Reimagining Insurance: A Strategic Shift from Mainframe Systems to Cloud-Based Operations

Santhosh Varatharajan, Archana Subramanian

Abstract: The migration of an insurance company?s mainframe and business applications to the cloud represents a significant transformation that modernizes operations, enhances scalability, and reduces costs. Given the insurance industry's reliance on legacy systems, this transition requires meticulous planning, stakeholder alignment, and the adoption of cloud-native technologies. This paper explores the complexities and challenges of such a large-scale migration, where organizations may manage over 120 applications, millions of policies, and more than 75 million lines of legacy code interconnected through thousands of interfaces. The execution strategies discussed focus on balancing business continuity, security, compliance, and performance optimization while leveraging automation and AI-driven insights. The benefits of cloud migration include improved agility, operational efficiency, and data-driven innovation, ultimately positioning insurers for long-term success in a competitive and evolving digital landscape.

Keywords: Insurance Industry, Cound-native Technologies, Legacy Code, Cloud, Security, Data-driven Innovation, Compliance