Asquith Day Nurseries implements MPLS network to securely link its 112 sites
The Customer
Asquith Day Nurseries is a provider of childcare and education to children from three months to five years of age. The group has 112 nurseries and crèches throughout the UK and employs approximately 3000 staff. The group provides services and advice to parents and children alike. With recently refurbished premises, new toys and financial advice for parents, Asquith Day Nurseries can provide everything to make nursery care and early schooling a safe and happy experience.
The Challenge
Asquith Day Nurseries was previously using a number of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to link these sites together and provide applications. On a day-to-day basis the staff at Asquith Nurseries use Word, Excel and database applications, run over the VPN using Citrix, to record childrens’ details, write letters or reports for parents and carry out various administrative tasks. Although VPN networks are an established way of linking sites, the previous system could be unreliable, resulting in duplicated work and a loss of teaching time.
“The staff complained that at times, the application they were using would just freeze and either stay open on a specific page, or the page would go down altogether. This would lead to the staff repeating admin duties, such as data input or writing letters, or could prohibit other staff members from accessing that particular frozen record from a different PC or location. This was obviously incredibly frustrating as their time should be taken up with caring for the children and not duplicating admin,” said Steve Charge, IT manager, Asquith Nurseries.
The network is essential to the everyday running of the nurseries as everything they do, and all the information they hold, travels across it including the childrens’ details. The confidentiality of this information is very important, and so the IT department needed a replacement that was both more reliable than the previous VPN system and just as secure. Furthermore, the IT department felt that the previous provider did not give them much support, and the SLAs set in place were often not adhered to.
“We were receiving hundreds of complaint calls from our staff, and with a very small IT department and little support offered by the provider, we were placed under a great deal of pressure. We desperately needed to find a new solution that would be just as safe and much more trustworthy,” commented Charge. “We are also growing at very quickly and so need a solution that will allow us to quickly and easily connect new sites to our network.”
With a web of connections and IP addresses, the group’s network was complex, and so needed a solution that would intelligently navigate packets of data, delivering the correct applications to the correct members of staff quickly.
The Solution
Asquith Nurseries approached Viatel, who, after thorough consultation, advised them that the most suitable solution was a Multi Packet Layer Switching (MPLS) network. This would mean that they could use a DSL connection to link to Viatel’s IP network, without routing data over the internet, providing the group with the secure WAN that they needed. The MPLS network also allows for new sites to be added easily, which fits in with the group’s expansion strategy.
“MPLS is very clever. It’s similar to the sat-nav in a car which helps you find the fastest and most suitable route for data to take around the network,” said Charge. “The installation was also incredibly easy. Viatel supplied us with a router at each site, which we simply plugged in and, like magic, all the applications worked properly.”
The Benefits
The staff at Asquith Nurseries immediately noticed the difference that the new system made. The network downtime was reduced, meaning that the staff now had more time to care and educate the children, as they were no longer re-entering data. “Previously, the network was not sufficiently stable for Asquith’s needs, but the MPLS network has completely resolved this,” said Charge.
“The drop in complaint calls was impressive, and really took the pressure off us. The staff now have peace of mind that their work will not just disappear from the screen, never to be found again.” The MPLS network provides a solution that is both reliable and secure. Viatel has also included stringent SLAs as part of the deal, which ensures that Asquith Nurseries know exactly what to expect with regards to uptime and downtime.
As MPLS easily allows new sites to connect straight into the network, the IT team at Asquith Nurseries don’t have to worry about network problems when they add to their property portfolio. “We are very happy with the SLAs that Viatel has put in place, and they do really adhere to them in terms of downtime. In fact, the system very rarely fails and if it does, Viatel let us know, often before we realise ourselves,” commented Charge.
“The combination of a reliable network and great customer care means that I can really put my trust into Viatel, and I know that in times of need, someone will always be available to help. It has provided us with the perfect solution to our problem, the staff are saving a lot of time, not to mention stress, which means they can give more to the children. The network is also secure, so we and the parents alike are assured that our confidential data stays confidential.”
