Blaze Private Core Network

The Blaze Private Core Network: a Solid and Secure Platform

In order to provide highly reliable, secure, and cost-effective connectivity and network solutions to our customers, Blaze operate our own UK based network infrastructure – through which all our connectivity, network, SaaS and hosting solutions are delivered.

This Blaze Private Core Network is the very heart of our operations. It is architected by us and built from the ground up to the highest standards.

The Blaze Private Core Network uses the carrier-grade Cisco ASR platforms together with cutting-edge security platforms from Fortinet (Fortinet components are also used for customer-side network elements, enabling enhanced security and manageability, particularly for Private SD-WAN solutions).

The Blaze Private Core Network interconnects directly with all major Tier 1 providers in the UK including, BT, Vodafone, Virgin and many more.

In addition to providing security benefits, having Tier 1 carriers connect directly to the Blaze Private Core Network enables complete end-to-end control over the connectivity services we provide, furthering our goal of delivering a superb level of service to customers.

As an internet service provider (ISP), a fully licenced Telecommunications Provider, LIR (Local Internet Registry), and MSP, Blaze provides a full range of network provision, management, and support services. These are primarily supplied by leveraging the Blaze Private Core Network, as illustrated below.  

Fully Managed in the UK

We configure, manage, monitor, and trouble-shoot all customer connectivity services and networks through our own Network Operations Centre (NOC) and the Blaze Service Desk. These facilities are both based in the UK (in Macclesfield) and operate 24/7/365. Unlike most ISPs in the UK our service desk will contact you if there is an issue through our proactive support approach.

We provide network solutions as either fully managed or co-managed services using our own highly qualified engineers.

Reliable Well-Connected Internet Infrastructure

The Blaze infrastructure is directly peered with global leaders like Century Link and Cogent Communications.  We have designed our network in such a way that no Tier 1 provider can interrupt our private core operations (due to our interconnected approach with the main Tier 1 providers). In addition to this, we connect privately to leading content delivery platforms such as Microsoft’s Azure and Amazon’s AWS.

Private Connectivity Services – Designed to Mitigate Cyber Security Risk

All Blaze Connectivity and Network services are connected directly into the Blaze Private Core Network and are secure by design. This enables our customers’ connections to avoid passing through the public internet, completely avoiding the cyber security risks found there when utilising our private network service offerings.

Where Blaze provide internet access-based solutions like DIA we protect the customers infrastructure with advanced Fortinet (unified threat management) UTM capable equipment. Additionally, we provide a huge range of services that ensure the edge gateway protection is maintained in a way that really does provide continues protection. This is achieved with service such as:

• Blaze Security information and event management (SEIM) change control
• Offsite sys logging
• Vulnerability scanning and assessment
• Penetration testing

This, combined with monthly or yearly reviews based on well know or required policy frameworks and policy controls, helps keep our customers protected from the ever-growing threat landscape.

  

A Heavily-Protected Gateway to the Public Internet to Minimise the Cyber-Attack Surface

For our private network customers, where internet access is needed, Blaze takes control of secure access to the public internet through our private network and then routes customer traffic on a customer-by-customer basis to dedicated, highly secure, and resilient Fortinet firewall gateways. We manage this single access point intensively, enabling all of the service points mentioned above.

Customers can co-manage certain elements to completely satisfy their own requirements (such as content control and identification integration and analysis). Blaze thrive on IT team enablement within the organisations we help to support.

Compliancy Cost and Effort Savings

Connection of Connectivity services directly into the Blaze Private Core Network also reduces customers’ security budget requirements.  Reductions can be gained in security subscriptions, and there will be reduced compliancy overhead and a reduced cyberattack surface.

Unlike most ISPs in the country, Blaze do not push back on your compliancy requirements. We undertake many of the requirements under our own service offerings – saving our customers time whilst increasing efficiency within the businesses we support.

High Availability connectivity solutions

Multiple connections provided on separate hardware provide our customers with an automatic, seamless failover solution as and when required.

In terms of connectivity to customer locations, what differentiates Blaze from the large ISPs across the UK is that we use multiple carrier networks to achieve high availability. For example, if you go to BT today with a high availability requirement, they will only use their own infrastructure to achieve the solution. In our experience there is a better way. Why be let down by one carrier or a single piece of hardware?

Blaze HA solutions utilise a minimum of two carriers provided on separate hardware; for example your primary line with BT and a secondary with Vodafone. We then use our resilient infrastructure to provide true IP-based failover between all the equipment – something that is not possible when approaching Tier 1 carriers directly because of the different IP address space that is provisioned.

DDNS as used in hybrid solutions does not provide true failover in the same way the Blaze HA solution operates. Blaze provides customers with a solution that can survive hardware failure as well as losing an entire carrier network. Blaze high availability solutions run at 100% uptime year on year. High availability solutions can be provided on both Public and Private based connections.    

Customer Benefits Enabled by the Blaze Private Core Network

Our goal is to deliver highly secure, well-managed and performant network services which are easily adaptable to changes in a customer’s needs. We deliver this while easing the challenges of high-quality network management on the customer’s own networking and IT team.

As a result of the approach we take to our own Core Network design and network management systems, the benefits which we can deliver to customers include:

• True carrier-independent, resilient infrastructure
• High availability design on the entire core offering N+1 and N+2
• High availability options for customers locations available on an N+1 basis.
• Compliancy driven Private Network
• Proactively Monitored Via Our UK Service Desk 24/7
• SD-WAN next-generation technology
• End-to-end SLA’s on ALL products
• Core network – 100% Uptime year on year.
• Compliant WiFi Solutions
• Completely uncongested network designed for business communications
• Unlimited data usage on business connectivity services
• Free access to the blaze enterprise grade monitoring platform
• Free change control, asset tracking, syslog and security event management including Unlimited technical support and consultancy.

Private connectivity to the Public Cloud services.

Offered in connection with our private network product range, Direct Peering connects your sites (using Blaze’s connectivity products) though the Blaze Private Core Network and on into your cloud service provider’s network using the private interconnects which Blaze has established with leading cloud service providers. Your data is no longer routed over the public internet and most importantly you will have end to end service level agreements from Blaze.

Blaze have private interconnections into major cloud providers like Microsoft and AWS so that private virtual local area networks VLAN’s can be connected all the way from your cloud service directly into your network.

Security Every Step of the Way: Blaze use client access security brokers CASB services to ensure your data flows from cloud environments like SharePoint, one drive and drop box are free of cyber threats before entering your network.

Whatever your network and connectivity needs, by leveraging our own, unique Blaze Private Core Network, Blaze can offer solutions which are secure, managed, agile and highly cost-effective.