Empowering Retirement Technology through Expert IT Resourcing and DataOps
Managing complex financial data requires elite technical talent. Security Benefit utilised our managed staffing solution to deploy a 24/7 DataOps team, achieving near-perfect system reliability and significant cost efficiencies for their retirement and investment platforms.
Overview
Security Benefit, established in 1892, carries a legacy of nearly 129 years in the finance sector. However, staying relevant in today's market requires more than just history; it demands cutting-edge life finance technology solutions. Serving a massive customer base in the United States, the company reached a pivotal moment where its internal infrastructure needed to evolve to handle complex retirement plans and annuity data with greater agility.
To maintain its market-leading position, Security Benefit recognized that financial services data engineering wasn't just a back-office function—it was the engine of their digital transformation.
Key Achievements
Personnel Costs
60% Cost Savings via Offshore Resourcing
Hiring Velocity
40% Time Saved on sourcing and qualifying talent
Operational Coverage
24/7 Data Monitoring with zero routine involvement from SB management
System Uptime
99.9% Reliability in data pipeline management
The Challenge: Solving the 24/7 Data Dilemma
As Security Benefit scaled, they faced a common industry hurdle: the follow-the-sun gap. Their on-site team was high-performing but couldn't provide the round-the-clock monitoring required for modern cloud data operations.
SB identified a critical need for a dedicated offshore DataOps team. This wasn't just about finding extra hands; it was about finding a trusted partner capable of integrating seamlessly into their existing workflow.
They required a specialized DataOps Pod Model to manage:
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Snowflake Data Engineering
For high-speed querying and data processing
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SSIS Development & TimeXtender
For legacy data management and integration
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Fivetran & Matillion ETL
For automated data movement within AWS Cloud Services
The ITTStar Strategy: Managed DataOps & Staff Augmentation
As an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner with a specific AWS Data & Analytics Competency, ITTStar was uniquely positioned to bridge this gap. We didn't just offer staff resumes; we provided a comprehensive life finance technology solutions framework designed for the rigors of the financial sector.
The Specialized POD Model
We deployed a high-performing offshore development team consisting of four key roles:
Lead Data Engineers
To architect scalable pipelines
AWS Developers
Focused on cloud-native integration and serverless computing
Offshore Data Analysts
To ensure data quality and provide business insights
ETL Specialists
Experts in Matillion and Fivetran to maintain seamless data flow
By utilizing this model, ITTStar became a one-stop provider, offering staff augmentation services that eliminated the friction of managing multiple vendors.
Advanced Technical Techniques Implemented
To truly optimize SB's environment, ITTStar went beyond basic maintenance, implementing advanced life finance technology solutions that prioritized security and speed.
Automated CI/CD Pipelines
We implemented automated testing for all ETL processes using Matillion, ensuring that code changes wouldn't break downstream analytics.
Data Lake Hydration
Leveraging AWS S3 and Snowflake, we created a single source of truth for retirement plan data analytics, reducing data silos across the organization.
Proactive Monitoring
By using CloudWatch and custom alerting, the offshore pod could resolve latency issues before the onshore team even logged in for the morning.
Review
The transition to a managed offshore IT outsourcing model yielded immediate, measurable benefits for Security Benefit's bottom line and operational efficiency.
Personnel Costs
60% Cost Savings via Offshore Resourcing
Hiring Velocity
40% Time Saved on sourcing and qualifying talent
Operational Coverage
24/7 Data Monitoring with zero routine involvement from SB management
System Uptime
99.9% Reliability in data pipeline management
"The transparency provided by ITTStar allowed us to retain 100% control over our cloud data integration strategy while significantly lowering our overhead. It's rare to find an offshore partner that functions as a true extension of your internal team."
Senior Director of Data Strategy
Security Benefit
Moving Forward: Actionable Steps for Finance Firms
For organizations looking to replicate this success in life insurance technology solutions, we recommend the following roadmap:
Audit Your Data Latency
Identify where your pipelines bottleneck. Is it during after hours?
Select a Competency Partner
Look for partners with specific AWS Data & Analytics Competencies to ensure they understand cloud-native security.
Adopt the Pod Model
Instead of individual contractors, hire integrated Pods that include analysts, engineers, and developers who already know how to work together.
Prioritize Transparency
Use a model that gives you full visibility into offshore costs and resource allocation to ensure long-term ROI.
By leveraging cloud data operations and a scalable IT staff augmentation strategy, Security Benefit has not only protected its legacy but also built a resilient, future-proof foundation for the next century of service.