Verisk kept apps running, managed licensing risk, and moved to Atlassian Cloud on time and under budget with support from Appfire and Praecipio.
“We had apps that were really critical to how people worked, and if those went away, that was going to be a big problem.”
Merav Hoffman, Director and Atlassian Admin, Verisk
Verisk, a leading strategic data analytics and technology partner to the global insurance industry, ran Jira and Confluence in Atlassian Data Center for over a decade. More than 5,000 users across the organization depended on these tools, along with a broad set of Marketplace apps and integrations, to do their day-to-day work.
When Atlassian announced the end of support for Data Center products, it raised new questions for Verisk about the long-term viability of staying on Data Center for those products, particularly as some of the apps they depended on were no longer being actively maintained.
This wasn’t just a platform migration. It was a high-stakes move where app outages, licensing gaps, or failed integrations could immediately stop work across business units. Verisk needed a way to move to Cloud without breaking the workflows their teams relied on every day.
The challenge of migrating an app-heavy Atlassian environment
For Verisk, the challenge wasn’t simply moving Jira and Confluence to Atlassian Cloud. It was doing so in an environment where apps and integrations were deeply embedded in daily work and there was little margin for error.
A key Salesforce connector used across multiple teams was no longer actively maintained by its Marketplace vendor. Other third-party apps Verisk relied on were also aging out. Any loss of functionality would have had a downstream impact on teams that relied on these tools to do their jobs.
Licensing added another layer of risk as Cloud and Data Center licensing models didn’t always align with the migration schedule. Even short gaps in licensing could result in users losing access to critical apps.
“You can’t just let licenses lapse and hope everything is fine.”
Merav Hoffman
Migration approach and partner roles in an app-driven Cloud move
From the beginning, Verisk approached the move to Cloud as a strategic opportunity. Rather than simply reacting to the end of support for Data Center products, the team used the moment to rethink app governance, licensing, and how tools were used across business units by taking a future-focused approach to migration.
That meant finding partners who could address very different needs. Verisk needed deep technical expertise to plan and execute the migration, and they needed app-specific support to ensure continuity, visibility, and licensing stability throughout the process.
Praecipio worked with Verisk following an initial assessment and led the technical work from planning through delivery. This included migration design, production cutovers, and complex configuration challenges. Praecipio also handled app-intensive technical work, such as rebuilding JMWE automations and helping configure Appfire’s Salesforce Connector for Cloud.
Appfire supported the migration from the app side. Because many of the apps Verisk relied on were Appfire products, Appfire provided guidance on Cloud readiness, app migration paths, and functional parity. Appfire also helped Verisk gain increased visibility into app usage, which became critical for planning Cloud licensing and chargebacks across business units.
Appfire further supported the migration with per-app support tickets, extended Cloud trial licenses, and a dedicated Customer Success Manager. This gave Verisk the flexibility to run long testing cycles without risking app outages.
“Patricia kind-of became our customer advocate and our best friend over at Appfire.”
Merav Hoffman
With clear roles between Praecipio and Appfire, Verisk had coverage across both the technical and operational sides of the migration.
Preparation and testing for app and integration parity
To reduce risk before any production cutover, Verisk focused on preparation and testing. The team knew that Atlassian Cloud and Data Center were not equivalent, especially when it came to apps, integrations, and native functionality.
Over several months, Verisk ran extensive user acceptance testing across business units.
Apps, integrations, and workflows were tested thoroughly in Cloud to confirm functional parity and identify gaps early. Anything related to an application was validated before moving forward.
User readiness was just as important. Verisk hosted multiple webinar sessions to walk teams through changes, demonstrate new Cloud workflows, and answer questions. Shared FAQs and live demos helped ensure that employees understood what to expect and where to go for support.
Licensing continuity was a critical part of this phase. Appfire supported this by extending Cloud trial licenses, which allowed testing to continue without risking outages or access loss.
This preparation phase gave Verisk the confidence to move into production knowing that apps, workflows, and users were ready.
Migration execution with minimal disruption
With preparation complete, Verisk moved into a series of controlled, multi-phase Cloud migrations.
The priority during execution was clear. After months of preparation and testing, production cutovers needed to be smooth so employees could work without disruption.
Praecipio led the technical execution of each migration phase, coordinating production cutovers, managing configuration changes, and resolving issues that surfaced during live migrations.
Appfire supported execution on the app side. Each app involved in the migration had dedicated support, which made it easier to track issues, validate fixes, and maintain momentum as phases progressed.
After each production migration, Verisk scheduled a two-week hypercare period. During this time, users had direct access to support, and the team closely monitored app behavior and workflows before moving on to the next phase.
“I felt a lot more confident knowing we had people we could reach out to when things came up.”
Merav Hoffman
This approach allowed Verisk to complete each migration phase without major disruption, even as thousands of users transitioned to Cloud.
Results and impact of the Atlassian Cloud migration
By the time Verisk completed its Cloud migration, more than 5,000 users had moved to Jira and Confluence in Cloud without disrupting day-to-day work.
Teams maintained access to the apps and workflows they relied on.
One of the most significant outcomes was improved visibility into app usage. That insight made it possible to align app spend more closely with usage.
The migration also delivered on its operational goals. Verisk completed the move ahead of schedule and under budget, even with its scale and complexity.
“It’s been really an amazing success story from our perspective… Plus, we came in ahead of time and under budget.”
Merav Hoffman
Beyond the metrics, the migration became a proof point that large, app-heavy Cloud transitions could be executed safely with the right preparation and support.
Key lessons from Verisk’s Cloud migration
For Verisk, the move to Cloud reinforced that large migrations are as much about preparation and coordination as they are about technology.
Apps, integrations, and native features all need to be tested thoroughly, and that testing takes time. Starting early and giving internal teams space to validate changes made a measurable difference.
Clear communication mattered just as much as technical readiness. Verisk invested in demos, webinars, and shared documentation to make sure users understood what was changing and when. Building in dedicated hypercare periods after each migration phase helped teams adapt without disruption.
“The truth is, [Cloud migration] is bigger than you think. You’re going to hit things you didn’t expect, so you need people who can help you figure it out.”
Merav Hoffman
Moving to Atlassian Cloud without disrupting work
Verisk’s experience shows that large, app-heavy Cloud migrations don’t have to come with disruption. With the right preparation, clear ownership, and support focused on app continuity, it’s possible to move thousands of users to Cloud while keeping work moving.
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