News Article -- June 12, 2008

Insurance firm outsources PC deployment to CSA

(source: The Star - In Tech)

CSA (M) Sdn Bhd has signed an agreement to provide MCIS Zurich Insurance Bhd with 650 Hewlett-Packard desktop and notebook PCs, as well as day-to-day software and infrastructure support. The RM3mil, five-year agreement covers PCs for MCIS Zurich staff at 27 offices all over the country.

CSA Malaysia will be responsible for initial planning, design of the standard operating environment, inventory management and software distribution on the PCs.

The machines will be deployed in three phases between now and September next year, to ensure a smooth transition for technology upgrades according to the Hewlett-Packard leasing programme, said MCIS Zurich chief executive officer Mohamad Adnan Mohamad Zain.

All PCs will come installed with Microsoft Office productivity applications, Citrix client software, Lotus Notes e-mail and MCIS Zurich's own insurance software, CSA will provide training for MCIS Zurich staff in using the Microsoft, Citrix and Lotus software.

"CSA will also serve as the point of contact for the technical support requirements for the PCs deployed under the contract and provide on-site technical support, it will also manage the PCs throughout their lifecycle, said CSA Malaysia managing director Chuah Tai Eu.

Mohamad Adnan said his company will be among the first insurance companies in Malaysia to adopt a total life-cycle approach to the management of information technology assets.

This approach involves managing the hardware asset from the initial specification phase to final obsolescence and disposal at a predetermined date.

"We expect to save RM1.4mil over the five-year duration of the contract,out of an annual IT budget of around RM10mil. By outsourcing these support and maintenance functions to CSA, we will also be able to better utilise our internal IT resources for more value-added benefit to the company" he said