IBM and The Hartford Financial Services Group, a provider of insurance and wealth management, have signed a new five-year technology services agreement to help The Hartford simplify and transform its technology infrastructure.
Under the agreement, the Hartford will transition its virtual desktop environment to IBM’s Smart Business Desktop Cloud offering. This will provide a centralised, virtual desktop cloud for The Hartford’s employees, improving performance and offering anytime, anywhere access to the company’s internal network of email, applications and more, said the company.
In addition, IBM will continue to manage The Hartford’s data centre operations and create a more efficient IT platform by virtualising its server network at IBM’s Boulder, Colorado facility and The Hartford’s own centre in Hartford, Connecticut.
IBM will also install a zEnterprise System to support the development and accessibility of key business applications for global users.
IBM financial services sector general manager Maureen Sweeny said the company will leverage cross-company capabilities from research engineers and financial services experts to provide The Hartford the technologies and smarter processes they need to streamline their IT operations.
"In collaboration with The Hartford, IBM will help transform the company’s complex computing environment into a more simplified model," Sweeny said.
