In a challenging project, CodeBlue designed and built a secure multi-tenanted Citrix platform on Microsoft Azure infrastructure for NZbrokers and its members. Due to the legacy nature of the broking application, Citrix Desktop Virtualisation was deployed to enhance the Azure Virtual Desktop experience, backed with Microsoft 365 services.
CodeBlue then individually migrated members to the hosted solution, provided support, and where necessary, platform customisations and hosting for additional applications.
As a result, NZbrokers members enjoyed improved application performance, greater reliability and resilience, as well as consistent best practice security.
Efficiencies were also created for the NZbrokers Management support team – with a single consistent platform, centralised management of upgrades and maintenance for members was now a reality.
Situation
Operating in a network model, independent member businesses receive support and product recommendations from NZbrokers. With the march of time, many members found themselves with outdated hardware and inadequate security – and a recommendation to act.
“Basically, they were taking a DIY approach, and some were struggling to keep up,” explains COO Danielle Brookbanks. “This presented a difficult challenge, with constantly escalating industry information security and compliance obligations. Some members are small businesses, so the required technology investment is daunting. And many had old servers, with unsupported operating systems and application software,” she explains.
“Essentially, we needed to put our core insurance broking application, and all related customer data such as policy documents, into a secure, modern environment – bringing members up to standard in terms of security, reliability, and business continuity.”
Supportability was a further significant challenge for NZbrokers’ broking application team. Any ‘blanket’ updates or changes to the core application required logging on to individual member servers, via various VPNs, one by one – an insecure, tedious and unreliable process. And when this wasn’t possible, potential security and governance risks emerged.
Brookbanks adds that in a modernised world, increased connectivity of the core insurance management application was necessary. “We are always looking to deliver additional value to our members – as part of this project we developed and deployed a policy document delivery application, creating huge efficiencies for our members – this wouldn’t have been possible without the centralised platform.”
She states that a scalable solution was essential, given the widely varying capacity requirements between one member business and another, as well as the staged migration process “As this was a new offering for our members, we weren’t quite sure what the uptake would be, or if it would get critical mass, so there was one more stipulation: we didn’t want to commit substantial capital expenditure.”
Solution
It was, agrees Brookbanks, a tall order. NZbrokers assessed multiple solution providers, including local international contenders with insurance industry experience during an initial vendor selection process.
“CodeBlue emerged as the preferred supplier by demonstrating an economically viable solution, addressing what I would call extreme complexities around multiple stakeholders, software vendors and applications. They set up a multi-tenanted platform which required CodeBlue to securely segregate members within the solution – incredibly important as at the end of the day they are separate businesses,” Brookbanks says.
During the design process, CodeBlue evaluated multiple hosting options including its own private cloud infrastructure, CodeBlue VPS. “We appreciated their consultative approach, though ultimately, we agreed with their recommendation to build the solution in Microsoft Azure, due to scalability and compliance aspects,” she confirms.
CodeBlue also wholeheartedly welcomed the use of a third-party specialist for cybersecurity auditing and worked collaboratively with our provider. “That’s great, because you can’t audit your own work,” Brookbanks notes.
The thoroughness of CodeBlue’s approach involved a 6-month proof of concept, piloting the solution with a key NZbrokers member business, assessing viability from multiple viewpoints. This included verification that Citrix-facilitated access performed appropriately; application latency was suitably low; secure segregation of member instances and data was effective; and that the financials stacked up. “The fact that CodeBlue is nationwide and provides local support proved invaluable as we travelled the country together, visiting members and demonstrating and recommending the solution,” says Brookbanks.
Results
Over the course of seven years, 14 member businesses (or approximately 420 seats) adopted the solution. The typical member migration started with discovery, design, a project plan, and ultimately migration from legacy physical servers to the Microsoft Azure hosted platform.
With multiple application vendors involved (which varied from one site to another), Brookbanks says significant planning was required for every project. “This was not a simple undertaking, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say our reputation with our members was at stake, but we felt supported as CodeBlue came through whenever issues were encountered,” she comments.
And issues most certainly were encountered – ranging from technical, to support, and even contractual. Some members are CodeBlue clients, end to end, while others prefer to rely on local managed service providers for items outside of the platform. “What we found with CodeBlue is a commitment to getting things right, solving problems, and taking accountability,” says Brookbanks. “As is often the case with complex IT systems, issues are inevitable. The real test of any relationship is how they are dealt with.”
“The primary requirement of the solution was meeting cybersecurity and compliance requirements. CodeBlue worked alongside our vCISO to meet these requirements and to undertake audits and business continuity assessments.”
“With CodeBlue as the first point of contact for our members, the centralised platform, combined with local service, has proven a big selling point over the overseas alternatives.”
As this is as far from a standard solution as one can get, CodeBlue has had to consistently to learn and adapt. “Over time, we’ve seen processes refined and improved, and further complexities have been addressed as they have arisen. It’s become a partnership where we’ve progressed together,” she notes.
With an eye the future, NZbrokers has developed a new web based broking application for members. “As this is rolled out, the need for Citrix and Azure will diminish, so we’re already working with CodeBlue on what’s next,” Brookbanks explains.
After seven years, she says mutual knowledge of reciprocal operations means NZbrokers has no hesitation recommending CodeBlue to its members. It all comes down to one point: “Throughout the engagement, CodeBlue have invested heavily in understanding our systems and complexities and are willing to go above and beyond when challenges arise.”
