Maximizing Efficiency
Overview
In the fast-paced world of digital advertising, efficiency and agility are crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. The leading global advertising company headquartered in Paris, France, faced significant challenges in managing their expansive IT infrastructure across over 40 countries. They specialize in providing interactive display advertisements tailored to the online browsing behaviour and preferences of users, operating on a pay-per-click (CPC) basis. To overcome these challenges and optimize their operations, they partnered with VE3 and leveraged AWS Managed Services. Our comprehensive solution enhanced performance, reduced operational costs, and ensured robust security and compliance. This case study outlines our approach, solutions, and the transformative results achieved.
About the Customer
The organization is a prominent global advertising company known for its innovative online display advertising solutions. Headquartered in Paris, France, they deliver personalized and interactive banner advertisements based on the browsing behaviour of users. Operating in over 40 countries, the team provides advertising solutions across diverse platforms and faces unique challenges in managing its vast and complex IT infrastructure, which is critical to delivering real-time, data-driven ads.
Challenges
High Operational Costs
Maintaining on-premises infrastructure was costly due to escalating expenses in hardware, software, and energy. Scaling to handle growing media content further strained their budget, diverting resources from innovation.
Performance Issues
The infrastructure struggled with high media data volumes, leading to delays, buffering, and slow load times, negatively affecting user experience and global reach.
Security and Compliance
Navigating regional regulations like GDPR and CCPA was difficult with outdated security features, increasing risks of data breaches and non-compliance.
Seamless System Integration
The mobile application needed to integrate seamlessly with JuX’s existing backend systems, including their customer relationship management (CRM) platform, analytics tools, and third-party service providers. This posed a technical challenge as the app had to interact with multiple APIs and data sources while maintaining real-time data synchronization.
Scalability Limitations
The infrastructure couldn’t scale quickly during peak advertising campaigns, causing server overloads and missed revenue opportunities.
Complex Integration
Integrating legacy systems, third-party applications, and ad-tech platforms was complex, leading to data silos, inefficient workflows, and slower innovation.
Limited Analytics
he lack of advanced analytics hindered real-time data processing, making it difficult to optimize ad placements and improve ROI.
VE3 Managed Cloud Service Approach
To address the critical challenges faced, VE3 delivered a comprehensive, scalable, and secure AWS based solution. The approach involved a meticulously planned migration strategy, the setup of a robust cloud infrastructure, and ongoing management to ensure continuous optimization and performance.
Assessment and Planning
Detailed Environment Assessment
VE3 began by conducting a thorough analysis of the existing IT environment. This included evaluating their on-premises infrastructure, identifying pain points, and understanding the specific requirements of their media and advertising platforms. The assessment utilized tools like AWS Trusted Advisor and AWS Migration Hub to pinpoint inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, and performance bottlenecks.
Strategic Roadmap Development
Based on the findings, VE3 developed a strategic roadmap for migrating the workloads to AWS. This roadmap prioritized workloads based on criticality and business impact, ensuring a phased and risk-mitigated approach to migration. The roadmap also included plans for optimizing resource utilization, enhancing security, and ensuring compliance with regional regulations.
Migration Strategy and Implementation
Phased Migration Approach
A) Pilot Migration
Selection of Non-Critical Workloads
In the initial phase, VE3 carefully selected non-critical workloads for the pilot migration. These workloads were chosen based on their lower impact on business operations, making them ideal candidates for testing the migration process without risking core functionalities.
Proof of Concept (PoC) Execution
The pilot phase acted as a proof of concept (PoC) to validate the migration strategy. VE3 used AWS Migration Hub to orchestrate and track the migration progress, ensuring all tasks were properly aligned with the defined migration roadmap.
Migration Tools and Methodologies
During this phase, we utilized AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) to migrate the first set of virtual machines (VMs) from the on-premises environment to AWS. The process included configuring the source environment for replication, setting up replication jobs, and testing the replicated instances in AWS. For databases, initial migrations were tested using AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) in a non-production environment to assess data integrity and migration speed.
Performance Monitoring and Issue Resolution
Post-migration, VE3 closely monitored the performance of the migrated workloads using Amazon CloudWatch. Any discrepancies or performance issues were addressed immediately, allowing us to fine-tune the migration tools, optimize network configurations, and adjust resource allocations. This step ensured that the final migration approach was robust and reliable before scaling to critical workloads.
B) Core Workload Migration
Phased Migration of Core Advertising Workloads
After validating the migration process during the pilot phase, VE3 proceeded with migrating the core advertising workloads in a phased manner. The workloads were prioritized based on their business criticality, with the most crucial systems being migrated during off-peak hours to minimize potential disruptions.
VM Migration with AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
VE3 employed AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) to handle the seamless migration of VMs from the on-premises data center to Amazon EC2. SMS was configured to replicate the VMs incrementally, ensuring minimal data loss and reduced downtime. This approach also allowed us to perform test migrations, validating the environment before cutting over to the new instances.
Database Migration with AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
For database migrations, we utilized AWS DMS to move the databases to Amazon RDS. DMS supported both homogeneous (e.g., Oracle to Oracle) and heterogeneous (e.g., Oracle to MySQL) migrations. VE3 set up continuous data replication with minimal impact on the source database, ensuring that the target database on RDS remained synchronized with the source until the final cutover. This process included setting up AWS DMS endpoints and replication tasks, and testing the integrity of the migrated data to ensure complete and accurate migration.
