When a major regional bank realized its aging, in-house IT infrastructure was becoming more of a liability than a strength, it made a bold move: shifting to colocation and managed services with Summit, supported by trusted channel partner Facility IT Group (FIG).
The Breaking Point
For decades, the financial institution relied on its own teams to manage everything: data centers, disaster recovery, even cybersecurity. But that self-contained model began to show cracks:
- Systems were overburdened
- Security risks were escalating
- Leadership couldn’t afford to wait for a crisis to make a change
They launched an RFP, reviewing over a dozen national providers. The goal: find a partner that could upgrade their IT strategy without compromising control.
Why Summit (and FIG) Won the Deal
Summit’s response stood out not just for technical merit, but for understanding the culture and context of a cautious, compliance-driven institution.
What tipped the scales:
- Tailored RFP Response: The proposal spoke directly to the bank’s operations vs. a one-size-fits-all solution
- Local Footprint, Real Support: Colocation nearby, disaster recovery in another geo, and responsive teams that didn’t need translation layers
- Hands-On Partnership: FIG remained in lockstep throughout, acting as an extension of the bank’s IT team
- Scalability Without Surprises: The bank could start with colocation and grow into managed infrastructure and cloud services on their own terms
Security Was Non-Negotiable
Like many financial institutions, DDoS attacks were a top concern. Summit’s built-in DDoS mitigation added significant value:
- Proactive DDoS traffic filtering before threats hit
- Low-latency protection that doesn’t slow down customer transactions
- Real-time reporting for audit and compliance needs
The client earned stronger board-level confidence in IT’s ability to defend and deliver.
Outcomes That Matter
This was just as much a mindset shift as it was an infrastructure upgrade.
- Risk Reduced: The bank’s security posture improved overnight
- Trust Earned: A historically self-reliant org now relies on external experts
- Pathway Built: With colocation and DR now stabilized, cloud migration and managed services are next
“We built trust in steps, evolving cautiously but intentionally.”
— Shawn Bergfalk, President, Facility IT Group (FIG)
What’s Next
The initial deployment was only phase one. Together, Summit and FIG are helping the bank tackle:
- Managed Infrastructure
- Cloud Migration
- Circuit & Network Optimization
- Ongoing Compliance and Security Hardening
Ready to Modernize Your IT Stack Without Risk?
If your infrastructure is showing its age or not keeping up with business demands, let’s talk. Summit can help you evolve securely, one step at a time.
Channel Fam: Want to Bring Real Value to Your Clients?
Summit helps partners like FIG win trust and long-term deals by solving real infrastructure challenges. Whether it’s modern colocation, DDoS protection, or disaster recovery, we’ll help you deliver enterprise-grade outcomes with personalized support. Let’s work together to land your next strategic win: Partner with Summit.
Summit Team
We're the Summit team – cloud geeks, tech tinkerers, and security sleuths on a mission to keep your business running smoothly in and out of the cloud.
