Astute embarks on major IT infrastructure upgrade

Astute, the specialist information technology company that provides data exchange services to financial services companies, has undertaken a major upgrade of its IT infrastructure.

Based on Microsoft’s .NET architecture, the Astute systems comprise a mixture of commercial software products and bespoke software. Using a carefully prepared roadmap, the project has taken into account the refresh cycles of technology components that comprise the current system architecture.

Referring to the technology lifecycle, Astute’s Enterprise and Solutions Architect, Angelo Hatzikyriacos, noted: “Software has a limited useful life, just like the hardware on which it runs. New releases offer improved performance as well as features requested by users.”

Where hardware is concerned, the Astute system is complex, made up of a number of physical servers.

During the project, Astute upgraded the operating system of all servers to Microsoft Server 2008, the database platform to SQL Server 2008, and the WebSphere MQ Server to version 7. These upgrades ensure that the systems utilise technologies that are production-stable while also benefitting from improved security on Windows Server 2008. The upgraded systems were deployed onto new hardware depending on their functionality, and to ensure that clients benefit from improved system performance.

“Because of the risks involved in upgrading or migrating all of these components simultaneously, we adopted an approach that allows us to tackle individual components at regular intervals, primarily dictated by the software release cycles by Microsoft and other vendors,” explained Hatzikyriacos.

He added that decisions taken in terms of systems strategy are based on the business benefit to be derived from any particular upgrade. “We will only implement changes where the project will result in cost reductions, additional features to support new product innovation, or improved performance.

“Significantly, we have also implemented a separate disaster recovery site, ensuring that the mission critical systems of our clients will be available should there be a disaster at our primary hosting facility.”

That Astute’s approach to systems strategy has been correct is evident from the group’s appointment as technology partner to the Short Term Insurance Industry’s Data Exchange Project (STRIDE), a joint initiative between the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) and the Financial Intermediaries Association (FIA).

Astute was selected to develop the technical solution required to realise STRIDE’s objective of providing a secure method of transferring underwriting and claims data between insurers and intermediaries.

Astute’s Consolidated Client Portfolio system facilitates the integration of financial data by giving some 19 000 financial advisers, who have their clients’ consent, online, simultaneous access to policy and investment information at life offices and investment companies.

“We also operate systems to manage policy replacements, and for risk management in the claims and underwriting processes. Astute has developed a reputation as a strong and credible strategic partner in terms of developing industry technology solutions. Our intention with the technology upgrade is to maintain our competitive advantage into the future,” said Hatzikyriacos.