In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, secure and efficient file transfer solutions are critical for global businesses to thrive. iSteer Technologies, a leader in enterprise automation and digital integration, has been at the forefront of helping businesses achieve seamless digital transformations. This post highlights how iSteer played a pivotal role in migrating a lens manufacturing company from the legacy MoveIT system to TIBCO Managed File Transfer (MFT) for enhanced file security and operational efficiency.
The Client: Lens Manufacturing Company
The lens manufacturing company, a global player in the lens industry, operates across multiple regions and emphasizes innovation and operational excellence. To better align its business with the digital future, this company partnered with iSteer Technologies to enhance its file transfer capabilities, focusing on security and scalability.
The Challenge: MoveIT Security Concerns
The company’s previous file transfer system, MoveIT, experienced a security breach, raising significant concerns about data security and system reliability. To mitigate future risks and improve file transfer efficiency, they decided to migrate over 300+ flows from MoveIT to TIBCO MFT.
Tool Selection: Why TIBCO MFT?
TIBCO MFT was chosen for its ability to securely transfer files, automate processes, and scale with the company’s growing needs. MS Azure was also selected as the cloud platform for its flexibility and scalability, further aligning the company’s infrastructure with its business growth strategy.
The Migration Process: Preparing for Go-Live
The migration from MoveIT to TIBCO MFT was a multi-phase process, involving requirement gathering, installation, configuration, and thorough testing. iSteer worked closely with the lens manufacturing company to identify and prioritize the flows that needed to be migrated, ensuring minimal disruption to daily operations.
Key milestones included:
- Requirement Gathering: Identifying and documenting the 300+ flows from MoveIT, and prioritizing those crucial for day-to-day operations.
- Go-Live Preparation: Installation of TIBCO MFT, network resizing, and running a series of integration tests.
- Migration and Testing: Involves validating migrated flows through unit and user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure all processes function as expected.
Automation and Monitoring: Enhancing Efficiency
iSteer implemented three critical automations to streamline the file transfer process for the lens manufacturing company, ensuring faster, more reliable, and secure data flow. These automations minimize manual intervention, reduce errors, and enhance overall operational efficiency.
1. Automated Template Creation
The first automation focuses on the creation of configuration templates for file transfers. Traditionally, configuring these templates manually can be time-consuming and prone to human error. iSteer addressed this by creating a script that automates the process.
- How it Works: The script pulls data from a CSV file, which contains key parameters for each file transfer, and uses this data to generate configuration templates automatically. This ensures that all necessary settings (such as file paths, security protocols, and connection details) are applied consistently and accurately across all transfers.
- Benefits: This automation reduces setup time and ensures uniformity across all configurations, making it easier to manage and scale as the volume of file transfers increases. It also minimizes the risk of errors caused by manual input.
2. Automated Start and Stop of File Transfer Processes
- How it Works: Using scheduled cron jobs or deployment pipelines, this automation triggers file transfers at predefined times or based on specific events. The script automatically initiates or halts the flow of data as needed, ensuring that transfers occur without requiring manual intervention.
- Benefits: This approach optimizes resource usage, as file transfers only occur when necessary, and it eliminates the need for a dedicated team to manually initiate or stop these processes. The automation ensures that file transfers are executed precisely when scheduled, contributing to more predictable and reliable workflows.
3. Automated Flow Monitoring and Issue Detection
The final automation implemented by iSteer focuses on monitoring file transfers in real-time. Given the importance of timely and accurate data transfers, it’s crucial to detect and resolve issues as they occur. This is where automated monitoring comes in.
- How it Works: A monitoring script regularly checks the status of file transfers through cron jobs. It identifies pending or failed transfers and sends alerts to the team if any anomalies are detected. This system continuously tracks the file flow, ensuring that any delays or disruptions are promptly addressed.
- Benefits: This automation significantly reduces downtime by allowing the team to quickly react to issues. The proactive approach ensures that files are delivered on time, and problems are fixed before they escalate, maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the system.
Success Metrics: Measuring the Impact
The success of this migration is measured by:
Improved Security: TIBCO MFT’s advanced encryption ensures secure file transfers.
Operational Efficiency: Automated workflows and improved monitoring processes significantly reduce manual intervention and the likelihood of errors.
Cost Savings:By retiring the outdated MoveIT system and phasing out legacy hardware, the company is projected to save $10,000 annually.
