Plan Your Project with Your Software
Client:
a company providing ERP software for public entities
The result:
a scalable and cos-effective multi-tenant postgres cluster on AWS Aurora Serverless v2
Timing:
the project was completed within two weeks
The Background
The client is a software solutions company operating in the Polish market. They specialize in providing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions to entities throughout Poland. Their primary offering is a specialized ERP solution that functions as a desktop application specifically designed for Windows systems.
To ensure proper application functionality, the client’s ERP solution requires a connection to a PostgreSQL database. However, many clients faced challenges with maintaining additional hardware for database hosting, while the software provider had to provide remote assistance and configure the hardware from a distance. This prompted the need for a cloud-based solution, where clients could access a ready-made solution without the installation and maintenance of additional software and hardware on their end.
Objective
The project aimed to achieve several key objectives in order to meet the evolving needs of the client and their customers. The objectives were focused on creating a highly available infrastructure and delivering a cloud-based solution that would enhance the accessibility, security, and cost-effectiveness of the client’s specialized ERP software. The following objectives were identified:
High Availability: The primary objective was to design an infrastructure that could handle connections from multiple clients concurrently, ensuring uninterrupted access to the ERP software. The solution needed to provide high availability, minimizing downtime and maximizing system uptime to meet the demanding requirements of businesses relying on the ERP solution for their daily operations.
Accessibility: To address the limitations of on-premises installations and maintenance, the objective was to provide clients with easy and remote access to the ERP software. By leveraging cloud technology, the solution aimed to eliminate the need for clients to install and maintain additional software and hardware, allowing them to access the ERP system conveniently from any location.
Security: Security was a critical objective, considering the sensitive nature of the data managed by the ERP software. The solution needed to ensure robust data protection, confidentiality, and integrity, safeguarding client information from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security threats. The implementation required a comprehensive approach to establish secure connections, access controls, and data segregation to prevent any compromise of client data.
Cost-effectiveness: The objective was to deliver a cost-effective solution that minimized infrastructure and maintenance costs for both the client and their customers. By utilizing cloud resources and adopting efficient scaling mechanisms, the solution aimed to optimize resource utilization, reduce unnecessary expenses, and provide clients with a flexible and scalable pricing model aligned with their business requirements.
Collaboration: Collaboration between the project team and the client was essential to ensure the successful implementation of the solution. The objective was to establish effective communication channels and collaborative processes to gather requirements, address challenges, and incorporate client feedback into the solution’s design and implementation. By fostering close collaboration, the project team aimed to deliver a solution that aligned precisely with the client’s expectations and met the unique needs of their ERP software and its users.
By focusing on these objectives, the project aimed to provide the client with an infrastructure that delivered high availability, improved accessibility, enhanced security, cost optimization, and effective collaboration. Achieving these objectives would enable the client to expand their market reach, deliver a more efficient and reliable ERP solution, and ultimately drive greater customer satisfaction and business growth.
Challenges
Throughout the project, several challenges were encountered that required careful consideration and innovative solutions. These challenges tested the expertise and problem-solving capabilities of the project team. The following challenges were overcome during the implementation of the cloud-based solution:
Legacy Application Compatibility: The client’s ERP software was originally designed to work with a specific version of the PostgreSQL database. However, this version was nearing the end of its support from the cloud provider. To ensure future compatibility and supportability, it was necessary to upgrade the PostgreSQL version. Testing was conducted to verify that the application remained functional with the newer version (PostgreSQL 14.7) without any critical issues, ensuring a seamless transition for the client and their customers.
Balancing Security and Accessibility: The project faced the challenge of balancing the security requirements with the need for convenient and accessible access to the ERP software. The implementation needed to establish robust security measures to protect client data while allowing authorized users to access the system from anywhere. This involved implementing secure authentication mechanisms, fine-grained access controls, and isolating client data within the cloud environment.
Cost Optimization: As cost-effectiveness was one of the project objectives, optimizing the infrastructure costs posed a significant challenge. The team needed to design a solution that minimized infrastructure expenses while maintaining the required performance and scalability. This required careful resource planning, utilization monitoring, and the use of cost-effective cloud services and configurations.
Complex Configuration Management: With multiple clients utilizing the cloud infrastructure, managing the configurations and ensuring consistent setups became a challenge. Each client required their own isolated environment, including separate databases, user accounts, and access permissions. To streamline this process and avoid potential errors, a robust configuration management approach using infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform was adopted. This allowed for automated provisioning of client-specific environments, reducing the risk of misconfigurations.
Client Collaboration and Engagement: Ensuring active client involvement and collaboration throughout the project was crucial for its success. The challenge was to keep the client engaged, gather their feedback, and incorporate it into the solution’s design and implementation. Regular communication channels were established, including meetings, progress updates, and demonstrations of proposed solutions. This collaborative approach ensured that the final solution met the client’s expectations and addressed their specific needs effectively.
By proactively addressing these challenges, the project team successfully navigated through the complexities of the implementation process. Their expertise, problem-solving skills, and collaborative efforts enabled the team to overcome these challenges and deliver a robust and reliable cloud-based solution that met the client’s requirements.
Our process
The successful implementation of the cloud-based infrastructure required a systematic and collaborative approach. Our process involved several key steps, ensuring efficient communication, meticulous planning, and effective execution. The following outlines the main stages of our process:
Requirement Gathering: We initiated the project by conducting thorough discussions with the client to gain a deep understanding of their business objectives, technical requirements, and expectations. We carefully listened to their needs and documented their specific requirements related to security, high availability, and cost optimization. This step formed the foundation for the entire project.
