Optimising SBC Infrastructure with IZO™ Multi-Cloud Connect

Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi-Cloud Connect is a sophisticated software-defined interconnect-as-a-service solution engineered to simplify and enhance multi-cloud connectivity. It empowers enterprises to establish secure, seamless connections between their applications, data centres, branch offices, and diverse cloud environments, all managed through a unified “single pane of glass.”

This document is part of a series showcasing real-world applications of IZO™+ Multi-Cloud Connect, detailing the “before and after” scenarios for various customers. Here, we delve into the second part of our Landing Zone Consolidation series, illustrating how this strategic approach extends beyond traditional cloud components to deliver significant operational and cost efficiencies.

The challenge: Distributed SBCs and high MPLS costs

Landing Zone Consolidation can reduce the count and licensing requirements for typical cloud workload components. However, the concept of consolidation is far broader, applicable even to network devices and software solutions not traditionally listed as core landing zone elements. This case study highlights such a scenario involving an international Other Service Provider (OSP) operating within the education industry.

This particular company faced a complex challenge related to managing its real-time communication infrastructure.

Also Read: How IZO™+ Multi-Cloud Connect slashed firewall costs by 66% for insurance firm.

To comply with the Department of Telecom (DoT) Government of India’s stringent regulations, the OSP was compelled to deploy multiple Session Border Controllers (SBCs) and dedicated MPLS circuits at each of its office locations. These were essential for allocating International DIDs (Direct Inward Dialing) to their geographically dispersed sales, finance, and contact centre teams. The regulatory mandate necessitated the installation of either physical or virtual SBCs, each requiring a dedicated MPLS connection, leading to a significant increase in both capital expenditure and ongoing operational costs. The distributed nature of these deployments created a substantial management burden and raised serious concerns about the total cost of ownership (TCO).

Understanding Session Border Controllers (SBCs)

Before delving into the solution, it’s important to understand the role of Session Border Controllers. SBCs are specialised network devices or software solutions that are crucial for managing, controlling, and securing real-time communication sessions, most commonly in Voice over IP (VoIP) and Unified Communications (UC) environments. They sit at the “border” of a network, performing vital functions such as:

• Security: Protecting the network from malicious attacks.
• Interoperability: Enabling communication between different network types.
• Quality of Service (QoS): Ensuring clear and reliable voice/video calls.
• Regulatory Compliance: Assisting in meeting legal and regulatory requirements, as was the case for our customers.

Also Read: Semiconductor giant’s digital transformation with multi-cloud connect.

Tata Communications’ innovative consolidation solution

When the international OSP approached Tata Communications, our solution experts recognised an opportunity for transformative change. They proposed leveraging the Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi-Cloud Connect platform to achieve a comprehensive consolidation of the customer’s SBC infrastructure in the Landing Zone. This innovative approach also aimed to eliminate the need for costly, individual MPLS circuits at each office location, all while maintaining strict adherence to DoT regulations.

The core of the solution involved hosting dedicated access SBCs in a highly available (HA) mode directly on the IZO™+ Multi-Cloud Connect platform. This strategic move enabled these centrally hosted, dedicated SBCs to serve all users across the customer’s multiple offices in India. The initial requirement of installing and managing separate SBCs at each physical office was entirely eliminated. Furthermore, since the MPLS circuit was only necessary to connect to the SBCs, and these were now hosted at the Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi-Cloud Connect node, the extensive and expensive MPLS network connecting all individual offices could be replaced with more cost-effective internet connectivity.

The impact: Enhanced efficiency and reduced TCO

The implementation of this solution yielded significant benefits for the customer:

• Strategic consolidation of landing zone: By centralising the SBC infrastructure on the Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi-Cloud Connect platform, the customer achieved a true consolidation of landing zone for a critical network component, moving away from a fragmented, distributed model.
• Elimination of costly MPLS circuits: The ability to replace individual MPLS connections to each office with standard internet connectivity resulted in substantial operational savings.
• Improved total cost of ownership (TCO): The combined effect of reduced hardware and software deployments, simplified management, and lower connectivity costs resulted in a significant improvement in the overall TCO for the customer’s communication infrastructure.
• Continued regulatory compliance: The solution ensured that the customer remained fully compliant with DoT regulations, demonstrating that efficiency gains do not have to come at the expense of adherence to legal mandates.
• Streamlined multi-cloud connectivity: While this use case focused on SBCs, it underscored the platform’s ability to act as a central hub for various network functions, reinforcing its role in simplifying multi-cloud connectivity across diverse enterprise needs, whether it involves an AWS landing zone, Azure landing zone, or GCP landing zone.

This case study demonstrates that Landing Zone Consolidation with Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi-Cloud Connect is not limited to typical cloud computing and firewall components. It extends to any scenario where distributed network infrastructure can be centralized and optimized for cost, management, and performance.

Ready to discover your consolidation opportunity?

Schedule a consultation with Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi-Cloud Connect to discover how our experts can help you streamline your operations, reduce costs, and enhance your overall network architecture. Start your trial today!