Connect
Credit Union
Established in 1968, Connect Credit Union (CCU) serves communities along the east coast of County Louth.
Our Partners
About Connect Credit Union
Connect Credit Union (CCU) is a modern, community-focused financial institution offering everything from current accounts and mortgages to savings, deposits and Agri/Business loans. Fully regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, CCU has grown steadily in recent years, expanding its membership and maintaining a strong loan book.
With a fourth branch, a new current account hub in Dundalk, on the horizon, CCU faced increasing demands on its IT systems from both regulators and members. To support future growth, ensure compliance and maintain exceptional service, it recognised the need for a comprehensive IT review.
Behind the Scenes at CCU
Go inside our IT modernisation – stabilising branch connectivity, rebuilding our server room, and adding dual firewalls, VLANs, Microsoft 365 security layers, Datto email defence, and full Office 365 backups.
See how these upgrades strengthened cybersecurity and compliance, kept downtime to a minimum, and helped us open our Dundalk hub on time – so your everyday banking stays secure, seamless, and always on.
The Challenges
Frequent connection issues between branches, including one outage that closed a sub-office for over a week
No standardised IT infrastructure and increasing security risks
Tight deadline to prepare systems ahead of the Dundalk branch opening, following Ulster Bank’s closure
Solutions
Introduced a robust ISP to deliver stable connections
Installed business-grade power supplies at the Blackrock headquarters
Rebuilt the communications room and upgraded servers
Replaced the single firewall with dual SonicWalls
Set up VLANs to strengthen the network
Enhanced security with Cloud Shield, adding:
- Microsoft 365 security layers
- Datto Defence email protection
- Full Office 365 backup
The Results
Modern, reliable IT infrastructure with minimal downtime during the transition
Strengthened cybersecurity and improved compliance readiness
Successful, on-time opening of the Dundalk branch
Regular “roadmap” meetings with Nostra to maintain IT performance and support future growth
Testimonial
“We have regular in-person meetings with our Nostra team where we work out what we’ve done and what’s next, and can discuss any issues. We’ve learnt to trust them, and it really does feel like a partnership for the future.”
Halala Ahmadi, Risk & Compliance Officer