Solution Design: Based on the gathered requirements, our team collaborated closely with the client to design an optimal cloud-based infrastructure solution. We analyzed various architectural options and proposed a scalable and secure environment that would meet their needs. The client actively participated in the design process, providing valuable insights and feedback.
Infrastructure Provisioning: Once the solution design was finalized, we proceeded with the provisioning of the cloud infrastructure. Leveraging the power of AWS (Amazon Web Services), we utilized services such as AWS Aurora Serverless v2 to ensure high availability and automatic scaling. The infrastructure was carefully configured to meet the security and performance requirements, including fine-grained access controls and network segregation.
Software Adaptation: To ensure seamless compatibility with the cloud infrastructure, we collaborated with the client’s development team to adapt their ERP software. We defined the necessary software specifications, identified areas for modification, and provided guidance on utilizing the cloud services effectively. The client’s software was thoroughly tested to ensure smooth functionality within the new environment.
Security Implementation: Security was a paramount concern in the project. We implemented comprehensive security measures to safeguard client data and ensure strict access controls. Each client was provided with an individual set of credentials linked to their AWS IAM (Identity and Access Management) account, restricting their access to their respective databases from specific IP addresses. The implementation of secure configurations was automated using Terraform, eliminating the potential for human error.
Client Collaboration and Testing: Throughout the project, we maintained open lines of communication with the client, involving them in each milestone. We conducted regular meetings, demonstrations, and testing sessions to gather their feedback and verify the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. The client actively participated in performance testing, providing valuable insights for optimization and fine-tuning.
Documentation and Training: As part of our commitment to delivering a comprehensive solution, we provided thorough documentation and training materials to the client. This included detailed instructions on managing the infrastructure, utilizing the provided tools, and troubleshooting common issues. The documentation ensured that the client’s team had the necessary knowledge to operate and maintain the cloud-based solution effectively.
By following this well-defined process, we ensured a smooth and collaborative implementation of the cloud infrastructure. Our attention to detail, proactive communication, and close collaboration with the client were instrumental in delivering a robust, secure, and cost-effective solution that fulfilled their objectives.
benefits
The implementation of the cloud-based infrastructure solution brought significant benefits to our client, providing them with enhanced capabilities and addressing their key pain points. The following highlights the key benefits experienced by the client:
Simplified Infrastructure Management: By leveraging cloud technologies, the client no longer needed to maintain additional hardware and software on their premises. The shift to a cloud-based ERP solution eliminated the complexities associated with hardware installation, maintenance, and upgrades. This allowed the client to focus more on their core business operations while relying on a ready-made infrastructure.
Cost Optimization: The utilization of a shared cluster and AWS Aurora Serverless v2 with automatic scaling brought significant cost savings for the client. The cloud-based infrastructure eliminated the need for upfront hardware investments and the ongoing costs of hardware maintenance and upgrades. The pay-as-you-go model provided cost flexibility, enabling the client to scale resources based on demand and avoid unnecessary expenses during periods of low usage.
High Availability and Scalability: The cloud-based solution ensured high availability and seamless scalability for the client’s ERP application. The utilization of AWS Aurora Serverless v2 with automatic scaling allowed the system to dynamically adjust resources based on workload fluctuations, ensuring optimal performance during peak usage. This eliminated the risk of system downtime and provided a consistent user experience for the client’s customers.
Enhanced Security: The implemented security measures provided robust protection for the client’s data. The utilization of individual AWS IAM accounts with restricted access to specific databases and IP addresses ensured data isolation and minimized the risk of unauthorized access. By leveraging Terraform for automated and consistent security configurations, the client had peace of mind knowing that their sensitive data was adequately protected.
Faster Onboarding and Time-to-Value: The cloud-based infrastructure streamlined the onboarding process for new clients. With the automated provisioning of accounts, databases, and permissions through Terraform, the client could rapidly set up new client environments in less than 15 minutes. This accelerated the time-to-value for new clients, allowing them to start utilizing the ERP solution on the same day as the agreement signing.
Expert Guidance and Support: Throughout the project, our team provided expert guidance and support to the client. We worked closely with their team, addressing their concerns, providing insights, and ensuring a smooth transition to the cloud-based solution. Our collaboration extended beyond the project scope, as we delivered thorough documentation and training materials to empower the client’s team to effectively manage and operate the infrastructure.
The adoption of the cloud-based infrastructure brought numerous benefits to the client, ranging from reduced costs and enhanced security to improved scalability and simplified management. The successful implementation allowed the client to focus on their core business activities, accelerate their operations, and provide a reliable and efficient ERP solution to their customers.
conclusions
The successful implementation of a cloud-based infrastructure solution has revolutionized the way our client delivers their specialized ERP solution to entities throughout Poland. By addressing the challenges of hardware maintenance, scalability, security, and cost optimization, we have empowered the client to provide a highly available and efficient software solution to their customers.
Through collaborative efforts and continuous refinement of the infrastructure architecture, we were able to overcome obstacles and design a robust and scalable cloud environment. Leveraging AWS Aurora Serverless v2, Terraform, and other cloud technologies, we have achieved a solution that combines performance, cost-effectiveness, and security.
The benefits realized by our client include simplified infrastructure management, cost optimization, high availability, enhanced security, faster onboarding, and expert guidance and support. The cloud-based solution not only eliminated the complexities of hardware maintenance but also provided scalability to handle growing client demands, ensuring a seamless user experience.
We invite businesses operating in the Polish market to explore how cloud solutions can transform their operations and drive growth. If you are seeking to optimize your infrastructure, enhance security, and streamline your software delivery, we encourage you to take the next step.
Talk to our cloud experts today, share your specific needs, and book a free consultation. Let us help you unlock the potential of cloud services tailored to your business requirements.
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