Founded in 1993, Bank Credit Dnipro (BCD) is a leading Ukrainian financial institution committed to anticipating and answering the needs of tomorrow. When Ukraine faced external conflict in 2022, BCD rushed to preserve its infrastructure and banking services for customers. With the support of Microsoft and partner Kyivstar, the bank embarked on a rapid digital transformation powered by Microsoft Azure. The solution has enabled secure card processing for 65,000 cardholders and stable remote working possibilities. BCD now operates with a robust failover mechanism, bolstering financial security and ensuring business continuity.
Bank Credit Dnipro (BCD) is one of the leading financial institutions of Ukraine. From private individuals to corporate businesses, it delivers a full range of banking services with a special focus on the agricultural sector.
Amid turmoil in Ukraine caused by external conflict, BCD faced the potential destruction of its infrastructure. “Our main goal was to secure the livelihoods of our clients—65,000 cardholders. We needed to ensure that our processing center and automated banking system were operational at all times,” explains Taras Gorkun, Deputy Chairman of the Board for Digital Transformation at BCD.
BCD also wanted to provide remote access, management tools, secure connectivity, and automated workspace solutions for its employees. The task would require strategic planning, a strong partnership, and a secure cloud-based solution.
Creating resilience through technical ingenuity
To address the threat, BCD reached out to Microsoft and its local partner Kyivstar to embark on a rapid digital transformation journey. The bank’s IT team devised a plan to restructure and migrate its existing infrastructure to the cloud.
One of the most complex endeavors was to develop a secure cryptographic control of card processing. To do this, BCD needed to rely on Azure Dedicated Hardware Security Model (HSM), a device that protects sensitive data. “The process also involved networking, using virtual machines, and establishing direct connections to Visa and MasterCard. With Microsoft Azure, we managed to do all this. On top of that, Azure was the only cloud option that would work with HSM,” explains Kyrylo Kasonkov, CIO at Bank Credit Dnipro.
BCD created secure access points through VPN between its on-site processing centers and Azure to establish a resilient data exchange between its on-premise and cloud-based resources. It also created an online replicate of its physical systems using Azure Site Recovery to fully enable a robust failover mechanism. According to Gorkun, “Implementing such a complex project was a challenge, but thankfully, we had best-in-class support from Kyivstar and Microsoft.”
Enabling business continuity
BCD now operates with a fail-safe system that increases the financial security of its cardholders. Gorkun highlights, “Thankfully, we haven’t had to test the system in a real-world scenario. However, we are ready for unexpected situations. With Azure, our recovery time for critical systems is from 15 minutes, and we have built the infrastructural stability required for answering the needs of tomorrow.”
“With Azure, our recovery time for critical systems is from 15 minutes and we have built the infrastructural stability required for answering the needs of tomorrow.”
Taras Gorkun, Deputy Chairman of the Board for Digital Transformation, Bank Credit Dnipro
Thanks to the transformation, the bank has even widened its reach and impact. "We've seen a growth in transactions with wearable devices," notes Gorkun. The bank is also prepared to support governmental aid distribution programs by enabling customers to open a support card through BCD’s mobile app and branches that allows them to receive monetary aid.
Building the right foundation for tomorrow
BCD’s team has established more stability, flexibility, and security for its team as well. "Our employees are very pleased. This digital infrastructure has empowered 700 people in our team to work seamlessly from any location despite difficult circumstances,” shares Gorkun. “That ensures productivity, which in turn maintains a steady income for the bank that helps us keep their jobs secure.”
BCD will continue to rely on its partnership with Microsoft, with plans to explore other solutions like Microsoft 365, Azure Network Security, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and Microsoft Sentinel.
“We share many core values with Microsoft—that is, empowering every person and organization worldwide to achieve more. We are grateful for Microsoft’s support, without which such an extensive project would not have been possible for companies like ours,” says Gorkun. “By safeguarding our business, we are preparing for a brighter future.”
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