Data is at the core of every financial services company, driving operations, innovation and critical decision-making. However, not all data serves the same purpose. A significant portion of stored data provides little to no value for daily operations. Known as “zombie data,” this inactive information quietly accumulates costs without delivering any meaningful contribution to business objectives.
For a multinational finance and insurance company, addressing this issue was transformative. Companies are increasingly implementing data management solutions like Komprise to optimise data storage. They’ve identified their zombie data problem and in turn realised millions in savings. Here’s how they did it—and why it matters for your organisation.
What Is Zombie Data?
Zombie data refers to files, documents and other digital assets that are no longer actively used but continue to occupy valuable storage resources. This often includes data created by ex-employees, old projects or legacy systems that have been replaced. Despite their inactivity, zombie data is frequently stored, replicated and backed up as though it were critical “hot” data, resulting in unnecessary operational costs.
For financial services organisations, this issue can be particularly acute. High regulatory requirements and the sheer volume of transactional data make it easy for zombie data to pile up across Network-Attached Storage (NAS) systems and cloud environments. Left unaddressed, zombie data can lead to skyrocketing costs and inefficiencies.
The Problem: Uncovering a Hidden Expense
The multinational finance and insurance company in question had data stored across multiple NAS and cloud platforms. On the surface, their data management systems appeared robust, with ample storage capacity and replication processes in place. However, a closer look revealed a significant inefficiency: a vast amount of inactive data that continued to incur storage, replication and backup costs.
Much of this zombie data was tied to former employees—files that were once critical but were no longer relevant after their creators left the company. Treating this inactive data the same as hot, frequently accessed data meant the company was spending millions on resources that added little value to operations or compliance.
The Solution: Komprise to the Rescue
Komprise, a leader in data management was the solution used by IDS to provide the tools the company needed to tackle its zombie data issue. Komprise offers an intelligent data management platform designed to analyse, classify, and optimise data storage across NAS and cloud environments.
Using Komprise, the company was able to:
- Identify Zombie Data: Komprise’s analytics pinpointed inactive and low-touch data across the company’s storage systems. This included identifying data created by ex-employees, as well as outdated files and duplicates.
- Optimise Storage Tiers: By categorising data based on its usage and relevance, the company could move inactive data to lower-cost storage tiers or archive it entirely.
- Streamline Data Management: Komprise’s automated workflows reduced the need for manual intervention, making the data optimisation process seamless and efficient.
The Result: Millions in Savings
The impact was immediate and substantial. By leveraging Komprise, the company was able to:
- Reduce Storage Costs: Zombie data was moved from expensive NAS and primary cloud storage to more cost-effective alternatives, significantly lowering expenses.
- Enhance Operational Efficiency: Automated workflows allowed IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than managing inactive data.
- Ensure Compliance: Even as zombie data was archived or relocated, it remained accessible to meet regulatory requirements, ensuring no compliance risks.
Overall, the company realised millions of dollars in savings, freeing up resources that could be reinvested into innovation and growth initiatives.
Why It Matters for Banks, Finance and Insurance Companies
Financial institutions are under constant pressure to manage vast amounts of data while balancing cost efficiency and regulatory compliance. Zombie data presents a hidden expense that many companies overlook but addressing it can mean significant cost savings and operational benefits.
Key reasons why tackling zombie data should be a priority include:
- Cost Control: With data storage costs rising, optimising storage usage is essential to maintaining profitability.
- Regulatory Compliance: Properly managing and archiving inactive data ensures compliance with data retention regulations.
- Sustainability: Reducing unnecessary data storage lowers the environmental impact of IT operations, aligning with corporate sustainability goals.
How to Get Started
If your financial services company is ready to cut zombie data costs, here’s how to begin:
- Audit Your Data: Conduct an initial assessment to understand the scope of your zombie data issue.
- Leverage Analytics: Use Komprise to gain visibility into your data usage and identify inactive data across your NAS and cloud environments.
- Implement Optimisation Strategies: Move inactive data to lower-cost storage tiers or archive it while ensuring it remains accessible for compliance purposes.
- Monitor and Maintain: Continuously analyse data usage to prevent zombie data from accumulating in the future.
Zombie data is a silent cost driver that can undermine efficiency and profitability. As this multinational finance and insurance company demonstrated, addressing the issue can yield significant savings and operational improvements. By identifying and managing inactive data, your organisation can free up resources, enhance compliance and focus on what truly matters: driving business growth in a competitive landscape.
To learn more about how Komprise can help your firm optimise data management, contact IDS today and start transforming your approach to data storage.