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BlueCat Helps Cologne Bonn Airport Redesign its Network Architecture to Improve IPAM, Gain Visibility and Streamline Processes
Technology Category
- Cybersecurity & Privacy - Network Security
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Computing
Applicable Industries
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Cybersecurity
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
Cologne Bonn Airport, one of the largest commercial airports in Germany, was facing challenges with its home-grown network. The rapid growth in Wifi connectivity from personal mobile devices and greater use of IP-enabled devices, such as security cameras, dramatically increased network demand. In addition, the airport added many IP-based services to improve the customer experience. With multiple DNS zones, differing technologies, and a segregated network access team, the airport lacked a standardized network configuration or centralized visibility. The airport's network team turned to Axians, a German technology company, for guidance on the project.
About The Customer
Cologne Bonn Airport is one of the largest commercial airports in Germany. It serves approximately 9.45 million passengers per year, making it the seventh largest passenger airport in the country. It is also the third largest cargo facility and one of the only 24-hour airports in Germany. The airport is a hub for passenger airlines Eurowings and Germanwings, and cargo airlines FedEx Express and UPS Airlines. It is also used by the German Aerospace Center and European Astronaut Center space agencies for astronaut training. The airport has two terminals, offering 53 shops, bars, and restaurants, as well as three multi-story parking garages. More than 13,000 people are employed at the airport, and an additional 26,000 jobs in the region are dependent on the airport.
The Solution
BlueCat and Axians worked together to tackle the project with a focus on centralized management and bullet-proof security. BlueCat recommended that the network be divided into four areas for standard applications and devices, network services, IP-based security cameras, and automated IP-based functionality in the parking garages. To provide maximum security, BlueCat isolated each area with an internal DMZ using a caching DNS layer to resolve internal IP addresses. The solution architects also recommended a completely separate external DMZ as an added security layer. Once the infrastructure was in place, the BlueCat project team conducted a data cleaning and migration effort that took just three days. The team had one day to cleanse the data, identify overlapping DNS data, and determine where the data should be located in the new network design. The team also transformed some key spreadsheets into the meta data of the new IP database and redesigned the DNS/DHCP architecture.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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