Challenges Nearly everything required to run CPK’s restaurants depends on the network, including 24/7 online ordering, the point-of-sale system, credit card processing and a VoIP phone system. CPK needed the reliability and security of a private network and wanted to simplify management across its 200 restaurants. Solution A private MPLS network with EarthLink Business supports PCI compliance and provides the reliability and centralized management CPK needs for 24/7 restaurant operations. Results • The network provides CPK with the reliability they need for order and payment processing, VoIP, data collection, and other critical applications. • CPK’s IT team saves time with one network provider for all 200 restaurants and with its EarthLink Business account team managing third-party providers for the backup network and local maintenance. • Private MPLS provides security for transaction processing in support of PCI compliance.

1. Challenges
Nearly everything required to run
CPK’s restaurants depends on
the network, including 24/7 online
ordering, the point-of-sale system,
credit card processing and a VoIP
phone system. CPK needed the
reliability and security of a private
network and wanted to simplify
management across its 200
restaurants.
Solution
A private MPLS network with
EarthLink Business supports
PCI compliance and provides
the reliability and centralized
management CPK needs for 24/7
restaurant operations.
Results
• The network provides CPK with
the reliability they need for order
and payment processing, VoIP,
data collection, and other critical
applications.
• CPK’s IT team saves time with
one network provider for all
200 restaurants and with its
EarthLink Business account team
managing third-party providers
for the backup network and local
maintenance.
• Private MPLS provides security
for transaction processing in
support of PCI compliance.
“
““We rely on the EarthLink MPLS network 24/7 to run our restaurant
operations. The private network also supports PCI compliance and allows
us to control and monitor all 200 restaurants from one location.”
Secure EarthLink MPLS Network Enables
Reliable Operation for California Pizza
Kitchen Restaurants
Network Supports PCI Compliance and Restaurants’
Expanding Use of Technology
Patrick Wong
Director of Infrastructure, California Pizza Kitchen
–
CASE STUDY
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©2013EarthLink,Inc.Trademarksarepropertyoftheirrespectiveowners.Allrightsreserved.1071-07087
Business Challenges
California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen Case Study 2013
Since opening its first restaurant in Beverly Hills in 1985, California Pizza
Kitchen has expanded rapidly, led by the popularity of innovative pizzas such as
its Original BBQ Chicken, Thai Chicken and Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Now, pizza
lovers can find CPK in 30 states, 11 countries and in supermarket aisles across
the U.S.
As CPK has grown, so has the need for bandwidth at its 200 company-owned
restaurants. Nearly everything required to operate runs on the network, except
the pizza ovens.
“We rely a lot on the network nowadays. It’s not like it used to be where we only
needed it during restaurant hours; now we’re using it 24/7,” said Patrick Wong,
Director of Infrastructure at California Pizza Kitchen. “If we can’t process orders
or payments online, in person or via phone, then we lose money.”
All of CPK’s transactions require a reliable network, as online orders as well as
all credit card transactions depend on a connection. All voice traffic in and out
of CPK restaurants run over the network using VoIP.
CPK restaurants transmit sales data to headquarters, train staff members,
run the point-of-sale system and pipe in music. Outside restaurant hours, CPK
collects critical data, such as inventory and data for PCI compliance, updates
menus and antivirus programs and takes online orders overnight for the next
day. The company also offers free Wi-Fi to guests during their visits to CPK.
Manageability is also important. Previously, the company had multiple DSL
providers across the country, putting a significant burden on the IT team. On
top of that, PCI compliance really demanded the security of a private network.
“A private network allows us to support PCI compliance as it limits the number
of connections we have into and out of the restaurants,” Wong explained.
The EarthLink Business Solution
CPK moved to a private MPLS network with EarthLink Business to get the
security, reliability and centralized management it needed, particularly as its
dependence on technology grew.

2. CASE STUDY
Positioned for the Future
The private MPLS network with EarthLink Business provides CPK the
security, reliability and manageability it needs to support around-the-clock
network operations and the company’s expanding application roadmap.
“Having the EarthLink MPLS network for all 200 locations takes a huge burden
off of my team. We can now work with a single service provider and manage
one or two types of devices in our restaurants instead of a couple of hundred,”
shared Wong.
The efficiency of the network allows CPK to make business decisions that drive
lower costs, such as the use of VoIP. Most importantly, it ensures that customers
can do business smoothly with CPK restaurants anytime, day or night.
Looking ahead, CPK plans to expand usage of the network with some of the
upcoming initiatives they have planned. EarthLink is ready to accommodate
the company’s growing needs.
California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen
demanded the security of
EarthLink Business’ private
MPLS network to support PCI
compliance requirements. In
addition, the network provides
the bandwidth and reliability
CPK needs to support current
and future applications in their
restaurants.
In addition, EarthLink’s CPK
account team provides a
high level of support with
close communication and
management of third-party
providers for backup network
and maintenance at each
location.
Why California Pizza
Kitchen Selected
EarthLink Business
getinfo@earthlinkbusiness.com | www.earthlinkbusiness.com California Pizza Kitchen Case Study 2013
“We rely on the EarthLink MPLS network 24/7 to run our restaurant operations,
including all online order processing, phone, and in-person ordering as
well as data collection from restaurants,” Wong said. “The private network
also supports PCI compliance and allows us to control and monitor all 200
restaurants from one location.”
With many restaurants in areas that may be subject to construction, CPK
needed network diversity for its backup, so it chose wireless. EarthLink
saves time for the IT team by managing the wireless backup service from
a third-party provider.
CPK optimizes cost and performance by choosing the right access type
depending on the needs at each location. For most sites, CPK selects DSL
unless T1 is required. By using EarthLink’s Class of Service prioritization,
the company prioritizes voice traffic followed by point of sale and video traffic.
EarthLink manages their private network, significantly reducing the time
that the IT team spends on network issues. CPK’s IT team members use
EarthLink’s myLink™ customer portal to look at network traffic at restaurants,
configurations and any problems, and to report issues for ticketing and
quick resolution.
“With EarthLink’s myLink customer portal it’s easy to monitor our restaurants
from anywhere at any time,” Wong said.
CPK meets weekly with its dedicated EarthLink Business account team to
review any open issues or needs. By also managing the external maintenance
provider, EarthLink frees CPK’s IT team to focus on other responsibilities.
When CPK plans to open a new restaurant, the IT team submits a request
and EarthLink takes over to ensure the location is connected to the network
a month in advance of the opening to allow for configuration and testing.
“Our experience with EarthLink has been very good,” Wong said. “With
frequent communication, management of third-party providers and turnkey
processes, they are our partner in helping us meet our business objectives.”
©2013EarthLink,Inc.Trademarksarepropertyoftheirrespectiveowners.Allrightsreserved.1071-07087