How a banking group improved guest Wi-Fi and DHCP management across thousands of branches

Context

As part of a large-scale digital transformation initiative, a leading banking group set out to enhance the in-branch digital experience for both clients and prospects. Their goal was to ensure seamless access to banking applications and enable efficient digital document exchange—critical elements for improving service quality and operational agility. The group sought a secure, scalable, and user-friendly environment across thousands of branches, all while adhering to stringent internal and regulatory standards.

Cloudi-Fi was selected to support this transformation by delivering a next-generation network access solution. Our cloud-native platform provided secure captive portal authentication, centralized DHCP services, and seamless integration with their existing infrastructure.

Challenges faced by the customer

In partnering with Cloudi-Fi, the banking group aimed to overcome several key challenges:

• User-friendly access: They needed to offer a fast, intuitive connection process for clients and visitors, consistent with modern digital experiences.
• Performance & reliability: Ensuring low-latency, high-bandwidth performance was essential to support both end-user satisfaction and internal banking operations.
• Scalability across branches: With thousands of locations nationwide, the group required a solution that could be deployed efficiently while accommodating diverse technical conditions.
• Customized visitor flows: Different visitor profiles—clients, prospects, contractors—demanded flexible authentication workflows tailored to specific access needs.
• Security & compliance: As a financial institution, aligning with strict security policies and industry regulations was non-negotiable.
• Seamless infrastructure integration: The solution had to work within their existing network ecosystem without introducing operational risks or complexity.
• Centralized network management: To ease the load on branch IT teams, the group required centralized control over network services like DHCP and authentication.
• Visitor authentication in GSM-limited zones: Certain branch locations with limited GSM coverage still needed secure visitor authentication via mobile numbers and SMS.

The Cloudi-Fi solution

Cloudi-Fi delivered a comprehensive, cloud-native architecture purpose-built for large, distributed enterprise environments. Our solution addressed each of the customer’s technical and operational challenges:

• Captive portal authentication: Cloudi-Fi served as the Identity Provider (IdP) for all guest traffic. Using SAML protocols, we integrated with Zscaler to authenticate and route guest traffic securely through Zscaler ZIA, ensuring policy-compliant access with full visibility.
• Centralized DHCP: We replaced on-site DHCP servers with centralized, cloud-managed DHCP. Branches connected securely via IPSEC tunnels, enabling consistent IP address management with reduced on-prem infrastructure.
• Tailored portal design: Working in close collaboration with the customer’s teams, we developed over 40 customized captive portals. Each was tailored to specific user journeys—clients, prospects, contractors—while aligning with brand identity and security standards.

Results

The deployment of Cloudi-Fi’s solution delivered tangible results across several fronts:

• Enhanced user experience: Clients and visitors enjoyed seamless, intuitive access to the guest network. High performance and reliability contributed positively to overall customer satisfaction.
• Nationwide deployment at scale: Our cloud-based model enabled smooth, rapid rollout across thousands of branches in France, with minimal operational disruption.
• Branded, customized experiences: Tailored portals ensured a relevant, on-brand experience for each visitor type, improving engagement and enabling precise access control.
• Improved security posture: Integration with Zscaler ZIA and centralized identity management ensured full compliance with internal policies and industry regulations, without compromising speed or usability.
• Operational streamlining: Centralized DHCP and authentication services reduced the burden on local IT teams, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives.
• Seamless infrastructure integration: Our architecture integrated effortlessly with the customer’s existing Zscaler deployment, delivering end-to-end protection and visibility without requiring changes to core infrastructure.

Conclusion

Cloudi-Fi was proud to play a key role in the banking group’s network modernization and digital transformation journey. By delivering a scalable, secure, and user-centric solution, we helped the institution create a consistent guest experience across its entire branch network.

Our cloud-native approach addressed both technical complexity and user experience, enabling the bank to meet its goals for modernization while upholding the highest standards of security and operational efficiency. Through close collaboration and responsive support, we became more than just a technology provider—we served as a strategic partner in their evolution toward a modern, digitally empowered banking experience.