T-Systems Switzerland
: Unleashing transformation with NetApp
Discover how this IT provider revolutionized data management for its clients with NetApp® Keystone®, enhancing flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability.
Proven performance
customer data under management
latency
more energy efficient storage arrayNetApp, ”High-capacity flash, lower TCO,” July 2024.
T-Systems Schweiz
An introduction
T-Systems Switzerland is redefining data management for clients in Europe, unlocking unmatched flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability through the innovative NetApp Keystone solution. With the mission of enhancing digital transformation, T-Systems consistently seeks innovative ways to support the unique needs of customers.
The small team based in Bern, Zollikofen packs a powerful punch. With engineers and a skilled operations group, they excel in direct customer engagement—translating client needs into actionable solutions. Their compact size allows them to stay agile and deeply connected to their customers.
T-Systems Switzerland operates as an independent national subsidiary within T-Systems International, a key part of Deutsche Telekom AG. The Swiss firm plays a crucial role in providing digital services and IT solutions, leveraging the robust ecosystem of Deutsche Telekom-T-Systems to support digital transformation across various sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and public services.
Deutsche Telekom-T-Systems’ 26-year collaboration with NetApp elevates data management and security through seamless cloud integration and strong backup and disaster recovery solutions. This strategic partnership enables data availability and rapid recovery. Certified for VMware, Deutsche Telekom-T-Systems delivers sustainable solutions with proven 99.9999% availability, employing an intelligent data infrastructure with unified storage and AI-powered ransomware detection.
Business and technical challenges
In an era of digitalization, a key customer of T-Systems Switzerland needed an agile and scalable data management solution. A transportation service required a reliable service to keep its critical database applications operating without disruptions. For T-Systems, the challenge was to enhance file storage capabilities without additional capital investment, allowing flexibility to adapt to fluctuating data demands.
Tailoring a flexible solution
NetApp Keystone proved to be the optimal solution for the provider. This cloud-like subscription service offers on-demand access to on-premises storage and data management solutions. Keystone provides agility and scalability, allowing businesses to pay only for what they use, while seamlessly adapting to changing data needs.
By adopting a pay-as-you-go model, T-Systems deployed several NetApp AFF A-Series and C-Series storage arrays, delivering storage-as-a-service with the flexibility to scale up or down based on changing needs. This approach enabled the provider to allocate resources quickly and deliver robust data services without the complexity of a capital expenditure model.
The implementation was seamless, thanks to NetApp’s dedicated support, which included personalized assistance for T-Systems Switzerland’s engineers. This support facilitated seamless integration with the existing infrastructure, improving the provider’s ability to manage large volumes of data with minimal latency.
“A true Keystone advantage is flexibility, the ability to scale operations up or down as needed—that adaptability is critical in today’s dynamic business environment.”
René Eyholzer, Squad Lead Storage and Backup, T-Systems Switzerland
Impact to T-Systems and its customer
The transition to NetApp Keystone has substantially improved data management capabilities. Key outcomes include:
- Enhanced flexibility: The pay-as-you-go model allows dynamically adjusted storage capacity, effectively handling data surges without disruption.
- Cost efficiency: By avoiding heavy upfront investments, T-Systems optimizes its budget allocation, channeling funds into strategic growth areas.
- Operational excellence: With reduced latency and improved throughput, customers benefit from smoother operations, translating to increased reliability for their services.
- Sustainability: The NetApp C-Series array’s energy-efficient design aligns with T-Systems’ sustainability goals by reducing rack space and minimizing power consumption and cooling needs.
These improvements have not only met the stringent demands of transportation service but also positioned T-Systems as a leader in sustainable digital solutions for the wider European transportation industry. T-Systems Switzerland proudly earned the prestigious EcoVadis Gold Medal certification, ranked in the top 2% of companies globally for sustainability practices.T-Systems, “T-Systems Schweiz erhält Goldmedaille von EcoVadis,” August 2024. Committed to pushing boundaries, it’s striving for Platinum recognition in 2025.
“Having a team behind you is vital. NetApp is always checking, always taking care. With NetApp Keystone, you get more than a service, you get a committed team ready to support and guide you.”
René Eyholzer, Squad Lead Storage and Backup, T-Systems Switzerland
Eyholzer offered insights into T-Systems’ journey with NetApp, emphasizing significant improvement in operational agility that allows his team to swiftly adapt to the client’s evolving data demands. Seamless integration was a pivotal factor, reducing the challenges typically associated with tech transitions.
He also praised the collaborative spirit of NetApp, which helped customize the solution to precisely fit the requirements. This customer-centric approach assured that each iteration was tailored to minimize disruptions and enhance value delivery. This collaboration not only fortified the service’s daily operations but also cemented T-Systems’ position as a trusted partner.
“Three years in, and I can confidently say Keystone was the best decision we made. It’s a journey, and with NetApp, we are navigating each wave, improving and growing together.”
René Eyholzer, Squad Lead Storage and Backup, T-Systems Switzerland
What lies ahead?
Keystone’s pay-as-you-go service has provided flexibility, cost savings, and improved service delivery. The success with the transportation service sets a precedent for future venture projects, reaffirming the provider’s commitment to offering its customers cutting-edge IT solutions. T-Systems Switzerland intends to explore further innovations with NetApp, potentially integrating AI and machine learning capabilities to optimize data management processes.
Learn more about the T-Systems and NetApp partnership.
