Commercial Bank of Qatar achieves key strategic operational target with EMC technology

EMC, the world leader in information infrastructure solutions, has successfully completed implementation of a major server virtualization project for Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ), a major financial institution with a deposit base of QR 31.9 billion and a network of 32 full service branches and 144 ATMs across the Peninsula state. 

EMC’s Storage Area Network (SAN) and Virtualization solution is the key enabler to achieving CBQ’s strategic requirement of a quick Recovery Time Objective (RTO) for all bank’s applications. The three phase project included a six-month consultation period during which EMC specialists made a detailed assessment of the bank’s infrastructure and put the design to converge it to technologies such as virtualization and private cloud. EMC high end and mid range storage for a virtualized infrastructure was introduced to connect hundreds of the  Bank servers. 

The solution implemented comprises EMC’s Symmetrix V-Max, CLARiiON, and Data Domain systems. The Symmetrix VMAX system introduces a revolutionary scale-out architecture created to match the future growth demands of virtual IT environments. EMC meets enterprise-critical applications requirements of high availability infrastructure with the highest performing system, Symmetrix V-MAX. Commercial Bank of Qatar was the first bank to adopt the V-Max Technology in Qatar. 

CBQ has therefore been able to take advantage of server virtualization capabilities to further advance its high availability and strengthen its IT platform. 

Andy Stevens, Group CEO, Commercial bank, was quoted saying “Technology is critical today to 24x7 business operations, hence such solutions are essential for forward-thinking organisations that need to deliver reliability and growth, and transform our information infrastructure, thus reinforcing Commercial bank’s position as the leading financial services provider in Qatar.”

Rafed Al-Ani, Principal Technology Officer for CBQ, also added “We are now able to move applications to a different hardware (while the application is running and even during business hours) without incurring downtime. Moving to Private Cloud Computing gives our applications resiliency over hardware problems. The same technology allows us to switch to our Backup Site quickly if needed. In fact, we have tested this successfully several times already”.

“The choice of EMC’s industry-leading technology came after thorough consideration of the quality and reliability of its solutions and the commitment of the EMC team to help us transform our information infrastructure and be the leading financial services provider in Qatar, partnering with our customers for a more prosperous and secure future,” Rafed continued. 

EMC’s solutions adopted by the bank will also help it reduce its carbon footprint as it abides by Green IT guidelines. 

“It is extremely gratifying to be able to seamlessly and timely implement a robust solution that is designed in a bespoke way to meet the stringent requirements of one of the Middle East’s most prestigious financial institutions,” said Habib Mahakian, Regional Director for North Gulf, Levant & Pakistan Area, EMC. 

“Our technology will further improve and support the Information Infrastructure of the Commercial Bank of Qatar to help them achieve the customer services goals as well as their growth plans. We are really keen to continue the journey with CBQ towards its next generation infrastructure that will empower the transformation of its financial services offerings.”