Modernising Core Technology for a Global Insurance Leader

A century old global insurance and reinsurance organisation known for underwriting complex risks. Despite its market leadership, its ageing technology estate had become a strategic barrier to operational resilience, regulatory readiness, and future growth.

Challenge: A Legacy Estate Reaching Breaking Point

The organisation’s technology landscape had evolved organically over decades, creating structural weaknesses that were now impacting business performance.

Operational Fragility
- Ageing data‑centre hardware nearing end‑of‑life
- Rising operational costs and increased likelihood of outages
- Limited scalability for new business workloads
Identity & Access Complexity
- 12 fragmented Active Directory domains
- Duplicated identities, inconsistent policies, and elevated security exposure
Data Performance & Availability Risks
- 500+ DFS shares and over 2 PB of data
- Slow access, performance bottlenecks, and risk of data unavailability
Endpoint Security Gaps
- 1,500 Windows 10 devices running legacy antivirus
- Compliance gaps and inconsistent protection
Email & Collaboration Constraints
- Shared mailboxes hitting size limits
- Over 1 million emails and attachments requiring structured migration

The business needed a modern, secure, cloud‑ready foundation that would reduce operational risk, improve resilience, and support long‑term growth.

Solution: A Strategic Decision to Modernise

The company partnered with Simplex Services to execute a multi‑track transformation programme designed to stabilise the present while enabling future innovation.

Established a Secure, Scalable Cloud Foundation
- Designed and deployed an Azure Landing Zone aligned to Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption Framework
- Implemented enterprise‑grade governance, RBAC, identity controls, and network security baselines
- Built a hub‑and‑spoke network architecture for scalable growth
Modernised Infrastructure to Improve Agility
- Migrated 600+ virtual machines to Azure VMware Solution using HCX
- Executed bulk and vMotion migrations with minimal downtime
- Achieved a 30% reduction in data‑centre footprint and improved workload performance
Strengthened Identity & Access Governance
- Consolidated 12 AD domains into 3
- Decommissioned unused domains to reduce attack surface
- Simplified identity management and reduced operational overhead
Enhanced Data Performance & Resilience
- Designed and deployed Azure NetApp Files
- Migrated 2 PB+ of data using AzCopy and NetApp tools
- Delivered <5ms latency and 25% reduction in operational overhead
Unified Endpoint Protection for the Workforce
- Packaged Microsoft Defender and automated rollout via Intune and GPO
- Configured ASR rules and integrated with Defender XDR and Sentinel
- Achieved 100% endpoint protection across 1,500 devices
Improved Collaboration & Data Governance
- Built a Power Automate workflow using Graph API for structured migration of 1M+ emails and attachments
- Enabled better searchability and governed storage
- Supported a smooth transition to a new corporate domain with updated routing, aliases, and Windows 11 builds for 700 users and 150 apps

Outcome: A Future Ready Enterprise

This transformation wasn’t just about migrating servers or consolidating domains. It was about giving the organisation the agility, resilience, and security it needs for the next decade of growth.

Operational Excellence
- 30% reduction in data‑centre footprint
- 25% reduction in operational overhead
Security & Compliance
- 100% endpoint protection
- Stronger identity governance and reduced attack surface
Performance & Scalability
- <5ms latency on critical storage
- Cloud‑scale capacity for future workloads
Business Agility
- A modern cloud foundation enabling faster delivery of digital initiatives
- Simplified management across the estate

The organisation now operates with greater confidence, resilience, and readiness for the next decade — with Simplex Services as its trusted transformation partner.

Infrastructure Modernisation

Technology Stack

Azure VMware Solution (AVS)
Azure Landing Zone (CAF‑aligned)
Azure NetApp Files
Azure Migrate, HCX, AzCopy
Active Directory, Azure AD, RBAC
Microsoft Defender, Intune, Sentinel
Power Automate, Microsoft Graph, SharePoint
Windows 10/11, VMware

Modernising Core Technology for a Global Insurance Leader

Challenge: A Legacy Estate Reaching Breaking Point

Solution: A Strategic Decision to Modernise

Outcome: A Future Ready Enterprise

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