October 2021CIOAPPLICATIONS.COM9to be able to instructclearly and effectively to those who will write the code. They must also understand the data, including how it can be used and its limits and requirements. Once new business models, tools and platforms are developed, they must besecure and easily accessible from multiple devices for our colleagues and,when developed for external purposes, for our business partners (customers, brokers andretrocessionaires and third-party capital).The new products and platforms must be maintained, and they must be extremely nimble, adaptable,resilientand secure. Platforms should support rapid innovation models, where users can quickly fire up systems, try different models and determine if a viable product can and should be developed.This data driven Business-IT strategy also requires a smart data driven compliance culture from the topon down. As a company embedding intelligent "accessible" data into and across business processes, we also require data vetting processes and re-assessment as part of our transparency and governance controls to address legal, regulatory and related requirements.At TransRe, we embarked on our digital transformation severalyears ago. Today, we focus on next generation underwriting solutions. We built our core systemsin-house and we are developing Big Data solutions. These are being migrated to Cloud-native architecture. In addition, we surround the core system with Microservices, Kubernetes clusters, CI/CD deployment models and Cloud native databases.Covid-19 has accelerated the need for access to data on unified digital platforms, and we have pushed our timelines forward as a result.This is perhaps the most exciting time forre/insurance IT Departmentsin a generation. We are at the intersection of technology (unlimited capabilities) and business(the profitable delivery of products and services). We are fully engaged with business leaders, and we will have a great impact on future success.George Di Martino is Chief Information Officer and the Chief Information Security Officer at TransRe, the Global Property & Casualty Reinsurer. In addition to supporting core platforms and day-to-day operations (stress tested like never before this year because of the global pandemic),IT will be central to the creation of unified platforms and tools for underwriters, actuaries, modelers and claims staff to easily, readily and securelyaccess data and utilize new decision-making tools.To create these new tools, IT and other corporate team membersmustwork more closely together than ever before. It is critical that the entire business leadership be engaged in the design, development, launch and enhancement of these strategic objectives and projects. These tools must also always be assessed for not just utility and business driven goals but for security, privacy, data integrity and other data risk or regulatory requirements. Passively awaiting the next update is no longer a feasible business strategy. To ensure the best results in the management of projects, Business Project Managers must know not only IT but the business as well. All team members must be fluent in IT and the business, because they must have the ability to speak and understand the two worlds and make them one team. A future project manager must understandthe businesscase and business needs andwill need to succeed in tomorrow's industry, reinsurers must deliver more than just a promise to pay. The new trading currency is analytic insights that help the bottom lines of customers.George Di Martino
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