How ServiceFactum Stabilized Business-Critical Database Operations in a Regulated Environment
In financial IT, database operations are not merely an infrastructure issue. They are business-critical. When systems are unavailable, replications fail, or migrations stall, this creates direct risks to operations, compliance, and service quality.
It was precisely in this context that ServiceFactum supported a leading IT service provider for the financial sector in stabilizing and scaling its database operations. The task: to reliably operate more than 250 database instances, reduce operational risks, and simultaneously relieve the internal teams.
The Challenge
The existing environment was complex. More than 250 database instances based on Oracle, MySQL, and PostgreSQL had to be operated reliably within a highly critical infrastructure. At the same time, operational challenges arose repeatedly.
These included replication issues, storage bottlenecks, performance problems, and failed migrations. Many processes were heavily manual. This slowed down the resolution of issues and made it difficult to implement changes during ongoing operations. At the same time, internal teams were under constant pressure to comply with regulatory requirements and ensure the stability of the systems.
In such a situation, it is not enough to simply add individual specialists on an ad hoc basis. What is crucial is a model with clear responsibilities, coordinated processes, and reliable operational management.
The Approach
ServiceFactum took responsibility for second-level database operations and stabilizing the environment. Instead of providing individual specialists in isolation, ServiceFactum orchestrated a multi-vendor setup of experienced database experts within a uniformly managed delivery model.
For the end customer, this meant: centralized control, clear priorities, SLA monitoring, and less coordination effort on the customer’s part.
The focus was on four areas:
- Stability in day-to-day operations
Recurring error patterns were systematically analyzed and reduced—including replication issues, performance bottlenecks, and critical storage issues. - Faster incident response
Thanks to clear responsibilities, structured processes, and experienced second-level support, incidents could be addressed and resolved more quickly. - Controlled changes and maintenance
Backups, log management, monitoring, and maintenance processes were made more stable and repeatable. This allowed infrastructure changes to be implemented faster and with less operational disruption. - Automation and compliance by design
PostgreSQL configurations were automated using Ansible. At the same time, secure monitoring structures with TLS and MFA were implemented to meet the high regulatory requirements in the financial sector.
The result
Even in a highly regulated environment, we don’t just provide individual specialists; we bring structure, control, and reliability to operational delivery.
This transforms traditional staff augmentation into a controlled, SLA-driven setup that reduces risks and noticeably eases the burden on internal teams.
Bernd Wandt, CEO and Onshore Delivery Manager at ServiceFactum
By partnering with ServiceFactum, the major financial firm was able to significantly stabilize its operational database operations. Risks in the highly critical infrastructure were reduced, recurring error patterns were contained, and incident processes were accelerated.
SLA compliance improved thanks to faster response and resolution times. Internal teams were relieved of operational firefighting and were able to focus more on strategic tasks.
At the same time, a scalable delivery model was created that combines regulatory requirements, security, and cost efficiency. Compared to purely onshore setups, ServiceFactum enabled cost efficiencies of 40 to 60 percent, while maintaining full operational control through onshore governance.
Conclusion
This case study clearly demonstrates that in regulated IT environments, stable database operations require more than just technical expertise. What matters most are clear lines of responsibility, structured processes, and operational management that balances security and speed.
ServiceFactum has established precisely this foundation for a major financial services company in Germany. Through a managed team of experts, in-depth technical expertise, and a clear focus on stability, database operations were sustainably improved.
Do you want to stabilize critical database operations and relieve the burden on internal IT teams? ServiceFactum supports you with onshore governance, experienced nearshore experts, and SLA-driven delivery.