GLH Logistics: Building Zero-Downtime Infrastructure Across 9 Depots
How Syntric Solutions eliminated network fragmentation and delivered 99.97% uptime for a 2,400-employee logistics operation spanning KwaZulu-Natal.
99.97%
Network Uptime
9
Depots Connected
2,400
Employees Served
14wk
Deployment Timeline
The Challenge
GLH Logistics operated nine depot facilities across KwaZulu-Natal with a patchwork of legacy network infrastructure that had grown organically over 12 years. Each depot ran an independently managed local network — different hardware vendors, inconsistent security configurations, and point-to-point MPLS links with no redundancy.
The business consequences were severe. Network outages at any single depot halted warehouse management system operations, freezing inbound and outbound freight processing. The operations team estimated that each hour of downtime cost the business approximately R240,000 in delayed shipments and customer penalties.
The security posture was equally concerning. A third-party penetration test commissioned by GLH's board revealed that all nine sites shared a flat network architecture — a single compromised endpoint could traverse the entire estate. With ransomware attacks on logistics operators rising sharply across the region, the board demanded immediate remediation.
The Syntric Approach
Our engagement began with a 3-week discovery phase — comprehensive network audits across all nine sites, traffic analysis, and stakeholder interviews with depot operations managers and IT staff. This produced a detailed baseline and a prioritised remediation roadmap.
SD-WAN Deployment
Replaced legacy MPLS with a software-defined WAN fabric across all nine depots. Active-active links provided automatic failover with sub-30-second recovery times. Centralised management reduced configuration drift and gave the IT team single-pane visibility across the entire estate for the first time.
Network Microsegmentation
Decomposed the flat network into 14 isolated zones: WMS operations, fleet management, administrative, CCTV/IoT, visitor WiFi, and inter-depot transit segments. Zone-to-zone communication governed by explicit firewall policy — no implicit trust between any segments.
Zero-Trust Access Controls
Implemented MFA across all user accounts, privileged access management for administrative credentials, and a vendor access portal replacing ad-hoc VPN accounts. Third-party technicians now receive time-limited, scoped access tickets — each session fully logged and auditable.
Managed SOC Integration
Deployed EDR across all 847 endpoints and integrated event telemetry into a centralised SIEM. Syntric's managed SOC provides 24/7 monitoring with a 15-minute alert-to-response SLA for critical incidents — a capability GLH's internal team could not have built at comparable cost.
The Results
99.97%
Network Availability
Up from an estimated 94.2% across the estate prior to engagement. Measured over the first 6 months post-deployment.
R4.2M
Estimated Annual Downtime Cost Avoided
Based on pre-engagement downtime frequency and R240,000/hour operational impact.
0
Security Incidents (12 months)
Zero successful intrusions or data exfiltration events in the 12 months following full deployment.
-62%
IT Operational Overhead
Reduction in time spent on network troubleshooting and vendor management by GLH's internal IT team.
"Before Syntric, our IT team spent 60% of their time firefighting network issues. Now we have full visibility, real redundancy, and a security posture that actually protects the business. The deployment was seamless — 14 weeks, across nine live sites, with zero operational disruption."
Thabo Nkosi
Chief Operations Officer, GLH Logistics
Ready to Engineer Your Infrastructure?
Every enterprise has a unique topology. Our architects design solutions around your specific operational constraints — not templates.