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Case StudiesFinTech

NBFC – IPv4 to IPv6 Migration

By September 25, 2024No Comments

About NBFC Client 

A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business but does not include any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) or providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of immovable property.

Client Challenge

Client faced several challenges regarding their network infrastructure:

  • Limited Knowledge of IPv6: Client had limited knowledge about IPv6, making the transition challenging.
  • Regulatory Compliance: The RBI guidelines mandated the financial sector to move to IPv6.
  • Cost Efficiency: AWS started charging for public IPv4 addresses, while IPv6 addresses remained free, prompting clients to consider the financial benefits of migrating to IPv6.
  • Dual Stack Configuration: Client was unsure if dual stack (supporting both IPv4 and IPv6) could be configured effectively.
  • Network Compatibility: Client required that all public-facing traffic be available on both IPv4 and IPv6.
  • Office Network Transition: Clients needed to implement IPv6 in their head office and two branch offices while maintaining IPv4.

Architecture

The architecture for client’’s IPv4 to IPv6 migration included the following components:

  • AWS Infrastructure: Configured to support dual stack (IPv4 and IPv6) across all services.
  • Load Balancers: Set up to accept both IPv4 and IPv6 traffic, ensuring seamless user access.
  • Data Replication: Ensured data was accessible over both IPv4 and IPv6 without any disruptions.
  • Office Network: Migrated the network in the head office and branch offices to IPv6, maintaining IPv4 for legacy systems.
  • IPSec Tunnels: Configured IPSec tunnels over IPv6 for secure communication between offices.

Insight of Action

The following steps were taken to achieve the migration:

  1. Assessment and Planning:
    1. Conducted an assessment of the existing IPv4 infrastructure.
    2. Planned the transition to IPv6, ensuring compliance with RBI guidelines and cost efficiency.

  2. Configuration and Implementation:
    1. Configured AWS services to support dual stack, enabling both IPv4 and IPv6.
    2. Updated load balancers to accept traffic from both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.
    3. Implemented IPv6 in the office networks, ensuring seamless integration with existing IPv4 systems.
    4. Established secure IPSec tunnels over IPv6 for inter-office communication.

  3. Testing and Validation:
    1. Conducted thorough testing to ensure all services were accessible over both IPv4 and IPv6.
    2. Validated the functionality of IPSec tunnels over IPv6.

  4. Training and Support:
    1. Provided training to client’s IT team on managing and troubleshooting IPv6.
    2. Offered ongoing support to address any issues during the transition period.

Benefits

The migration to IPv6 provided client with several key benefits:

  • Regulatory Compliance: Client met the RBI guidelines for IPv6 implementation.
  • Cost Savings: By leveraging free IPv6 addresses, clients reduced costs associated with public IPv4 addresses.
  • Enhanced Network Compatibility: Dual stack configuration ensured seamless access for users over both IPv4 and IPv6.
  • Future-Proofing: The transition to IPv6 future-proofed client’s network infrastructure, preparing them for continued growth.
  • Improved Security: Secure IPSec tunnels over IPv6 enhanced communication security between office locations.

By successfully migrating to IPv6, clients  improved their network infrastructure’s efficiency, compliance, and cost-effectiveness while ensuring seamless operations across their offices.