ING has reached a significant milestone in its digital transformation by migrating its core banking to a private cloud, becoming the first bank in Spain to make this move. Rocío López Valladolid, CIO of ING, has led this complex transition, which culminates a several-year process of work focused on modernizing the bank’s infrastructure to improve operational efficiency and security.
Rocío López, who was appointed CIO in 2022, detailed that the migration of the core banking was the most challenging step of the project and the last to be completed. “It has been a rigorous process, with exhaustive resilience testing. We concluded in June, and we are enormously satisfied with the results,” López stated. This effort positions ING Spain as a pioneer within the ING group in adopting a private cloud infrastructure to host its most critical systems.
A change driven by collaboration
The migration has not only been an achievement of the technology team; the entire organization has collaborated to carry out this process. “The support from the management committee to the staff from different areas has been fundamental. We all understand that technology is a business accelerator, and that has facilitated the implementation,” explained the CIO.
The change has allowed the bank to reorganize and modernize its architecture, increasing the speed of certain key processes by up to 30%. “Before, some update processes took up to two hours; now, they are completed in half an hour,” López added.
First step towards hybrid cloud
With this initial phase completed, ING plans to move towards a hybrid cloud strategy, which will include the public cloud in specific areas. López emphasized that the objective is not to migrate all data to the public cloud but to take advantage of its benefits in processing capacity and scalability for specific data and accesses.
We consulted with David Carrero from Stackscale (Aire Group), an expert in private and hybrid cloud infrastructure solutions, who highlights that the shift towards private solutions for exclusive use while keeping some parts in the public cloud is a fact. Companies seek greater security and control, as well as the ability to predict costs effectively, something that sometimes becomes more complicated and uncontrollable with the public cloud.
Data governance and security in the cloud
ING has adopted a cautious approach to security and data governance in this hybrid environment, especially given the strict regulations of the banking sector. The most sensitive customer data will continue to be hosted in ING’s private cloud, while anonymized data will be used in large processing sets in the public cloud. “Security and privacy are fundamental aspects for us. We ensure that all data is traceable and complies with legal frameworks,” López emphasized.
Responsible AI
ING is also exploring applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in its operations, especially in areas of predictive analysis for risk management and fraud prevention. AI is primarily developed in the bank’s private infrastructure, allowing ING to maximize the benefits of the technology without compromising the privacy of sensitive customer data.
Looking to the future: cybersecurity and operational efficiency
In addition to the migration to the cloud, ING remains committed to cybersecurity, integrating it in every process and project from its initial design. “Cybersecurity is part of the DNA of every product and service we develop. It is not an add-on, but an essential component that ensures protection from the beginning,” explained the CIO.
ING is also exploring future technologies, such as quantum computing, that could transform the banking sector in the coming years. According to López, the goal is to continue leading innovation in digital banking, adapting to the changing needs of customers and anticipating their expectations in a constantly evolving environment.
With this migration to a private cloud and its long-term vision, ING reaffirms its commitment to providing customers with faster, secure, and personalized services, while setting a precedent in the financial sector in Spain.
References: El Español, IBM and The Stack