How Navient Used an AWS Cloud Blueprint to Modernize IT Infrastructure & Cut Costs by 54%

Navient wanted to better understand what assets needed to be separated and needed a plan to exit their datacenter by the end of the year. In addition, they wanted to accomplish the following objectives:

• Outsource student loan servicing and create variable expense model
• Explore strategic options for business processing division, including potential divestment
• Streamline shared service infrastructure and corporate footprint

The company was also looking to not only modernize its IT infrastructure by embracing cloud technologies, but also reduce costs through rightsizing technology and support, maintain security with less cost as well as optimize licensing.

Navient partnered with CleanSlate for a Cloud Optimized Blueprint powered by the Amazon Web Services OneOLA program (Optimization and Licensing Assessment). CleanSlate evaluated the company’s VMware, Windows, and Oracle databases. The motivating factor was to exit their current datacenter and modernize their infrastructure with Cloud Services.

The CleanSlate / AWS OneOLA Process  

CleanSlate worked with Navient to conduct an Optimized Cloud Blueprint/AWS OneOLA process, which is the enhanced version of classic AWS OLA and enables standardized analysis of multiple workloads—not only for Microsoft applications, but also for Oracle, storage, cloud-to-cloud migrations, RDS and VMware. 

Some of the benefits of AWS OneOLA include:  

• Cost savings – There is the potential to save money through license and infrastructure optimization potential.  

• Quick results – You can receive a detailed evaluation within a few weeks. 

• Minimal IT investment – CleanSlate takes care of the entire assessment.  

• Strategic planning – CleanSlate helps you take the next step in your future growth with data-based recommendations.  

• 100% free and non-binding – This is completely funded by AWS and there are no hidden fees.  

The process began with CleanSlate’s Optimized Cloud Blueprint, where they worked with Navient to analyze its current state, define its target state and develop a migration readiness plan to help achieve their business objectives more quickly. The Optimized Cloud Blueprint included:

• Business Drivers and Priorities
• Map Business Drivers to Outcomes
• Rapid IT Portfolio Analysis
• Model Initial Total Cost of Ownership

Next, CleanSlate conducted an AWS OneOLA—using the Database Current State Investigation tool for Oracle—to analyze its hardware and software environment and gain visibility into the cost and resource readiness to build a data-driven business case.

CleanSlate collected data from Navient’s Windows, Oracle and VMware technology for seven days per Navient’s request. CleanSlate worked quickly to finalize the business case with recommendations and presented it to Navient within one week after the data collection finished.

CleanSlate’s completion of the Optimized Cloud Blueprint and AWS OneOLA for Navient was quick and insightful—revealing multiple areas of growth for Navient by moving to AWS.

CleanSlate discovered that Navient could save 54% with rightsizing and optimization alone. CleanSlate forecasted a rightsizing of Oracle Licensing from 128 existing licenses to 96 licenses to support the environment (48 Production and 48 Non-Production).

In addition, CleanSlate identified an estimated 19% cost savings by moving to AWS.

This led Navient to ultimately make the move to choose AWS as its new modern infrastructure. Navient received funds from AWS to complete the next step in the process—AWS Migration Assessment Program (MAP). As part of this, CleanSlate helped Navient simplify and accelerate their move to the cloud. CleanSlate provided expert guidance, tailored strategies and partner funding to ensure a seamless migration while optimizing costs and performance.