LippoBank Consolidates Data, Strengthens Disaster-Recovery Process with Cisco Storage Solution; Cisco MDS 9500 Multilayer Directors Help Indonesian Bank Streamline Operations.

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- PT. Bank Lippo, Tbk (LippoBank), Indonesia's first private bank, has strengthened its business-continuance process with a storage area network (SAN) solution from Cisco Systems(R) (NASDAQ:CSCO). The solution comprises a Fibre Channel-based SAN with Internet Protocol (IP) integration, enabling stored data to connect with the network infrastructure. With the new system, LippoBank is better able to manage its databases and to recover from a disaster, all while lowering costs and improving staff efficiency.

The solution replaced a mixture of storage systems and servers for customer account information and internal records such as management information system (MIS), decision support system (DSS) and human resource data. Apart from the technical problems of keeping track of a growing number of heterogeneous storage devices, the bank was also beginning to run into significant problems in attempting to manage disparate data pools that contained a mix of critical and noncritical information. Furthermore, with network security as a growing concern, disaster recovery was always at the forefront in any IT consideration.

The new integrated SAN solution features Cisco(R) MDS 9506 Multilayer directors connected via IP links to enable synchronous and asynchronous backups between the production sites and the disaster-recovery sites. Each Cisco MDS 9506 Director links the IBM pSeries 570 server, xSeries servers, mainframe zSeries server and 3590 Tape Drives with an IBM Enterprise Storage Server. The Cisco MDS 9506 is a highly scalable, standards-based director-class SAN switch with strong disaster-recovery capabilities.

Increasing Customer Trust

"We are very pleased with the Cisco SAN implementation. We now have a reliable data center that is easy to access and manage. It is also scalable and possesses near real-time replication functions to enable quick disaster recovery on our side," said Wellianto Halim, IT group head for LippoBank. "Our challenge is to meet the banking needs of our customers quickly and efficiently. We believe a strong and easily manageable IT infrastructure can support us in this area and improve our service level. By advancing the level of robust IT implementation in our organization, we can also increase our customers' trust in our organization, as well as the ease-of-use of our services through our various transaction points."

"Business continuance is a top-of-mind issue for organizations in the financial services industry such as LippoBank. Cisco's storage innovations draw on our 20-year history of leading the technological development of Internet and networking solutions. These innovations are developed in close consultation with our key customers, and the results are solutions that meet their business requirements," said Irfan Setiaputra, managing director for Cisco Systems Indonesia.

The Cisco SAN solution installed by Multipolar has improved LippoBank's storage capabilities and ability to react quickly to unforeseen challenges. With the Fibre Channel-over-IP (FCIP) link, LippoBank is able to place two physically distinct storage systems at separate secured locations for data replication and fast disaster recovery. Multipolar, long recognized as one of the leaders in the IT banking industry, was an obvious choice for the installation. Multipolar's expertise and level of commitment has resulted in a more robust IT infrastructure, which is vital for a company that places a premium on its customers' trust.

Lower Costs, Higher Productivity

The solution also helps LippoBank improve work efficiency and productivity while lowering costs. LippoBank is now able to share updated information with users of the system through the IP link. The users also have more choices when accessing the storage network. The network's improved reliability also means that users can connect to the storage system with FCIP instead of through expensive and limited fibre optic lines.

The SAN has significantly reduced the data administrator's management burden as well. And with customer, MIS, DSS and human resource data consolidated and stored in a jukebox disc, data replication is much easier and more reliable.

About LippoBank

The PT. Bank Lippo, Tbk (LippoBank), formerly known as NV. Bank Perniagaan, was established in 1948 as the first private bank in Indonesia. In 1989, the bank successfully merged with PT. Bank Umum Asia, and changed its name to PT. Bank Lippo, in time for an IPO launch at the Jakarta Stock Exchange and Surabaya Stock Exchange. More information is available at www.lippobank.co.id/english/.

About Multipolar

Established in 1975, PT Multipolar Corp. Tbk is the prominent IT strategic investments and total solution provider in Indonesia. Beside its experiences and competency in the financial sector, since 2001 Multipolar has been intensively offering total IT solutions, ranging from hardware and software to consultancy in manufacturing, telecommunications, government, utility, distribution and retail. Multipolar is the first Indonesian IT company to be listed in Jakarta Stock Exchange and Surabaya Stock Exchange (stock code MLPL).

About Cisco Systems

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