DBR360

Fast forwarding data transfer.

Challenge

As part of the post production delivery of a movie, digital master files are delivered to facilities around the world so that film and digital prints for theatrical exhibition are manufactured in time for the film’s opening. Often those schedules are squeezed due to the lengthy creative and approval process, making the final steps of delivery challenging for all parties involved. Traditional methods for transferring large digital files are time-intensive: A 100 Mbps wide area network (WAN) usually takes about 24 hours to transport one terabyte of data; and physically shipping a hard drive containing the digital file can introduce security risks and travel-related delays and take upwards of 48 to 72 hours between downloading the file from the SAN to a hard drive, traveling to the airport, taking a national or international flight, traveling to the receiving location, and finally uploading the file to the SAN.

Deluxe Entertainment Services Group understands the media transport challenge firsthand: To find a way to transport files quickly to increase time in post production while also making sure content is secure. “We have seen post production schedules become exceedingly more complex as so many versions are required for distribution today,” says Deluxe President and CEO Cyril Drabinsky. “The key to Deluxe Express™ was finding a way to transfer content faster than existing solutions while keeping the data secure,” adds Drabinsky.

Solution

Deluxe partnered with DBR360 to assist in the design and implementation of a custom, private, secure, global 10G data network which delivers fast and secure transport of encrypted digital files globally. DBR360 leveraged its technical and operational expertise and a carrier and technology neutral approach to design a high performance, accelerated 10G network. This network consists of an optimal set of carrier network connections, encryption capabilities, workflow tools, SAN technologies, and network acceleration appliances that leverage a proprietary version of User Datagram Protocol (UDP). Uncompressed files consisting of a large quantity of high definition frames of varying size are delivered sequentially. The network employs a cost-neutral model (no additional capital or operational expenses). The solution adapted to Deluxe’s current infrastructure —storage volumes at each endpoint where not required to be identical —a significant differentiator as compared to competing network solutions. Typical solutions require identical storage devices at each endpoint for interoperability, adding significant cost and operational challenges.

Not limited by the constraints of outdated legacy systems and infrastructure, or exclusive partnerships, DBR360 transformed the organically-grown, legacy network to a carrier-grade platform that provides mission-critical connectivity between all member locations and created an optimal solution geared to the specific needs of studio clients. This ground breaking network powers Deluxe Express™, Deluxe’s new private, secure global data services network providing high capacity, high speed transfer of large data in support of production and post production activities for the global entertainment industry. DBR360’s network and technology agnostic approach and innovative, customer-driven model offers on-demand flexibility required to support changing workflow and project requirements.

Benefits

Deluxe Express™ represents an unprecedented advancement for the entertainment industry by rapidly and cost-effectively transferring massive volumes of data globally in a secure, reliable environment. Deluxe Express™ can securely transfer one terabyte of uncompressed content in 38 minutes—a fraction of the time it would otherwise take to upload the file to a hard drive to begin the long journey via a courier. (Note that a one-hour 2K data file is 1.3 terabytes.)

The entire 2-hour uncompressed high definition data file of 20th Century Fox’s “A-Team” was transferred SAN to SAN from EFILM® Hollywood to Deluxe Digital London in just two hours. In addition to EFILM® Hollywood and Deluxe Digital London, Deluxe Express™ is connected to Deluxe New York. Efforts are already underway to expand to Deluxe’s other post-production facilities around the world.

DBR360’s Network as a Service (NaaS) service model delivers control and end-to-end visibility to Deluxe. Deluxe Express™ is powered by a powerful 10G network without incurring additional capital or operational expense. Network management is outsourced to DBR360—enabling Deluxe to focus on their core business.