Rethinking the Mainframe: How Pekin Insurance Saved Millions

Together we:

Delivered multi-million-dollar savings with enhanced resilience & service quality
Transformed a manual environment into a streamlined, scalable mainframe operation
Overcame the talent gap, with access to Ensono’s specialized mainframe experts
Reduced technical debt and improved compliance, positioning the company for future modernization

The Client

Pekin Insurance has been protecting families and businesses since 1921. Headquartered in Pekin, Illinois, the company is a leading property, casualty, and life insurance provider. Through a network of more than 1,100 independent agencies and over 10,000 insurance producers, Pekin Insurance delivers multi-line coverage in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Utah as well as life insurance only products in an additional 14 states.

Its dual structure—serving both P&C and life insurance customers—requires careful coordination of shared resources, including its legacy mainframe environment.

The Challenge

Pekin Insurance’s IT team faced a growing dilemma: as the P&C division modernized, the life insurance business was left carrying a disproportionate share of mainframe costs. The unexpected retirement of Pekin’s lead mainframe engineer compounded the challenge, leaving a small team to manage a complex, aging environment. Mounting technical debt, rising security vulnerabilities, and escalating infrastructure costs threatened not only IT operations, but also long-term business stability.

Recognizing the growing risks, Kristen Pruitt, Assistant Vice President of IT Infrastructure, launched a strategic review of modernization options. Initially focused on cost validation, her analysis uncovered broader opportunities around efficiency, security, and talent resilience.

The Journey

What started as a cost analysis quickly evolved into a full-scale solution. Ensono built a good relationship with Pekin’s managers and directors, uncovering deeper challenges around staffing, risk, and scalability.

As a result, Pekin Insurance chose Ensono to manage its mainframe environment, including delivering a hardware upgrade from Z14 to Z16 and an upcoming OS refresh.

The migration was smooth, and the partnership gave Pekin access to specialized talent, automation capabilities, and flexible cost structures that had previously been out of reach.

The Outcomes

With Ensono handling the heavy lifting, Pekin Insurance has been able to modernize its mainframe operations, drive significant cost savings, and position itself for future growth and innovation.

Delivered multimillion-dollar savings over five years while enhancing resilience and service quality.
Transformed from a manual, resource-strained environment to an automated, scalable mainframe operation.
Gained on-demand access to specialized talent, ensuring continuous innovation and system security.
Significantly reduced technical debt and strengthened compliance, positioning Pekin for future modernization.
For customers, the benefits were quiet but powerful: stable systems, secure data, and uninterrupted service.

“Ensono delivered not just technical expertise, but a forward-thinking partnership that aligned with our strategic vision. Their investment in talent and automation gave us confidence in both the stability and scalability of our environment. With Ensono managing our mainframe, our IT team is free to focus on innovation and serving our policyholders.”
– Kristen Pruitt, Assistant Vice President, IT Infrastructure, Pekin Insurance

Your Relentless Ally

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the business benefits of outsourcing mainframe operations to a managed service provider?

Outsourcing mainframe operations can deliver significant cost savings, improve system resilience, reduce technical debt, and provide access to specialized talent. It enables IT leaders to focus on innovation while ensuring legacy systems remain secure and scalable.

How can enterprises modernize legacy mainframe environments without disrupting core business operations?

A phased modernization approach—combining hardware upgrades, automation, and expert support—can streamline legacy environments while maintaining business continuity. Partnering with experienced providers helps mitigate risk and accelerate transformation.

What strategies help overcome the mainframe talent gap in large enterprises?

To address the shrinking pool of mainframe experts, organizations are turning to managed services, automation, and hybrid staffing models. These strategies ensure continuity, reduce operational risk, and support long-term modernization goals.

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