Oriental insurance company connects 1000th location

“Sify was able to prepare and implement a solution on the scale we needed through a combination of services. It's been a delight working with them”
-Mr. Anil Kumar, Deputy General Manager

The Indian Insurance scene has undergone many changes and continues to be in the midst of an immense transition. The market today is growing at the rate of 15-20 % annually and, along with banking services, accounts for about 7% of India GDP. However the market is just evolving, and in the current scenario the challenge is tapping the 80% still untapped market. This evolution of a market brings with it complexity and scale. Both these factors are further intensified with numerous players (now nearly 30 insurance companies) vying for market share in a market where there was little competition only a few years ago. Additionally, the complexity of customers' needs, the growth of intermediaries, and the role of technology, have intensified market challenges.

Technology is now beginning to play a crucial role in this sector. For one, customers are now tech savvy. Processes are more complex, transaction volume is growing, and data has reached baffling complexity. To meet internal process management needs, ensure global standards, enrich customer interface and achieve efficiencies, insurance companies are turning more and more to technology to meet the challenge.

Business Challenge
OICL needed a large scale infrastructure roll out that would enable it to transition from a legacy distributed insurance applications to a high tech, integrated insurance applications environment.

The business challenges in the distributed set up were:

• Decentralized Implementation of Business Applications in all offices
• Distributed, disjoint IT Systems
• Physical Data movement
• Silos of Data
• Patch Management
• Version Control
• Data Security
• Delayed MIS
• Increased Time to Market

Meeting the Challenge – Sify's Solution
OICL decided it was time to make the big leap. If it had to offer better customer service, streamline its processes, and ensure perfect control over the massive data volumes involved, it would have to look at an expert in the managed network services space. Sify studied their existing infrastructure and applications environment, analyzed their needs and proposed its SiteConnect TM Layer-3 MPLS VPN solution. This would enable a 1000+ locations Wide Area Network (WAN) encompassing access to centralized Integrated Non-Life Insurance Application Software (INLIAS) platforms. SiteConnect provides for a highly secure, highly redundant, and high-availability MPLS network. The solution is implemented in 2 Phases; first connecting 418 offices and in Phase-2 connecting the remaining offices.

The solution is built on Sify's fully meshed, "carrier-agnostic", Tier-1 IP network backbone comprising of multiple STM-1 / DS-3 links. The network connects all the locations on a highly redundant, scalable MPLS-enabled IP-VPN with connectivity to the centralized Data Center (DC), via multiple last-mile circuits comprising of Leased-Lines, Wireless Broadband and ISDN circuits.

The entire suite of application servers – comprising highly customized, centralized, integrated non-life insurance applications based on Oracle 9i platform – are centrally deployed out of Sify's data centers.

OICL's Data is housed in Sify's state-of-the art world-class Data Center in Vashi (Mumbai). The Data Center which is ISO 9001:2000 certified and meets BS 7799 standards, provides the physical environment necessary to keep the entire suite of application servers up and running 365x24x7. The Data Center is built on a highly redundant architecture comprising 2 layers of Cisco routers and Firewalls deployed in High-Availability (HA) mode to provide for uninterrupted services.

Connectivity to all the branch offices is provided via redundant local-loop circuits. Primary connectivity is provided through a combination of Sify's state-of-the-art Wireless circuits and Leased Lines, while ISDN circuits provide backup to the primary circuits. The solution is secured by MPKI (Managed Public Key Infrastructure)-enabled Digital Certification of IPSec-encrypted tunnels. Through this, any 2 IPSec-enabled Routers wanting to exchange IPSec-encrypted traffic passing between them are authenticated on the network. This solution provides strong encryption at the network layer and eliminates the need to configure individual applications or clients.

The applications, in addition to centralized INLIAS data access, supported over the WAN include CUG (Closed User Group)-enable VoIP between OICL' various offices. This is provisioned through Cisco's Call Manager-based Voice setup housed in the Data Center.

Sify's SLA parameters are around Latency, Network Availability, and Packet Loss.

The bandwidth sizing has been done based on OICL's requirements. Sify has provided a web-based tool for monitoring the bandwidth utilization on the provisioned links. Through this tool, OICL can access reports on network latency and availability. The customer can augment the bandwidth at both its facilities if the utilization reaches threshold.

Sify is the single-service window for the customer for all the aspects of the MPLS service provided. It provides end-to-end support which includes design, deployment and configuration of the MPLS solution, Maintenance of local-loop circuits, end-to-end network management; and On-Site support services for hardware.

Reaping the Benefits
OICL was able to leverage the solution to gain:

• Sify's wide reach and ability to provide connectivity to any OICL location
• Multiple last mile options (Wireless BB/LL/ISDN) with the flexibility to upgrade and downgrade the BW on short notice
• High Network Uptime guaranteed on RF (>99.5%), about 80% links on RF (Licensed spectrum)
• Centralized Helpdesk and online monitoring of Links

Snapshot – OICL

• India's Leading PSU in Non Life Insurance Vertical
• Established in 1947
• Completed a business of Rs. 4020 crores for the year ended March 2007
• More than 900 offices all over India and overseas operation in Nepal, Kuwait & Dubai
• Over 16,000 employees
• Share Capital of Rs. 100 crores and free reserves of Rs. 1900 crores
• Regularly paying dividend. 100% declared for the year ended March 2007

Client Testimonials
In a remarkably short span of time we have completely revamped and integrated our multi-location operations. Today over 1000 locations are integrated through the WAN accessing data centrally. What we have simultaneously achieved is immediate macro-level visibility of operational performance and the ability to leverage technology for seamless customer service. Sify did a tremendous job understanding our requirement, bundling services and implementing this large scale solution with a clear roadmap. Mr. SK Chanana, General Manager

"It's a big step for us especially being able to integrate applications, unify data from across locations, ensure the security of our data, and gain effective process control at one go. Sify was able to prepare and implement a solution on the scale we needed through a combination of services. It's been a delight working with them." Mr. Anil Kumar, Deputy General Manager