The key link responsible for connecting and delivering CU*BASE/GOLD to all of the 200+ in-network credit unions nation-wide is the CU*Answers private Wide Area Network (WAN) consisting of redundant technology paths traversing multiple service providers. By combining both MPLS and Internet VPN technologies with auto-failover capabilities, data communication disruptions are minimized with the added benefit of performance at a reasonable cost. Orchestrating a complex, highly available data communications network requires cooperation and coordination between the CUSO, credit union IT departments, and multiple third party service providers.
Network availability is managed and monitored by CU*Answers Network Services at both the primary and secondary datacenters.
Data Encryption
Keeping member data secure is our highest priority. Not only is network traffic encrypted between networks over a secure router-to-router tunnel, data for each GOLD session is also encryption end-to-end, from the client all the way to the host.
Contact your CU*Answers Network Services associate for more information regarding CU*BASE data encryption.
Third Party EFT Vendor Network
The term “third party” implies that there is a third point of communications required to complete the B2B service transaction (credit union to CUSO to vendor). For critical services that client credit unions depend on for daily operations, it is in their best interest that they become familiar with the continuity and recovery plans for each party involved. Knowing what to expect in the event of a service disruption helps credit unions to plan accordingly.
CU*Answers has partnered with several EFT service providers (i.e. shared branching and ATM/Debit/Credit card processing) to enhance the availability of the EFT network at both the primary and secondary production datacenters through redundant data communication lines with auto-failover capabilities. CU*Answers is committed to network availability and will continue to pursue similar projects with all remaining vendors who to date have opted not to invest in redundant communication capabilities. Recovery procedures for these EFT vendors include client credit unions operating according to their “stand-in” processing arrangements until vendor connectivity is restored.
Contact your CU*Answers Network Services associate for more information regarding third-party EFT vendor networks.
For the Credit Union
Depending on the number of physical sites within your credit union, the amount of network traffic (bandwidth) required, and technology options available at each branch, multiple configurations for connectivity exist that help reduce the dependency on the main office by each branch location. We recommend that network configurations with redundant lines are tested (failover) regularly to ensure connectivity during a service disruption.
For more information, see the Resilient Credit Union
Next Steps
CU*Answers offers professional and managed services to help you meet and exceed your recovery objectives. Contact a CU*Answers Continuity Consultant today to discover in-network solutions that best meet your business objectives.
Professional Services available include:
- Business Continuity Planning and Resilience Testing
- Information Security Risk Assessment
- Comprehensive Information Security Program (CISP)
- Staff Security Training
- IT Examination and Audit Preparation
- IT Strategy Consulting
Managed Services available include:
- Network Management and Monitoring
- Continuous Data Protection (CDP) including off-site data storage
- Virtual Branch / Virtual Office
