Killer Ink

The customer

Killer Ink is a leading supplier of tattoo supplies and equipment in the UK and Europe. With distribution points in Liverpool, UK, and Butzbach, Germany, the company operates 24/7, ensuring rapid order fulfilment and next-day delivery across multiple regions. Given the nature of their business, network security, uptime, and resilience are critical to operations.

When Killer Ink was founded as a family-run business in a small warehouse in central Liverpool, connectivity needs were minimal. A single 100 Mbps leased line sufficed for operations. This setup worked well for a small-scale operation but was soon outdated as the business began to scale.

The Challenge

In 2020, Killer Ink faced security concerns and networking challenges with their incumbent ISP, BT. They needed a more secure and robust networking solution that could:

• Enhance network and device security, improving both firewalling and security posture.
• Scale with ongoing operational growth.
• Provide a resilient internet connection spanning two distinct buildings.
• Ensure 24/7 uptime for seamless business operations.
• Deliver enterprise-grade security solutions to prevent cyber threats and unauthorized network access.

The Methodology

Evolving Networks initially provided networking and security consultancy to assess Killer Ink’s existing setup, identify vulnerabilities, and design a solution that would integrate with existing leased lines whilst delivering significant cost savings and improved end user experience.

As Killer Ink was contractually tied to BT, a phased migration plan delivering seamless integration of the existing leased line into our Ultimate Internet service was used. This ensured a smooth transition while improving network security, resilience and reliability.

Additionally, legacy firewalls were to be replaced with advanced Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) appliances without disrupting operations. This required careful planning and execution to minimise downtime and ensure a seamless transition, guaranteeing continued protection and optimal network performance for end users.

The Solution

Evolving Networks deployed a new networking and security solution comprising Ultimate Internet and Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) services, ensuring High Availability and seamless failover across two sites.

Ultimate Internet:

• 4 circuits from diverse carriers aggregated to present one single logical connection providing maximum resilience and seamless failover.
• Two leased lines (one per building) and a diverse Point-to-Point (P2P) link between the buildings, with the leased lines being carrier and exchange resilient.
• Broadband circuits complement each leased line, ensuring diverse alternative routes for data transmission.
• 100% uptime SLA, ensuring uninterrupted service with full IP affinity.
• Hardware Resilience: Should either network appliance (EVX) fail, the customer remains online with the same IP.
• Zero-touch bi-directional QoS
• Carrier-independent, always-on internet
• Proactive monitoring and telemetry to detect faults before they impact operations.
• No loss of IP address in the event of failure.
• Seamless scalability

Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW):

• Built on a high-performance, modular open-source platform (OPNsense), combining traditional protections with advanced capabilities.
• Integrated IDS/IPS, and inline threat prevention against malware, spyware & phishing.
• VPN Access for Remote Workers via OpenVPN and WireGuard, with LDAP/Active Directory integration.
• VLAN-based LAN segmentation and ACLs for granular, policy-driven security.
• High Availability architecture deployed across both sites for seamless failover.
• Real-time traffic analytics and enhanced visibility.

The results

• Enhanced Security: Enterprise-grade protection with real-time threat prevention and advanced firewall capabilities.
• Uninterrupted Operations: 24/7 uptime with intelligent failover and continuous monitoring.
• Cost and Performance Efficiency: Optimised costs and high-performance connectivity with zero bandwidth waste.
• Scalability and Flexibility: A future-proof infrastructure ready for business growth.

Today, Killer Ink benefits from a fully managed, high-performance, resilient, and secure network infrastructure, ensuring their business remains agile, protected, and ready for future challenges.