Situation: A Bank’s Urgent Need for a Resilient Disaster Recovery Strategy 

A leading financial institution faced a critical challenge in business continuity. Operating in a hurricane-prone region, the bank relied on a traditional on-island disaster recovery (DR) setup—where both production and DR data centers were located in the same geography. This single-point-of-failure posed a severe operational risk, as any catastrophic event could potentially bring banking operations to a halt. 

At the same time, the bank decided that they would initiate a transformative cloud project to move their core banking solution, Temenos, to LinuxONE. 

Key Challenges: 

• Geographical Risk & Compliance Hurdles – The bank needed to move DR off-island to an IBM Cloud data center while ensuring compliance with strict banking regulations. 

• Technology Transition – The bank had to migrate its core banking application to LinuxONE while maintaining seamless operations. 

• Security & Latency Concerns – Moving mission-critical workloads off-island required strict adherence to security best practices and low-latency network architecture. 

The bank required a trusted technology partner capable of securing regulatory approvals, designing a hybrid cloud strategy, and ensuring uninterrupted banking services in any disaster scenario. 

Action: A Hybrid Cloud Strategy with IBM Cloud for Maximum Security and Resilience 

GlassHouse Systems, in collaboration with IBM, designed a highly secure and scalable hybrid cloud solution to modernize the bank’s core infrastructure while eliminating disaster risk. Our structured approach included: 

1. Deep Collaboration with Regulators & IBM for Compliance 
   1. GlassHouse Systems played a key role in securing regulatory approval for the bank to legally migrate customer data to an IBM Cloud data center. 
   2. We leveraged our extensive expertise in financial compliance to ensure the bank met stringent regulatory requirements while transitioning to a hybrid cloud model. 

2. Hybrid Cloud Architecture for Maximum Performance & Security 
   1. A LinuxONE-based Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution was deployed in IBM Cloud to support ultra-secure, high-performance banking workloads. 

   2. GlassHouse Systems purchased a LinuxONE machine and placed it in an IBM Cloud data center, allowing the bank to avoid a massive capital expenditure (CapEx) while benefiting from an operating expense (OpEx) model. 

   3. IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS) was integrated for surrounding banking applications. 
   4. The entire infrastructure was hosted in an IBM Cloud data center, chosen for its global security certifications and ability to provide high-speed connectivity. 

3. Managed Services & Cloud Migration Execution 
   1. GlassHouse Systems provided full end-to-end managed services, enabling the bank to focus on core banking operations rather than infrastructure management. 
   2. A dedicated team of cloud architects, storage specialists, and network engineers ensured a seamless migration to LinuxONE on IBM Cloud. 

 Business Outcomes: Unmatched Resilience & Future-Proof Infrastructure 

1. Disaster-Proof Banking Operations 
   1. By relocating DR off-island to IBM Cloud, the bank eliminated the risk of natural disasters disrupting operations. 
   2. Even in the event of a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, core banking services remain fully operational in IBM Cloud. 

2. A Cost-Efficient, Future-Proof Cloud Model
   1. The shift to Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) eliminated the need for significant capital investment in new infrastructure. 
   2. IBM Power Virtual Server in IBM Cloud provides highly secure, performant, and scalable compute power, allowing the institution to expand its services seamlessly. 
   3. IBM Cloud ecosystem with IBM Power Virtual Server and LinuxONE delivers an ultra-low latency solution while enabling access to over 190 IBM Cloud services, with a cloud-integrated API that integrates to existing tooling. 

3. Competitive Advantage Over Traditional DR Models 
   1. Unlike colocation-based DR solutions, the bank now benefits from a highly secure and globally interconnected cloud platform. 
   2. IBM Cloud’s advanced compliance certifications provide a higher level of security than traditional DR models. 

4. Trust, Execution Excellence & Long-Term Partnership 
   1. The bank signed a five-year strategic partnership with GlassHouse, ensuring continued infrastructure modernization. 
   2. Our ability to integrate compliance expertise, technical execution, and financial industry knowledge instilled confidence at the board and shareholder levels. 

 Conclusion: A Financial Institution Built for the Future 

By partnering with GlassHouse Systems and IBM Cloud, this financial institution not only modernized its disaster recovery strategy but fundamentally transformed its approach to resilience, security, and digital banking. 

• Disaster-proof banking operations – Ensuring uninterrupted service even in catastrophic conditions.
• A fully compliant hybrid cloud strategy – Leveraging LinuxONE for security and Power Virtual Server for seamless modernization.
• Regulatory approval secured – A critical milestone achieved through GlassHouse Systems' financial compliance expertise.
• A trusted long-term technology partnership – Ensuring continuous innovation and scalability in banking operations. 

This transformation represents a strategic shift for financial institutions looking to enhance security, compliance, and business continuity. GlassHouse Systems and IBM Cloud provide a clear competitive advantage over traditional DR models, delivering the resilience and agility required in modern banking. 

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