Zscaler > Case Studies > Revolutionizing Connectivity: General Electric's Transition to Direct-to-Internet Architecture

Revolutionizing Connectivity: General Electric's Transition to Direct-to-Internet Architecture

Applicable Industries

Buildings
Electrical Grids

Use Cases

Cybersecurity
Time Sensitive Networking

About The Customer

General Electric (GE) is a multinational conglomerate that operates in various sectors including aviation, power, renewable energy, digital industry, and healthcare. Founded by Thomas Edison, GE has a significant global presence, with operations in more than 180 countries. The company generates a third of the world's energy, manages 90 percent of the electrical grids with its software, and powers two-thirds of all commercial aircraft with its engines. With 425,000 active users across 4,000 locations, GE processes approximately 3.5 billion transactions daily, making it one of the most extensive and complex corporate networks in the world.

The Challenge

General Electric (GE), a global powerhouse that generates a third of the world's energy, manages 90 percent of the electrical grids with its software, and powers two-thirds of all commercial aircraft with its engines, was facing a significant challenge. With 425,000 active users across 4,000 locations in more than 180 countries, GE processes approximately 3.5 billion transactions daily. However, the company's network had become increasingly complex and costly to maintain. Usage demands were mounting, data and applications were moving to the cloud, and the company was struggling to keep pace with 50,000 cybersecurity attacks every day. The need for a more efficient, secure, and cost-effective network solution was evident.

The Solution

GE's CTO, Chris Drumgoole, led the company in a sweeping change, deciding to replace the entire corporate network with a direct-to-internet architecture. The company partnered with Zscaler and SD-WAN to implement this transformation. This new approach provided identical security for employees, whether they were in the office, at home, or on the road. It eliminated wasted bandwidth and needless routing to VPNs, and reduced the time spent configuring command line interfaces (CLIs), creating VLANs, and changing firewall rules. This solution not only addressed the company's security concerns but also significantly improved network performance and efficiency.

Operational Impact

The transition to a direct-to-internet architecture has revolutionized GE's network operations. The new system has not only improved security but also significantly enhanced network performance. Employees now enjoy identical security, regardless of their location, which has boosted confidence and productivity. The elimination of wasted bandwidth and needless routing to VPNs has streamlined operations, making the network more efficient. Furthermore, the reduction in time spent on configuring command line interfaces, creating VLANs, and changing firewall rules has allowed the IT team to focus on more strategic tasks. Overall, the transformation has made GE's network more agile, secure, and cost-effective.

Quantitative Benefit