, including multilayer switches, core routers, WAN routers, wireless LANs, network management, and intrusion defense systems (IDS), visit enterasys.com.
About Anglicare
Anglicare employs 8000 staff, more than 600 registered volunteers and calls on the services of foster carers in 520 households throughout the Adelaide metropolitan area. Anglicare SA has been providing services to the community for over 140 years through its Professional Counselling Services, Alternative Care foster care program, emergency financial and material assistance, Housing, Family Support and Aged Care Facilities housing over 400 residents.
With 800 employees and 600 part-time volunteers working at dozens of sites across Adelaide, Anglicare SA has a significant requirement for internal telephony and secure data transfer. In the past, this need was met through a network of six conventional PABXes linked to the outside world by a large number of leased ISDN circuits. However, in 2002 the organisation began implementing a completely new communications solution based on VoIP technologies.
Anglicare SA originally considered basing its VoIP network on conventional ADSL broadband connections, but instead decided to run the connections over a permanent wireless network with direct line-of-sight connections.
Working in conjunction with Enterasys partners MIMP and Commander, Anglicare designed and implemented a wireless wide area network (WWAN) that now provides scalable 11Mbps connections between 12 Adelaide locations and a repeater atop an Adelaide office building.
"The Enterasys Secure Networks approach was the best solution to meet our business and technology requirements," said Daryl Eckermann, IT Manager, Anglicare SA. "It had the lowest level of latency through the wireless bridge, and had a dedicated point-to-point solution that would switch and route traffic directly between our sites."
IP-enabled Siemens PABXes now handle all inbound and outbound phone calls, with Enterasys RoamAbout R2 Wireless Access Platform providing outdoor wireless access and steering VoIP and conventional network traffic between locations on the network. Enterasys Matrix E1 switches provide routing and edge switching between the WWAN and the sites' local office networks. A standard fixed-line backup connection is also installed for telephony to ensure that emergency services are always available, a critical requirement given Anglicare's role as a health and convalescence services provider.
Secure Networks
VoIP data travelling between locations is encrypted; and is further secured using the Secure Network features of the Matrix E1 and RoamAbout R2. These features restrict the range of destinations to which each wireless access point is able to connect. Anglicare SA also conceals the network names that it uses for the network links, and uses virtual LANs to maintain quality of service as well as segregate the wireless WAN from internal network traffic.
The secure design and segregation of the network prevents outside parties from connecting to the network, and ensures that both voice calls and enterprise data remain private. In the future, Anglicare SA will utilise additional features of the Enterasys switches to deliver more granular control over network data and VoIP traffic by deploying advanced policy based switching to the edge of the network. The policies will eliminate and prevent unwanted traffic from utilising expensive network-based resources that are not aligned with Anglicare's business needs. This will further improve call quality and prevent congestion in times of heavy network and phone usage.
"There are a lot of people using our facilities and infrastructure," said Daryl Eckermann, IT Manager, Anglicare SA. "With this policy based prioritisation we're going to be doing with the Enterasys Secure Networks solutions, it will give us the ability to prioritise our WAN based on individual applications. That will let us ensure that traffic carrying line of business software is prioritised over email and file copies, for example, but not as highly prioritised as voice. We can keep the traffic segmented within each physical LAN and keep the WWAN purely for stuff that?s designed to go to other sites."
Cost Savings
Switching from a conventional to a VoIP telephony infrastructure has delivered considerable savings for the organisation. Eckermann estimated that the organisation has reduced telephony costs dramatically by reducing the number of ISDN circuits it must lease to support voice calls - from 250 previously to just 70 now. Many offices don't have direct telephony connections, instead routing calls to a larger hub location where bundles of ISDN lines provide outside connections.
This design translates into baseline savings of $45,000 per annum for data alone, even before factoring in the considerable savings from being able to place inter-office calls for free. "Line leasing is the most significant cost component," said Eckermann. "By being able to create centres where we have ISDN circuits rather than having a myriad of lines into every site, we?ve reduced telephony costs by 25% just on line leasing. If you?re leasing 250 lines at $20 to $25 per month, it adds up."
With the converged VoIP and data network, and wireless WAN, now well established, Anglicare SA is exploring new ways to build on the capabilities of the Enterasys switches it has installed. Several new sites will soon be brought into the network, and a pending move from 11Mbps 802.11b wireless technology to 54Mbps 802.11g or 802.11a technology will be as simple as inserting new PC Cards into the modular RoamAbout R2s.
Ends
About Enterasys Networks
Enterasys Networks (NYSE: ETS) is a global provider of Secure Networks for enterprise customers. Enterasys' innovative network infrastructure offerings deliver the security, productivity and adaptability benefits required by Global 2000 organizations, coupled with the industry's strongest service and support. For more information on Enterasys and its products, including multilayer switches, core routers, WAN routers, wireless LANs, network management, and intrusion defense systems (IDS), visit enterasys.com.
About Anglicare
Anglicare employs 8000 staff, more than 600 registered volunteers and calls on the services of foster carers in 520 households throughout the Adelaide metropolitan area. Anglicare SA has been providing services to the community for over 140 years through its Professional Counselling Services, Alternative Care foster care program, emergency financial and material assistance, Housing, Family Support and Aged Care Facilities housing over 400 residents.