WellStreet Urgent Care
WellStreet Urgent Care - Wide Area Network Rebuild
This case study revolves around Wellstreet Urgent Care, a Georgia-based healthcare provider with a network of 18 locations spanning Georgia to Virginia, and part of a larger network of 54 Urgent Care facilities across the Southeast US to Minnesota.
My engagement with Wellstreet began in late 2020 when they sought assistance with their network integration challenges. As an existing AT&T customer, they encountered issues aligning their ANIRA network with their MPLS network and sought to enhance their security posture with a Cloud Based Firewall solution from AT&T.
During the discovery phase, I uncovered significant compatibility issues between their MPLS, ANIRA, and Cloud Based Firewall services. These challenges necessitated a comprehensive network overhaul to ensure seamless integration and functionality. Despite initial resistance from the sales team, I embarked on a journey to devise a solution that would address these complexities while meeting Wellstreet’s evolving needs.
The resulting network design, iterated three times, resembled a Managed Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution, leveraging Palo Alto Prisma Cloud Firewall with Cortex Data Lake, VeloCloud SDWAN, and Managed Threat Detection and Response services. While AT&T did not offer a SASE solution at the time, the integration of these components provided the foundation for enhanced security, reliability, and compliance.
Although I cannot delve into the technical intricacies of the solution, I am pleased to report that Wellstreet embraced the proposed digital transformation wholeheartedly. They expanded the project to encompass all 54 locations nationwide, signifying their confidence in the solution’s efficacy. Furthermore, their monthly expenditure increased to approximately $95K, reflecting the added value and comprehensive coverage provided by the new network infrastructure.
With enhanced visibility, compliance, and security, Wellstreet Urgent Care now operates with confidence and efficiency, setting a benchmark for network excellence within the healthcare industry.
In Conclusion.
The implemented solution seamlessly integrates Palo Alto Prisma Cloud Firewall with Cortex Data Lake, VeloCloud SDWAN, and Managed Threat Detection and Response services. These components work in tandem to fortify the network’s security posture while ensuring continuous uptime and functionality. Monitoring of these services is conducted round-the-clock by the AT&T Managed SOC, AT&T NOC (specifically for SDWAN), and MTDR SOC.
While I’m unable to delve into the granular technical details, I’m thrilled to share that the customer expressed satisfaction with the solution. They demonstrated their confidence by signing new three-year contracts for the digital transformation initiative, which expanded from the initial 18 locations to encompass all 54 locations nationwide. As a result, their monthly expenditure, even with discounts, increased from $45K to approximately $95K. This investment reflects the substantial enhancements in compliance, visibility, and network performance achieved through the implementation. Compared to previous infrastructure setups like MPLS or Metro Ethernet, the customer now enjoys a level of visibility that is leaps and bounds ahead, ensuring heightened security and operational efficiency.
Results.