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About Community Credit Union

Established in 1962, Community Credit Union is now a unified financial institution, having grown through the merger of several credit unions. It now operates with a strong focus on innovation and member service.

Community Credit Union supports the Dublin 7, 15, and 22 areas through its offices in West Cabra, Blanchardstown, and Rowlagh in Clondalkin, proudly providing services to over 70,000 members.

As part of its digital transformation journey, Community Credit Union partnered with Viatel Technology Group to enhance its connectivity, security, and operational resilience.

The Customer Requirement: Resilient Cloud Security, Connectivity & DORA Compliance

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Community Credit Union Andy Higgs and his team have been working Viatel as their trusted technology partner since 2023.

Community hosts its core banking platform in Wellington’s data centre, which demands a high-performance, resilient connectivity solution. With ongoing mergers, scalability and reliability were critical to ensure seamless operations across expanding locations.

Cybersecurity was also a key concern, particularly with the upcoming requirement for credit unions to comply with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) by 2028. The team were actively seeking expert guidance to ensure the credit union would be well-prepared and fully compliant well ahead of the deadline.

“Community decided to partner with Viatel on our journey to cloud security and connectivity. We needed connectivity that was reliable, resilient and proved to be the best on the market.”

– Andy Higgs, CTO, Community Credit Union

Empowering Growth and Efficiency with Viatel’s SD-WAN Solution

Viatel implemented a tailored Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solution to meet the specific needs of Community Credit Union. This enabled secure, high-speed connectivity across all branches, giving the credit union the flexibility to scale as it continues to grow.

“With the SD-WAN solution, it gives us the option to scale… we can build out the wider network with the Viatel solution.”

– Andy Higgs, CTO, Community Credit Union

Beyond scalability, the SD-WAN rollout addressed several day-to-day operational challenges. Viatel’s solution eliminated these bottlenecks, allowing their teams to work more efficiently and improving the overall member experience within branches.

“The team is more efficient. They can work a lot quicker and with a lot more ease. We don’t have any of the niggly problems that we used to have.”

-Andy Higgs- CTO, Community Credit Union

The transition to SD-WAN was seamless, with no downtime or performance issues. Since its implementation, the system has delivered consistent speed and reliability.

“The move over was seamless. Since we put the system in, we have had no issues with speed or connectivity… a happy team is a happy Andy!”

– Andy Higgs- CTO, Community Credit Union

DORA Readiness: Strengthening Cyber Resilience Through Gap Analysis

In anticipation of upcoming regulatory requirements, Community Credit Union engaged Viatel’s cybersecurity consultancy, delivered in partnership with VISO.

This strategic collaboration included a comprehensive gap analysis and expert support aimed at achieving ISO 27001 accreditation- an important recommended step on the journey toward full compliance with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) by 2028.

The gap analysis enabled Andy and his team to pinpoint areas for improvement within their existing cybersecurity framework, helping to bolster operational resilience and readiness.

By taking a proactive approach, Community Credit Union is not only working towards regulatory compliance but also reinforcing its defences against evolving cyber threats, safeguarding member trust and ensuring long-term operational integrity.

Results: Scalable Connectivity, Seamless Operations, and Future-Ready Security

• Reliable, Scalable Connectivity
  Viatel’s SD-WAN solution enabled secure, high-speed connectivity across all branches, continuing to support Community Credit Union’s growth through mergers.
• Improved Operational Efficiency
  The new infrastructure resolved persistent issues with printing and card machines, allowing staff to work faster and more effectively.
• Seamless Transition
  The move to SD-WAN was smooth, with no downtime or performance issues- delivering consistent speed and reliability from day one.
• Enhanced Team Productivity
  Staff now operate with greater ease and fewer technical disruptions, improving both internal workflows and member experience.
• Proactive Compliance Strategy
  A cybersecurity gap analysis, delivered by Viatel in partnership with VISO, laid the foundation for ISO 27001 accreditation and positioned the credit union ahead of DORA compliance requirements.
• Strengthened Cyber Resilience
  The consultancy helped identify key improvements, ensuring the organisation is prepared for evolving threats and future regulations.

“It’s hugely important for us to partner with somebody who understands how important our technology is. We’re really excited about what the future holds for us with our relationship with Viatel. It’s going to be a long-time partnership. We’re really excited to see where it goes.”

– Andy Higgs- CTO, Community Credit Union

As Community Credit Union continues to grow, the SD-WAN and cybersecurity solutions from Viatel will scale alongside, supporting innovation and compliance for years to come.

To learn more about Viatel’s credit union offering, get in touch today by emailing hello@viatel.com.