Eurostar
Logicalis help Eurostar deliver a complete secure remote access solution.
The Client
Eurostar started operations in 1994 and provides a fast rail service linking the UK to France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel. Eurostar has been at the leading edge of innovation in the rail industry, setting new standards for travel by train. These innovations include business lounges, a loyalty programme, Premium First Class and meal inclusive tickets for first class passengers.
Eurostar has established itself as the leading carrier to Brussels and Paris and has the largest share of the rail/air market on its core routes despite intense competition. Eurostar has over 65% of the London-Paris rail/air market and over 45% of the London-Brussels rail/air market Eurostar carries more passengers between London and Paris than all of the airlines put together.
As an international company, the business benefits significantly when staff have easy access to email and corporate applications wherever they are. Delivering this capability via the remote access project has been invaluable in ensuring smooth business operation.
The Challenge
Eurostar was looking for a remote access solution that would give its staff working throughout Europe secure access to company data and applications.
The existing systems (a managed dial-up remote access solution) were dated and telecommunication and administration costs were rising. This system also restricted the remote access to staff using company pre-configured laptops. Eurostar started to look for a traditional IPSec VPN solution that would complement their existing remote access systems. The new remote access solution also needed additional authentication over and above the inherent VPN security.
The tight integration of the new solution with existing secure authentication services was key to providing a smooth and seamless remote access solution.
The Solution
While Eurostar were investigating traditional VPN solutions they became aware that a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Virtual Private Network (VPN) implementation would provide a superior solution. In that it:
- Negates requirement to provide VPN client software on company laptops
- Provides access from any location, any device
- Tailored remote access dependent on device / location used
Eurostar then evaluated many of the current SSL VPN offerings and decided to trial solutions from NetScreen (then Neoteris), Nokia and Whale. After tough competition in a side by side trial of all three solutions, the NetScreen Secure Access solution was chosen - primarily for its easy administration and excellent user look and feel - as well as its exceptional High Availability characteristics, scalability and LDAP integration.
Logicalis delivered overall project management to Eurostar - including design and implementation of the NetScreen-SA as well as an RSA SecureID authentication solution, which provides Eurostar with two factor authentication.
The NetScreen-SA and RSA combination provide tight integration with Eurostar's directory services, which helps to minimise ongoing administration overhead and keep costs down.
Project Successes and Benefits
The SSL VPN Client-less interface means that low maintenance, secure access is now available from home, hotel and Internet café as well as the corporate environment. All traces of the connection to Eurostar's network are removed from the client by the NetScreen-SA thereby enhancing security.
A simple, flexible interface and easy administration as well as better performance makes the NetScreen-SA a cost effective solution for Eurostar.
The NetScreen-SA complements the existing dial up solution to provide a total remote access solution for Eurostar that meets the needs of its entire staff wherever they are and whatever application they need to use.