Enabling a server migration and a DevOps culture for a major financial services provider

Application Modernisation & Azure Cloud | Case Study | Codec UK

Project at a glance

Challenge

A major financial services provider approached Codec about migrating its existing infrastructure from on-premise servers to more flexible Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) in Azure. The organisation also wanted to embed a DevOps culture within its business teams.

Solution we designed

Using Cloud Adoption Framework standards for Azure, Codec’s consultants migrated the client from on-premise servers in favour of PaaS services in Azure. Codec also upgraded the organisation’s .NET framework and implemented other changes to enable a productive DevOps culture.

Impact we delivered

  • Reduced coding time for development projects—even as development capabilities are increased.
  • Sophisticated tools to develop for multiple platforms—including mobile— while managing the full application lifecycle.
  • Enhanced support for geographically distributed development teams.
  • Greater development productivity without adding staff.
Problem

Straining against the limitations of on-premise servers

On-premise servers can create logistical and operational challenges when relied upon to support multiple business systems and physical locations. For one major financial services provider, the constraints of physical servers was also intertwined with the company’s lack of a DevOps culture and a more unified approach to operations.

This financial services provider approached Codec hoping to migrate its existing infrastructure from on-premise servers to more flexible Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) services in Azure. As part of this project, the organisation also wanted Codec’s consultants to embed a DevOps culture within its business teams.

Codec began working with the Customer to help them design their new infrastructure while implementing development tools and methodologies in line with the company’s strategic vision.

“Coordinating collaboration and other team-based activities can be difficult when businesses are leaning on physical servers to support a dispersed workforce. By facilitating a migration to the Azure Cloud, Codec also laid a foundation for continued application modernisation.”

Diego Santin
Project Lead, Codec
Solution

Modernised infrastructure, with room to grow

As an Azure Expert MSP, Codec’s expertise and proven methodologies were integral to delivering a successful migration project for the financial services provider. Codec’s consultants first focused on migrating away from on-premise servers in favour of PaaS services in Azure, making it easy to embed a DevOps culture throughout the organisation.

The client’s existing web application was also upgraded and hosted in an Azure Service fabric cluster. By equipping the financial services company with the latest .NET framework, the organisation received the best possible infrastructure to support its migration project and its continued development efforts as part of its DevOps culture. This infrastructure was then codified and deployed using Azure Automation.

Codec followed the Cloud Adoption Framework standards for Azure in this implementation, adhering to strict migration process steps to deliver a successful migration. Codec also introduced Acceptance Test Driven Development concepts to the development team as a quick way to raise code coverage for future development projects.

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Results

Streamlined cloud services to support ongoing development

Codec’s successful migration allowed the client to reduce its server overheads while taking advantage of the Azure Cloud’s expansive services, including enhanced development capabilities and automated pipelines to support development.

Other highlights of this transformation include:

  • Reduced coding time for development projects—even as development capabilities are increased.
  • Sophisticated tools to develop for multiple platforms—including mobile— while managing the full application lifecycle.
  • Enhanced support for geographically distributed development teams.
  • Greater development productivity without adding staff.

“The resource cost and logistical limitations of our on-premise servers created a financial drag on our ability to modernise applications and develop new projects. Our Azure migration eliminated these constraints, delivering new development tools and capabilities across our organisation.”

IT Infrastructure Manager

Major Financial Services Provider

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Application Modernisation & Azure Cloud | Case Study | Codec UK