Migration to AWS Cloud Infrastructure

Background

A leading provider of software solutions for the manufacturing industry required an upgrade of its data collection and quality analysis systems. The company was operating three distinct websites, each developed with a 2-tier architecture comprising a user interface and a database layer. Their setup included multiple web servers with SQL Server Standard edition databases. The goal was to transition their existing infrastructure to AWS, necessitating managed services to oversee this process.

Challenges

The existing infrastructure, while functional, did not offer the scalability and cost-efficiency required for the client’s growing demands. The client sought to enhance their system’s resilience and efficiency while managing the infrastructural costs effectively.

Solution

A comprehensive plan was devised to transport the client’s infrastructure to the AWS environment. The architecture included:

  • Provisioning of two web servers under an Application Load Balancer (ALB), with all websites deployed across both servers.
  • Configuration of all servers, barring the RDP server, within a private subnet, enhancing security.
  • Placement of the load balancer and RDP servers within a public subnet to facilitate access.
  • Introduction of a file server mounted on the web servers to manage deployments and user uploads.
  • Incorporation of the SQL Server Standard License within the AWS infrastructure costs.
  • Implementation of Active Directory and DNS services in High Availability (HA) mode across two Availability Zones (AZs), distributed between an EC2 instance and a file server.
  • Utilization of AWS S3 for secure and reliable data and logs backup.
  • Addition of a Highly Available AWS Managed NAT Gateway service.
  • Integration of automatic snapshot capabilities post Proof of Concept (POC) success.
  • Automation of EBS hard disk size extension to optimize cost and manage data growth efficiently.
  • Monitoring setup using AWS CloudWatch and account activity tracking through AWS CloudTrail.

Results

The transition to AWS provided the client with a robust, scalable, and cost-effective infrastructure. This strategic move not only streamlined operations but also positioned the client to adapt swiftly to evolving business requirements and future growth.

  • The migration to AWS was executed with precision, ensuring minimal downtime and maintaining business continuity over a three-month period.
  • Implementation of AWS Auto Scaling effectively managed high load scenarios, maintaining application performance.
  • Strategic use of spot and reserved instances yielded cost savings of around 30% compared to on-demand instances, optimizing overall expenditure.

Conclusion

The transition to AWS provided the client with a robust, scalable, and cost-effective infrastructure. This strategic move not only streamlined operations but also positioned the client to adapt swiftly to evolving business requirements and future growth.