HSBC buys intelligent network for London HQ
HSBC hopes to put an end to manual network connection audits with an £11m investment in intelligent monitoring technology.
Its docklands head office in London will have "the largest intelligent physical network management system in the world" following a contract with Comunica.
It has installed iTracs physical layer management technology in the building, which is due to open in June 2002.
HSBC expects to get a full return on investment within three years of launch.
The system senses the physical connections on network frames and keeps track of them using a database.
This new generation of management tools will mean cable connections will no longer have to be audited manually - saving time and eliminating out-of-date information. Previously, accidentally disconnected cables could remain undetected for long periods.
As it can sense physical connections, iTracs can tell when there is a problem and sound an alert or take security measures, such as activating a camera when device connections are altered by unauthorised people.
HSBC will move 8,500 people to the new headquarters; its network has 200,000 ports.
