Southeastern Insurance Firm Boosts Cloud with Azure Services
A Florida-based builder’s risk insurance firm looking to modernize its IT infrastructure has trusted TierPoint with the complexities of public cloud adoption.
Introduction
A 45-year-old builder's risk insurance firm headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, faced a significant turning point as it relates to their companywide IT needs.
With 30,000 agents and brokers nationwide, they sought a path to modernize their IT infrastructure by moving to the cloud. Having relied on TierPoint for years, the insurance firm decided to continue this trusted partnership as they navigated the complexities of public cloud adoption.
Challenges
Although the firm selected a third party to migrate their operations to Azure, they turned to TierPoint for ongoing managed services. While the migration partner was focused solely on moving workloads, the firm understood they needed a partner with expertise in managing and optimizing cloud environments with ongoing support and service.
As they transitioned to Azure, their goal was not only modernization, but also leveraging cloud efficiencies to reduce costs and improve security. The insurance firm looked for assurance that their investment in managed cloud services would deliver tangible results. TierPoint’s Azure team organized a comprehensive governance review to highlight the value of their proactive approach to cloud management.
During the review, TierPoint’s Azure-certified experts identified several opportunities for cost savings through Azure reservations and savings plans. They also presented a clear, actionable strategy to maximize the value of the firm's existing infrastructure. The results were immediate: significant cost reductions were identified, and the governance framework ensured that optimization would be an ongoing process. The depth of preparation and insight demonstrated reinforced the firm's confidence in their partnership, turning initial uncertainties into strong advocacy.
Solution
During routine monitoring, TierPoint identified several security configurations that needed adjustment. A new SQL VM was flagged for having public access enabled, which was quickly resolved during testing. Additionally, a SQL server had not yet been added to a failover group, and two app services were found with SSL disabled. These issues were promptly addressed, improving the overall security and resilience of the firm’s Azure environment.
What sets TierPoint apart in their managed Azure services is the continuous value they provide through regular reviews and ongoing monitoring. For the insurance firm, this meant more than just identifying opportunities for cost savings—it involved a deeper dive into security and operational efficiency.
In addition to security, TierPoint uncovered several areas where cost optimization could be improved:
- Idle SQL Elastic Pool: An idle SQL elastic pool was identified, allowing for more efficient resource management as additional databases were added.
- App Service Plans with No Apps: Several app service plans with no deployed apps were flagged, helping to prevent potential cost inefficiencies as new apps were planned.
- Under-Utilized Virtual Machines: Twenty virtual machines with under-utilized CPU resources were found, leading to a cost-saving initiative by downgrading them.
- VM Upgrade Opportunities: Recommendations to upgrade virtual machines to newer versions of the same size were made, offering better performance at no additional cost.
The hands-on, proactive approach that TierPoint provided gave the insurance firm peace of mind, knowing their Azure environment was continuously monitored and fine-tuned by experts who understood the intricacies of the cloud.
Results
As the firm continues to modernize, TierPoint remains a critical partner in their journey. Their collaboration has evolved from simple cloud management to a true partnership, where TierPoint regularly brings new opportunities to the table. With governance reviews conducted every six months and ongoing ad hoc consultations, the firm is assured that their cloud environment is not only secure, but also optimized for performance and cost efficiency.
TierPoint’s tailored approach, focusing on the unique needs and goals of the insurance firm, exemplifies how managed Azure services can deliver lasting value. By combining deep Azure expertise with a proactive and consultative approach, TierPoint helped a traditional insurance firm embrace the future of cloud computing—without missing a beat.
The firm’s experience highlights the importance of having a dedicated partner for ongoing cloud optimization, proving that the right managed services provider can make all the difference in achieving long-term cloud success.
At A Glance
Industry
Insurance
Technology
Cloud, Microsoft Azure
Challenges
This Southeastern insurance firm’s challenges included identifying opportunities for more efficient resource management, improving cost optimization, enhancing security, and strengthening VM performance.
Solution
TierPoint worked with the firm to understand their business’s most critical IT modernization needs and implement a proactive approach to cloud management. A significant factor in choosing TierPoint was their ability to manage all aspects of the cloud migration process and offer consistent monitoring to address ongoing security and operational efficiency needs.
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