How We Helped Zurich Insurance Uncover Cloud Inefficiencies, Slash Costs, and Enhance Decision-Making with Optimized Processes in their Cloud Solutions
Zurich Insurance needs no introduction, they where founded in 1872, which today they are one of the largest Country's Insurer, with operations in Europe, North America, Latin America and Pacific Asia. As of 2021, the group is the world's 112th largest public company according to forbes Global 2000s list. Their services cover all types of Insurances and Assest management
Zurich Insurance had been running their software operations of physical servers in various data centers, The company aimed to migrate 90% of their services to Cloud, while also benefiting from various licensing cost and optimizations. such optimizations are hugly benefits for C-suite, managers & leaders within each department. the goal was clear: have the abilty to understand unutilized resources, understand possible cost optimizations and visualise such data
By addressing inefficiencies in cloud processes and implementing cost-effective solutions, Zurich Insurance achieved substantial savings and operational improvements. These initiatives not only enhanced the company’s ability to manage its cloud infrastructure but also positioned it to adapt to evolving business needs with agility. This case study demonstrates the value of leveraging cloud-native tools and strategies to drive efficiency and cost-effectiveness in enterprise operations.
To kick off the project, a detailed audit of Zurich Insurance's cloud environment was conducted using Azure Advisor and Azure Migrate. These tools provided insights into underutilized resources, misconfigurations, and inefficiencies across the infrastructure. Based on the findings, a comprehensive roadmap was developed, outlining actionable steps to enhance resource utilization and reduce costs. This initial phase set the foundation for achieving the desired optimization goals.
To address the lack of spending visibility, Azure Cost Management and Billing were implemented to consolidate cost data across departments. Automation scripts using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates and auto-scaling were deployed to dynamically allocate resources based on workload demands. Additionally, non-critical resources were scheduled to shut down during off-peak hours, eliminating unnecessary expenses. This step significantly improved cost transparency and reduced wastage.
We designed and implemented an advanced azure dashboards to provide real-time insights and enhance data visualization across multiple departments. Utilizing azure Monitor tools integrated with Azure Data Warehousing tools, we created interactive dashboards that aggregated data from various sources. The dashboards featured customizable views, enabling varoius people to track key performance metrics and trends effortlessly. Our solution also included automated data refresh schedules, ensuring that users had access to the most current information at all times. This improved visibility led to more informed cloud resources and increased operational efficiencies
To strengthen the cloud environment, Azure Security Center was utilized to monitor and address vulnerabilities. Azure Policy was implemented to enforce compliance standards and ensure best practices were followed across all resources. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits were conducted to maintain a robust security posture. We also addressed other Security configurations such firewalls, other network devices and more. These measures minimized risks and ensured Zurich Insurance met industry compliance requirements.