To close the series of stories about RNP's major deliverables in 2018 for its partners, we will talk about improvement projects related to advanced network infrastructure services, connectivity, and information security.

RNP and Embrapa: the partnership that encourages research and development

The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) has the mission of providing research, development and innovation solutions for the sustainability of national agriculture. One of its great challenges is to integrate and stimulate collaboration between its units in Brazil, many within the country and in rural areas. To support Embrapa, RNP developed an integrated plan that included high-speed internet access for decentralized units, as well as the use of cloud computing, training of professionals, R & D actions and deployment of communication and collaboration services. And in 2018, several actions were taken.

Communication Infrastructure and Collaboration at a Distance

In July 2018, RNP implemented the Multipresence service in two Embrapa units: Embrapa Agrobiologia, in Seropédica (RJ), and Embrapa Sede, in Brasília. The service allows conferences to be performed through multiple devices of very high resolution (4k) and allows communication through mobile devices, without limit of users. "The partnership has generated savings for Embrapa through a solution that is cost-effective and often has superior quality," says Embrapa IT supervisor Rommel Teodoro de Oliveira.

In addition to Multipresence, RNP ended the implantation of the  fone@RNP in 25 units of the company. The service provides cost savings in telephony, routing telephone calls through RNP's high-performance backbone at zero cost. During the year, the process of upgrading ten Embrapa units to the RNP backbone was given through high capacity links. With this action, an advanced network infrastructure is being provided to R & D systems, finalizing the last mile interconnection of Embrapa units through Metropolitan Networks.

Professional Capacitation

The Higher School of Networks (ESR) of RNP was responsible for the continuous training of Embrapa's staff. During the year, 58 professionals participated in courses promoted by ESR, involving IT Project Management and Agile Project Management with SCRUM, formed in four in-company classes. The content of the training is elaborated by ICT specialists and privileges practical teaching, with tasks performed in immersive laboratories. Embrapa Information Technology analyst Fabiano Mariath says that the courses offered by ESR are fundamental for the alignment of IT actions in the company and emphasizes the quality of the technical staff responsible for the courses. "Embrapa is part of the users committee of the National Education and Research Network. The training has a very important role so that we can proceed in a manner consistent with the strategic plan of RNP, "he concludes.

Solutions in Information Security

With the mission of promoting a secure network environment, RNP is developing with Embrapa a process of handling security incidents. In April, the implementation of an Incident Treatment and Response Team in Computational Networks (Etir) was started; to implement concepts, good practices, processes and tools that enable the formal establishment of a team capable of handling information security incidents.

RNP is also preparing, together with Embrapa, a Contingency Plan to be applied in any of its internal services. This plan, once appropriate to the chosen service, may keep the business processes in operation, after a critical incident, that may cause unavailability or degradation to the activities of its users.

For next year, continuity actions are planned, such as the implementation of Vulnerability Management System, the formulation of the scope definition documentation for vulnerability analysis and face-to-face training on the topic. According to Embrapa's Information and Communication Technology analyst, Jeane de Paula, RNP's actions have been essential for the constitution of the security teams, as well as the contribution during the drafting and documentation stages of the processes. "We will be able to comply with the active standard, better route the incidents in networks and we will have the coordinates that will direct our actions regarding information security," he points out.

The security environment is also a concern in Capes

At the end of 2017, a service contract was signed that has as one of the goals the support to the management of Information Security in the scope of IT infrastructure in the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes). RNP is committed to supporting corporate and technology strategies, protecting the institution against security threats, communicating the importance of the issue to all organizational levels, and strengthening the treatment of critical security risks.

Last year's deliveries included reviewing all methodology and artifacts used by Capes for software development, including security controls, as well as evaluating the coordination change management process, evaluating critical points and recommending improvements in the process, like including information security as a determining factor for the execution of systemic changes.

Innovation and collaboration at CPRM

The partnership between RNP and the Geological Service of Brazil (CPRM) aims to stimulate innovation and enable the implementation of communication services and advanced network infrastructure.

By 2017, the CPRM connected five of its units in national metropolitan networks, but still with restricted access to the RNP backbone. This year, from the beginning of the first joint project, RNP prepared, with validation and approval of the CPRM, the architecture of the CPRM Network to be deployed, where the national VLAN service could be used. The CPRM Network will be composed of 13 national units and, with the network service deployed, it will be able to enjoy resources, such as a "national intranet", enhancing research and development actions between its units and other institutions. The five units in metropolitan networks have already received full access to Ipê Network and the internet as a whole.

Also within the scope of the partnership, as well as with Embrapa units, the fone@RNP(link sends e-mail) will be implemented for the 13 CPRM units. The service is implemented through a device developed in Brazil, with national hardware and software, making it a solution compatible with the security needs of the solutions employed in national public institutions. "What was missing to boost access to our data and our communication was the RNP. This partnership is vital. It facilitates communication between our regional points and fosters contact between research institutions in Brazil in a free and efficient way, "concludes CPRM Information Technology Manager Edgar Shinzato.