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Financial Services Data Centre Transformation

Award-Winning Data Centre Migration Delivered without Disruption

Enabling infrastructure modernisation, improved resilience and future growth across APAC.

Advisors managing an APAC data-centre migration
3,500Servers Migrated
8Country Programme
15Week Delivery
ZERODowntime
50%Footprint Reduction

Overview

Modernising Zurich's regional technology platform during a strategic Data Centre relocation

As the lease on its Hong Kong office floor was nearing expiration, Zurich Insurance, a multinational insurance company, decided to relocate its regional Data Centre to a colocation facility. This move presented an ideal opportunity for Zurich to reassess its IT estate, upgrade technology, and implement a standardised platform for their Primary Data Centre. Our Advisors, with extensive local expertise, were brought on board to assist in selecting a suitable facility and managing the subsequent migration.

Collaborating closely with Zurich Insurance's Technology Team, our Advisors identified the necessary IT infrastructure, applications, and services to develop a Data Centre design aimed at reducing the current footprint by 50%. After establishing a migration strategy for each service, the team meticulously planned the relocation to the new facility.

Despite a tight 15-week deadline, our Advisors successfully managed the migration of 3,500 servers to the new Data Centre, executing a nearly flawless programme that ensured zero downtime for Zurich Insurance's APAC operations. The success of this project led to its recognition as the winner of the prestigious DCD — Asia Pacific Cloud Journey of the Year Award at the Data Centre Awards.

The Company

Zurich Insurance in APAC operates across Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore, serving over 12 million customers. They focus on motor, accident & health, life and travel insurance, leveraging advanced digital technology and customer-centric strategies to drive growth and high customer satisfaction.

Target

Complete the Data Centre migration activities for 8 countries within a 15-week migration period.

Development

Our Advisors worked with the Zurich local and regional teams to develop the detailed steps for the migration of the services.

Integration

When services were moved across, the business teams logged in to validate all services through documented test scripts.

TESTIMONIAL

It is one of the most successful projects that I have worked on. I am impressed that the Bushey Advisors PMO and project team were very proactive in identifying and resolving risks and issues. It was definitely one of the key factors for our success.

Regional Security Officer

Why Bushey

Enterprise transformation delivered successfully

01

Complex programmes. Minimal business disruption.

02

Practical experience across strategy, design and delivery

03

Trusted by organisations running critical infrastructure

04

Better Decisions. Better Outcomes.

Successful transformations don't happen by chance. They are the result of making the right decisions at every stage of the journey.

The Challenge

Vacating an office-hosted Data Centre while transforming and modernising critical infrastructure

What stood in the way

Tight Migration TimelineZurich's Primary IT Services were housed in the Regional Primary Data Centre, located within their Hong Kong headquarters. With the office lease nearing renewal, management decided to vacate the premises, prompting the need to relocate the Data Centre — all within a stringent 15-week window to migrate over 3,500 servers.

Platform StandardisationAs much of the existing IT infrastructure required a technology refresh, this presented an ideal opportunity to reassess the IT estate. The goal was to implement a standardised platform that would support both the Primary Data Centre and the Secondary Data Centre, which serves as the Disaster Recovery site.

How Bushey solved it

Selecting the Future Data CentreOur Advisors were engaged to evaluate the current market and identify suitable Data Centre providers capable of offering robust facilities for Zurich Insurance's IT infrastructure platforms. They identified five potential suppliers and conducted a thorough procurement process based on a detailed requirements document.

Negotiating the Right TermsOur Advisors also played a key role in negotiating commercial terms and contracts, collaborating with a specialist external IT lawyer.

Building the Migration BlueprintWorking closely with Zurich Insurance's Technology Team, our Advisors assessed the IT infrastructure, applications, and services, designing a Data Centre layout that reduced the current footprint by 50%. Together they agreed a Migration Strategy for each service and developed detailed Transition Runbooks outlining the tasks to move services to the new facility.

Preparing the New EnvironmentOur Advisors managed the entire Data Centre and IT fit-out process, ensuring activities aligned with the programme schedule under the stringent 15-week timeline for migrating over 3,500 servers.

Executing the MigrationWorking with the Zurich technology team and third parties, a series of Maintenance Windows was used to transition services to the new Data Centre. The final migration event was a resounding success — delivered on time, within budget, and with zero downtime for the business.

Why leave success to chance?

Complex technology transformation don’t have to be high risk. Bushey helps organisations deliver critical change with confidence.

Discuss Your Challenge

The Outcome

Delivered a seamless migration while creating a modern, scalable technology platform
Zero Business Disruptions

Zurich Insurance leveraged our Advisors' unparalleled expertise in managing complex projects, Data Centres, and IT infrastructure. This collaboration allowed Zurich to avoid common pitfalls and ensured that business operations remained unaffected throughout the project.

New Purpose-Built Facility

The Zurich Technology Team were able to exit an end-of-life on-premise Data Centre and move to a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility.

Platform for Future Growth

By developing a 'Live/Live' Data Centre and IT services model, Zurich Insurance now possesses a robust platform for business growth, significantly mitigating the risks associated with IT incident recovery.

Disaster Recovery Readiness

The developed and modified System Test Scripts were later adopted for Disaster Recovery tests, adding lasting value beyond the migration.

Trusted to Support the Next Phase

With the success of the Primary Data Centre move, our Advisors were appointed to assist with the Zurich Disaster Recovery Data Centre in Singapore.

Enhanced Business Collaboration

The Zurich Insurance Technology team grew both individually and collectively, fostering collaboration and alignment with other business units. This successful teamwork was carried forward into subsequent projects.

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