NETSCOUT Case Studies EMC Insurance Companies Assures Optimal User Experience

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	EMC Insurance Companies Assures Optimal User Experience NETSCOUT

EMC Insurance Companies Assures Optimal User Experience

NETSCOUT

Technology Category	Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
Applicable Functions	Business Operation
Use Cases	Predictive Maintenance Remote Asset Management
Services	System Integration
Challenge	EMC Insurance Companies was looking for a scalable solution to extend network visibility from the main campus and two data centers to 16 branch offices and five service centers in a cost- and resource-effective manner. They needed to assure high-quality service performance and optimal responsiveness to end users while keeping pace with new service roll outs and new technologies. The company’s core networked business services include insurance policy transaction processing, claims processing, image processing, email, Voice over IP (VoIP), video conferencing and Internet. Most of the claims and transaction processing applications are programmed in-house using Unisys’ Business Information Server (BIS) programming language and database. These business-critical applications run primarily on two Unisys mainframes where the bulk of EMC’s business-critical information is processed and stored. Web servers provide the front- end interface between the independent agents and policyholders, and the mainframes. Read More
About Customer	EMC Insurance Companies is one of the 60 largest property and casualty insurance companies in the United States and has been serving policyholders and independent insurance agents for 100 years. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, EMC employs more than 2,100 employees and has assets exceeding $3 billion. EMC sells its products solely through independent insurance agencies in more than 40 states. The company believes that a tight partnership with its agents is essential to delivering a superior level of personalized service to its policyholders. A strength that sets EMC apart from other insurance companies is their decentralized operating structure that enables them to provide localized service from their 16 regional branch offices and five regional service centers. This unique office structure positions EMC employees in close proximity to its policyholders and agents, enabling its representatives to fine-tune strategies, products and pricing to meet the needs of individual territories and agents with tailored underwriting, marketing, claims, and loss control services. Read More
Solution	EMC became a NetScout customer in 2009, initially deploying the nGenius solution with two InfiniStream appliances which fed into an nGenius analysis console to help better identify reasons for network slowdowns at remote sites. Since their initial implementation, EMC has leveraged additional value and uses for the nGenius solution. In addition to response time analysis, the nGenius solution also helps them to identify emerging performance issues, expedite problem resolution, and better optimize their delivery of critical services. EMC experienced an unexpected increase in complaints from branch office employees about the responsiveness of a new application. The IT operations team is challenged in identifying the source of performance issues and cannot pinpoint the exact cause of degradations being experienced by end users. They need to determine if the issue is being caused by the WAN, the application, or the servers. In order to gain better visibility into application service delivery in the branch offices, EMC Insurance is deploying the nGenius Integrated Agent for Cisco® Integrated Services Router. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Use Cases

Predictive Maintenance

Remote Asset Management

Services

System Integration

Challenge

EMC Insurance Companies was looking for a scalable solution to extend network visibility from the main campus and two data centers to 16 branch offices and five service centers in a cost- and resource-effective manner. They needed to assure high-quality service performance and optimal responsiveness to end users while keeping pace with new service roll outs and new technologies. The company’s core networked business services include insurance policy transaction processing, claims processing, image processing, email, Voice over IP (VoIP), video conferencing and Internet. Most of the claims and transaction processing applications are programmed in-house using Unisys’ Business Information Server (BIS) programming language and database. These business-critical applications run primarily on two Unisys mainframes where the bulk of EMC’s business-critical information is processed and stored. Web servers provide the front- end interface between the independent agents and policyholders, and the mainframes.

About Customer

EMC Insurance Companies is one of the 60 largest property and casualty insurance companies in the United States and has been serving policyholders and independent insurance agents for 100 years. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, EMC employs more than 2,100 employees and has assets exceeding $3 billion. EMC sells its products solely through independent insurance agencies in more than 40 states. The company believes that a tight partnership with its agents is essential to delivering a superior level of personalized service to its policyholders. A strength that sets EMC apart from other insurance companies is their decentralized operating structure that enables them to provide localized service from their 16 regional branch offices and five regional service centers. This unique office structure positions EMC employees in close proximity to its policyholders and agents, enabling its representatives to fine-tune strategies, products and pricing to meet the needs of individual territories and agents with tailored underwriting, marketing, claims, and loss control services.

Solution

EMC became a NetScout customer in 2009, initially deploying the nGenius solution with two InfiniStream appliances which fed into an nGenius analysis console to help better identify reasons for network slowdowns at remote sites. Since their initial implementation, EMC has leveraged additional value and uses for the nGenius solution. In addition to response time analysis, the nGenius solution also helps them to identify emerging performance issues, expedite problem resolution, and better optimize their delivery of critical services. EMC experienced an unexpected increase in complaints from branch office employees about the responsiveness of a new application. The IT operations team is challenged in identifying the source of performance issues and cannot pinpoint the exact cause of degradations being experienced by end users. They need to determine if the issue is being caused by the WAN, the application, or the servers. In order to gain better visibility into application service delivery in the branch offices, EMC Insurance is deploying the nGenius Integrated Agent for Cisco® Integrated Services Router.

Impact #1	Improved predictability of responsiveness, enabling immediate access to business-critical information to compete more effectively
Impact #2	Improved service delivery by rapidly identifying performance issues and minimizing the downtime of business applications
Impact #3	Assure the performance of critical applications including email, VoIP, video conferencing, and business transaction processing

Impact #1

Improved predictability of responsiveness, enabling immediate access to business-critical information to compete more effectively

Impact #2

Improved service delivery by rapidly identifying performance issues and minimizing the downtime of business applications

Impact #3

Assure the performance of critical applications including email, VoIP, video conferencing, and business transaction processing

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Overview

EMC Insurance Companies Assures Optimal User Experience

Operational Impact