Clavister, an IP-based security and unified threat management (UTM) specialist, has successfully concluded the deployment of around 1,400 virtual security gateways to the German energy giant E.ON Climate & Renewables GmbH.
E.ON Climate & Renewables GmbH has a major stake in renewable energy, and has, in a very short time, acquired some 1,400 wind and solar MW capacity around the world. E.ON C&R needed to be able to monitor all these facilities from its headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany, and to collect real time data on electricity production.
To establish and secure the necessary communications links proved to be easier said than done. Each facility has its own unique IT infrastructure, and in many cases the facilities were located offshore or in remote locations without traditional telephony and Internet connections.
Stainczyk & Partner GmbH, a Clavister systems integrator, was assigned the task of developing a solution for E.ON. After showcasing a proof-of-concept, the decision was made to deploy VMware ESX servers with integrated Clavister software firewalls at each site. These servers communicate with everything from DSL to satellite links via a relay station, from where the data is passed on to E.ON’s data center in Düsseldorf. All communication links are secured with Clavisters VPN technologies.
"The overall challenge was to create a uniform and secure way to communicate across so many facilities with E.ON’s diverse IT infrastructure," said Joachim Stainczyk, CEO at Stainczyk & Partner GmbH.
"There are many VPN products on the market, but Clavister was the only one flexible enough to deal with these diverse environments. At the same time it can be integrated into a virtual server environment, which means less equipment to deploy and support."
Being able to limit the deployment to one physical device per facility also has a major impact on operational security while virtualization technologies represent a cost-effective way to achieve the required redundancy and streamlined maintenance procedures.
"Clavister was the sole Security Gateway provider flexible enough to deal with our diverse IT environment. Furthermore, they met our extremely high reliability standards," said Uwe Fischer, CIO at E.ON C&R.
Link to E.ON case study
Media contact:
Maggie Warbrick, Clavister VP Marketing
Phone (46) 70 26 22254
maggie.warbrick@clavister.com
About Clavister
Since 1997, Clavister has been delivering leading network security solutions, providing commercial advantage to tens of thousands of businesses worldwide. The Clavister family of unified threat management (UTM) appliances and remote access solutions provide innovative and flexible network security with world-class management and control. Clavister is a pioneer of virtual network security, and this along with its portfolio of hardware and software appliances gives customers the ultimate choice. Clavister products are backed by Clavister’s award-winning support, maintenance and education program. Headquartered in Sweden, Clavister’s solutions are sold through International sales offices, distributors, and resellers throughout EMEA and Asia. Clavister was positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the Niche Players quadrant of the Magic Quadrant for Small to Medium Sized Business (SMB) Multifunction Firewalls. To learn more about Clavister, visit www.clavister.com
About E.On
E.ON, based in Düsseldorf, Germany, is the world’s largest private energy supply company, providing 25 million customers with electricity, gas, and water through its subsidiaries and associated companies around Europe. More than 88,000 employees generated just under EUR82 billion in sales in 2009. With leading market positions in power and gas E.ON operate in more than 30 countries. See www.e-on.com