Empowering IT Solutions with VyOS: A Success Story of Firewall as Code and Secure Datacenter Routing

“VyOS has played a vital role in helping the client achieve their objectives, reducing costs, enhancing productivity, and ensuring a secure datacenter routing platform for their clients. VyOS has proven to be a valuable asset in their IT infrastructure.”
— Schuster & Walther

Customer Overview

Schuster & Walther is a prominent IT solutions provider specializing in cloud, managed services, security, and infrastructure. They focus on delivering top-notch services and solutions to their customers.

Challenge

The client faced a critical challenge in their datacenter backend. They needed a scalable routing platform that could seamlessly integrate with their existing infrastructure and provide them with the ability to deploy Firewall as Code (FWaC). The previous solution, Sophos UTM, had reached the end of its support lifecycle, leaving them in search of a reliable replacement that offered enhanced features and stability.

Why VyOS

In their quest for a new solution, the client evaluated various alternatives, including industry leaders like Cisco, Sophos XG, and Lancom. However, they were particularly drawn to VyOS due to its exceptional capabilities and robust feature set. Key drivers included:

Automation Support:: The availability of Ansible support played a pivotal role, allowing them to automate and streamline their deployment processes efficiently.
CLI Clarity:: The clarity provided by VyOS's CLI and the ability to view which code influenced specific configurations gave them confidence in managing their network effectively.
Support Reputation:: The reputation of VyOS's support team made it the clear choice for Schuster & Walther.

Implementation

VyOS seamlessly integrated into Schuster & Walther's network infrastructure. The client chose to deploy VyOS entirely in-house to gain a deep understanding of the product and have full control over its support. The entire process, from the initial test deployment to integration into production, took approximately six months. Key implementation highlights:

Firewall as Code: Configurations are stored in a GitHub repository, streamlining network management processes.
Monitoring: Seamless integration with Zabbix Monitoring enhanced operational efficiency.
Deployment: Prebuilt images simplified the implementation process.

Results

VyOS has empowered Schuster & Walther's team with a highly reliable and secure routing platform. Key outcomes included:

Operational Efficiency: The ability to deploy configurations with Ansible has greatly enhanced their operational efficiency.
Cost Savings: The shift to VyOS has resulted in cost savings, as the client now only needs to invest in VyOS's excellent support, which proves to be more cost-effective than their previous alternative.
Ease of Management: The team appreciates the ease of troubleshooting that VyOS offers, enabling them to quickly identify and resolve any network issues.

Looking Ahead

After three years of using VyOS, the client remains highly satisfied with their decision. The VyOS solution has not only met their original criteria but has surpassed their expectations by providing stability, automation capacity, and exceptional support.