Akbank

Improving IT efficiency and ensuring compliance

To bring project Symphony to life, Akbank used OpenText Data Center Automation with Server Automation and Operations Orchestration. The goals were clear at the onset: enable the IT infrastructure team to use their time as efficiently as possible and achieve full compliance.

The project began with the creation of a central automation team of six people. This team analyzed all manual IT processes, standardized them as needed, and then mapped them to automation tools. IT processes with higher expected savings took priority. Standard orchestration flows were used to automate provisioning, patching, and compliance controls across a heterogeneous environment of many major vendors’ operating systems, databases, and middleware. Additional customized flows for infrastructure planning, test automation integration, and license and capacity management were also developed. Automation for compliance included CIS benchmarks, compliance for patching, and custom controls for internal audits.

Project symphony delivers a master performance

Initiated in August 2018, project Symphony was completed in eight short months, with outstanding results.

We saved an average of 5,000 human hours per week in 2019. The savings soared to 15,000 human hours per week during remote working periods due to COVID-19 in 2020.

By automating and standardizing processes, the bank eliminated manual errors and reduced the risks associated with manual procedures.

Running compliance controls in the bank’s large-scale infrastructure once required serious effort. Now automation makes it possible to continually run compliance controls and easily generate compliance reports.

“Achieving successful outcomes at the end of a harmonious collaboration is very important for us,” said Deniz Kırca, OpenText (formerly Micro Focus) Turkey general manager. “Our collaboration with Akbank – through project Symphony – paved the way for a highly efficient, high-performing orchestrated data center. We look forward to continuing this powerful collaboration.”