In a world where digitalization drives competitiveness and innovation, critical infrastructure in banking services plays a crucial role. From the use of data centers to the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity standards, banks need robust and adaptable strategies to manage this increasingly complex digital environment. Below, we analyze the key aspects of managing critical infrastructure for modern banking in the context of its digitalization..
Banking Business in the Digital Era
Modern banking has evolved to offer more diversified services tailored to the needs of the digital consumer. B2B business models such as open banking and embedded finance have become established, allowing banks to integrate with other industries to offer financial services on non-banking platforms. These initiatives respond to the growing demand for integrated products, where customers can access financing or make payments without leaving their digital environments
On the other hand, products aimed at the end customer are increasingly focused on user experience. Mobile apps, online investment platforms, and instant payment systems have been redefined, forcing banks to prioritize efficiency, simplicity, and security in their digital infrastructure.
Artificial intelligence and data analytics as the driving force of the strategy
To compete in the digital era, banks are investing in the in-depth study of their customers' behavior. Advanced data analytics tools and AI techniques enable them to segment clients, anticipate their needs, and offer personalized products in real time.
From risk analysis to customer support through chatbots, AI not only improves service quality but also reduces costs. It enables banks to manage large volumes of customer data more effectively..
Critical infrastructure behind the new business strategy.
As the demand for digital services and data consumption increases, banks face the challenge of managing their critical infrastructure efficiently and sustainably. This includes::
Management of the increased data consumption
The capacity of data centers must scale according to the growth of users and the demand for new digital services. The speed of this growth requires various strategies from the technology management side. These include::
Cloud, on-premise, and housing: The combination of these three approaches depends on factors such as cost, regulations, and data vulnerability. Generally, more sensitive data tends to be kept on-premise or in housing facilities, while less critical services can be run in the cloud. Additionally, when deciding to place workloads in the cloud, central bank regulations often require that certain sensitive customer data remain for years without migration. This leads to long-term financial decisions, which can be difficult to make in many economic contexts..
Edge Data Center strategy in branches: Edge computing infrastructure allows data to be processed closer to the end user, reducing the load on central data centers and improving processing speed. By leveraging the presence of branches, which typically have small IT rooms, these locations are handling the processing of larger volumes of data..
High availability and hyperconvergence: Hyperconverged infrastructure integrates storage, processing, and networking into a single system, enhancing scalability speed and availability.
Availability, efficiency, and sustainability.
Today, these are the three pillars of managing and operating critical infrastructures. Service outages, energy consumption, and environmental impact are direct and indirect costs for banks. This is why they are increasingly focusing on:
Automation technologies: Automation is key in data center operations. Monitoring and automated management tools allow for proactive responses to any incidents, improving availability and reducing the risk of system downtime. Additionally, they enable better management of site capacities, maximizing the use of existing infrastructure. By monitoring and simulating climate conditions, significant savings can be generated in air conditioning equipment consumption..
Data usage: As the amount of data increases and the maturity of its usage grows through technology that enables analysis, availability, efficiency, and sustainability can be demonstrated, allowing for continuous decision-making to drive ongoing improvements in these pillars..
