19 Oct 2023

CS company is well-known not only in Ukraine but also internationally as a software solutions provider for financial institutions.  

With over two decades of experience in this industry, we recognize that the data storage, speed of transfer and security challenges faced by banks can often be effectively addressed by adopting modern Core Banking Systems (CBS) and other software updates. Often, yet not always. 

Servers, storage systems, and other hardware can become outdated and, at times, struggle to keep up with a bank's growth. They may also prove incompatible with the contemporary systems used by the institution. To tackle these issues, CS offers turnkey solutions for comprehensive infrastructure complexes. 

CS Infrastructure Complexes Go Beyond Mere Hardware 

Hardware solutions for banking institutions typically come bundled with software that ensures their seamless operation. This precise combination is what CS offers to clients seeking assistance with selecting, upgrading, and expanding their server, storage, and network equipment. The software component, responsible for monitoring or virtualization (such as VMware), is also an integral part of these infrastructure complexes. 

Furthermore, CS experts focus on optimizing the entire complex's performance, tailoring both hardware and system settings to individual requirements. 

Why Should a Bank Turn to CS Expertise for Equipment Procurement? 

The comprehensiveness of the solutions offered by CS is the foremost reason to choose us for hardware solutions. We provide banking software, system software (Oracle), as well as the hardware. 

The readiness to ensure the operational efficiency of the entire complex is something no dealer or distributor can offer to a bank, but it's something we can provide. 

Among the key aspects of delivering infrastructure complexes from CS: 

Thorough preliminary analysis of banking requirements. The process of selecting the optimal hardware solution always commences with an evaluation of the projected system workload. Collaboratively with our clients, we measure current parameters and forecast future ones. 

These parameters can vary for each product. For instance, when it comes to iFOBS — CS online banking system for corporate and individual clients, it's crucial to determine the number of external users, including both individuals and legal entities, as well as their expected growth. For CBS B2 expected workload our experts delve into the quantity of documents, transactions, and bank’s historical growth trends over the past 2-3-5 years. No vendor specializing exclusively in hardware solutions can match the depth of our analysis of a bank's unique needs. 

Optimal price-to-quality ratio with no unnecessary extras. The CS team consistently cultivates long-term relationships with our customers. Whether a bank exclusively utilizes our software, acquires only an infrastructure complex, or opts for both, our primary goal is to maintain trust in our company and foster cooperation that endures and potentially grows over time. That's why we don't engage in sales just for the sake of selling. We offer only the components that will provide the greatest benefit to the bank with minimal investment, ensuring durability and optimal performance of the entire system. 

Trustworthy Vendors. We not only collaborate with industry leaders but also stay attuned to evolving trends. Technology advances swiftly, and products from the same manufacturer can exhibit significant variations in reliability and performance, depending on the product line. Companies frequently revise warranty terms, and compatibility parameters with other equipment can also undergo changes. 

Our experts are well-versed in these intricacies and understand why it's not optimal to rely solely on one vendor’s equipment. They possess the expertise to ensure seamless compatibility among individual components within the infrastructure complex, making the entire system poised for future modernization and expansion. 

Seamless implementation and data migration. We understand the paramount importance of continuity and data security for banking institutions. The migration to upgraded software and equipment is executed with meticulous attention to detail. Initially, we test the complex in a standby mode, while the existing system continues to operate. We conduct a thorough analysis, ensuring proper functionality and state synchronization. The transition to new equipment takes place over weekends, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted migration process. 

Performance optimization. One of the key areas of expertise for CS in regard of infrastructure complexes for banks is optimizing these systems to suit the institution's unique needs. We don't just provide modern and reliable equipment. We also configure it to meet specific requirements, ensuring the optimal operation of the system and high performance under the bank's current workloads. 

Experience. CS embarked on the path of supplying infrastructure complexes to financial institutions back in 2010. Even before that, our expertise was cultivated through the company's own needs for storage systems, servers, and network equipment. 

Over the years, dozens of banks have relied on the hardware carefully selected, shipped, and deployed by CS. And when the time comes for upgrades, they turn to us once again. 

Hardware That Grows Along with the Bank 

It is impossible for CS specialists to make estimates and select new equipment without understanding the bank's future needs.  

Each institution has its unique development history that can be projected into the future, along with specific expansion plans. A bank aiming for steady linear growth and one with ambitions of rapid expansion will require different infrastructure complexes, even if their current performance appears very similar. When necessary, our CS specialists can calculate and propose several procurement options tailored to various scenarios of your bank's development. 

Opting for the most expensive and cutting-edge equipment may seem like a convenient choice. While it will certainly function, the real benefits flow only to the vendor providing that hardware. We firmly reject this one-size-fits-all approach to collaboration and ensure that the infrastructure complex aligns with your bank's actual needs. 

For banks planning expansion, we take measures to ensure that the components of the infrastructure complex don't become prematurely obsolete and remain compatible with new models for three to five years, seamlessly integrating into a unified system. Sometimes, it makes sense to design a complex to operate smoothly for several years without requiring updates or extensions while maintaining an optimal price for today. 

These are the intricate details often overlooked by hardware solution vendors in the financial sector, but for us, they serve as the foundation upon which we build long-term and fruitful relationships with our clients. 

What About Cloud Solutions? 

Cloud technologies offer innovative potential and provide convenient backup storage of critical data for Ukrainian banks, especially under martial law. However, these advantages are where the benefits of this solution end. 

While the monthly payment for cloud services may appear cost-effective initially, in the long term, investing in an in-house infrastructure complex proves to be a more cost-effective option. Additionally, having such a complex on the bank's balance sheet can be advantageous during audits. 

Another challenge with cloud computing is the speed of data transfer. The imposed download speed limit in cloud storage can hinder the seamless transfer of up-to-date data to an alternative storage when needed. Compliance with regulatory security requirements can also pose challenges for cloud solutions. 

We closely monitor innovations, offerings, and pricing in the realm of cloud solutions, and currently, we believe that supplying physical infrastructure complexes remains the most suitable choice for banking institutions. 

How to Order an Infrastructure Complex from CS? 

Roman Moyseyev, Head of the Infrastructure Solutions Sales Department at CS, explains the process of ordering an infrastructure complex for financial institutions: 

When fulfilling orders for infrastructure complexes, we look at the task from the customer's perspective. We supply only what is genuinely necessary and what will perform well with the specified software and workloads. This benefits both our clients and us, not only in terms of ongoing support for the complex but also in terms of our reputation. 

When asked what a bank should do first when looking to upgrade its hardware, I answer with a great level of confidence: 'Get in touch with us.' It's through this simple dialogue that an understanding of the customer's real needs emerges, and the work on projects of any complexity begins. 

To request additional materials and receive personalized consultation regarding the ordering of infrastructure complexes, please send an inquiry via email to: [email protected].