Successful BizLink EDI Upgrade and More Secure System

The Business Need

Best Vendors Management, Inc., based in Minneapolis, is a national leader in managing non-core services for their clients such as vending management, consolidation services, food cart management, office coffee management, and charity collection services.  Best Vendors reached out to Data Communication Solutions (DCS) to upgrade their BizLink systems. In addition to upgrading Best Vendors’ BizLink system, DCS needed to move the Biz Server to a new server.  Best Vendors also decided to make their network more secure by adding SecureLink.

The DCS Solution

There were three phases to DCS’ process to move Best Vendors’ servers and upgrade BizLink:

1. The first phase was the copying of the databases and the installation of BizLink on the new server using the existing databases. During this phase, patches were applied and licenses were retrieved by OpenText and applied.  This was the most crucial phase to get BizLink working properly and the copy of the databases running correctly.
2. The second phase was opening up the firewalls and ports along with testing the AS2.
3. The third phase was testing and putting BizLink online.

An extra step taken during this process was the addition of SecureLink.  To ensure maximum security, DCS and Best Vendors chose the option of Reverse Proxy using HTTPS with an SSL certificate.  Best Vendors created a DMZ computer that sits between an external and internal firewall.  DMZ stands for “demilitarized zone,” and its purpose is to add an extra layer of security to the organization’s local area network (LAN).  With this setup, the trading partner comes into the system using an HTTPS URL and hands off an SSL certificate (client and server authenticated) to SecureLink on the DMZ.  After this, another port on the internal firewall is opened.  SecureLink relays the message to Biz via AS2 with a signed and encrypted certificate to the BizLink server.

Below illustrates this setup:

The Result

Thanks to DCS’ work, Best Vendors now has a current EDI system with the upgrade of BizLink and now supported by OpenText.  This allows Best Vendors to operate on a more current and clean new server.  More Importantly, Best Vendors’ system is more secure with the addition of SecureLink.  This is thanks to their DMZ computer and two firewalls including use of HTTP/S with SSL certificates.  This feature keeps the Biz and internal computer closed from the internet (inbound) through the use of a relay and reverse proxy, thus closing their internal systems off to any attacks.

Since 1991, DCS has been providing customers with solid EDI solutions to a wide-range of industries throughout United States and Canada. DCS works with the leading EDI systems to help you overcome your EDI challenges. DCS consultants have successfully installed, mapped, and operated nearly all EDI systems. Our services include EDI development, EDI Managed Services, support, and training. Contact us today to start a conversation.