Downtime Minimization and Business Continuity
Throughout the migration of core workloads, VE3 prioritized minimizing downtime. By scheduling migrations during maintenance windows and using techniques like pre-staging resources and conducting dry-run migrations, we ensured that business operations remained uninterrupted. Real-time monitoring and immediate rollback capabilities were in place as contingencies in case of unforeseen issues during migration.
C) Data Transfer and Synchronization
Large-Scale Data Migration with AWS Snowball
Given the vast amount of media content and advertising data, VE3 utilized AWS Snowball for large-scale data transfer. AWS Snowball devices were shipped to the data centre, where data was encrypted and transferred securely to the Snowball devices. These devices were then shipped back to AWS, where the data was uploaded to Amazon S3. This method was chosen for its cost-effectiveness, security, and efficiency in handling petabyte-scale data transfers, significantly reducing the time required compared to traditional network transfer methods.
AWS Snowball Setup and Configuration
VE3 configured Snowball devices using the AWS Snowball Management Console, setting up the job, encryption keys, and data transfer settings. The encryption ensured that data remained secure during transit. Once the data was transferred to S3, it was organized into buckets with appropriate lifecycle policies for storage management, ensuring that the data was immediately accessible for processing and delivery.
Real-Time Data Synchronization with AWS Direct Connect
To maintain data consistency between the on-premises environment and AWS during the migration, VE3 implemented AWS Direct Connect. This dedicated network connection provided a high-bandwidth, low-latency link between the data centre and AWS, enabling real-time data synchronization. Direct Connect was crucial for ongoing operations that required real-time data availability, such as live content updates and advertising analytics.
Network Configuration and Security
VE3 configured the Direct Connect connection with multiple VLANs to segregate different types of traffic (e.g., replication traffic, management traffic). This setup ensured optimal bandwidth utilization and enhanced security by isolating sensitive data streams. Additionally, network redundancy was implemented by establishing multiple Direct Connect links across different geographical locations to provide failover capabilities.
Post-Migration Data Validation
After the bulk data transfer was completed using AWS Snowball and synchronized with AWS Direct Connect, VE3 conducted a thorough validation process. This included verifying data integrity, checking for any discrepancies between the source and target environments, and ensuring that all media assets were correctly indexed and accessible through the content management systems.
AWS Services Implemented
To ensure the successful delivery of the JuX mobile application, VE3 utilized a range of advanced technologies and tools:
Amazon VPC (Virtual Private Cloud)
A customized VPC was established with secure subnets, routing tables, and security groups to isolate and protect sensitive data.
AWS Identity and Access Management
Configured IAM roles and policies to manage access controls, implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) and least privilege principles for enhanced security.
Amazon CloudFront and AWS WAF
CloudFront was deployed as the CDN to accelerate global content delivery and reduce latency, with WAF providing web application security by blocking common exploits like SQL injection and XSS.
AWS Direct Connect
Established a dedicated, high-bandwidth connection for secure and reliable data transfers between the on-premises systems and AWS.
Amazon S3
Set up as the primary storage solution for media assets with lifecycle policies for cost optimization. Integrated with CloudFront for efficient content delivery.
AWS Lambda
Leveraged for serverless computing, processing real-time data streams, and automating backend processes, reducing operational overhead.
Amazon RDS
Deployed MySQL databases with Multi-AZ for high availability and automated backups. Enabled scalability with vertical adjustments and read replicas.
AWS Shield
Implemented to protect applications from DDoS attacks, with Shield Advanced providing enhanced protection and real-time attack visibility.
Amazon CloudWatch
Configured for monitoring and observability, collecting metrics and logs from AWS resources. Set up alarms and notifications for proactive issue resolution.
AWS CloudFormation
Used for infrastructure as code, allowing consistent, repeatable deployments. Automated the provisioning process and utilized version control for managing changes.
Amazon EC2 and Auto Scaling
Deployed MySQL databases with Multi-AZ for high availability and automated backups. Enabled scalability with vertical adjustments and read replicas.
Post-Migration Optimization and Management
Performance Tuning
Optimized CloudFront distributions, right-sized EC2 instances, and fine-tuned Auto Scaling policies, significantly reducing latency and improving platform responsiveness.
Cost Management
Continuous monitoring and optimization of cloud spending using AWS Cost Explorer and Budgets, leveraging Reserved Instances and Savings Plans.
Continuous Security Enhancements
Ongoing security assessments using AWS Security Hub, with regular updates to IAM policies, encryption practices, and compliance checks.
Regular Operational Reviews
Conducted regular reviews using AWS Trusted Advisor to identify further optimizations, ensuring the infrastructure remained agile, secure, and cost-effective.
VE3 have worked hand-in-hand with the organization to resolve all their cloud environment issues. The organization benefits from VE3’s 24/7 Monitoring and Incident Management with a 15 min SLA, throughout our professional work together, VE3 has helped improve their services, perfect performance and create best practices based on reoccurring incidents.
Results and Benefits
- Cost Savings: A 35% reduction in operational costs was achieved by eliminating upfront investments and optimizing resource usage through AWS tools like Cost Explorer and Reserved Instances.
- Improved Performance: Media delivery speed increased by 40% using Amazon CloudFront and S3, while Auto Scaling and EC2 ensured scalable, consistent application performance during peak demand.
- Enhanced Security and Compliance: AWS Shield, WAF, IAM, and encryption via KMS bolstered security, with continuous compliance checks ensuring adherence to regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
- Scalability and Flexibility: The AWS cloud infrastructure enabled seamless scaling and supported global content delivery through Amazon CloudFront and Direct Connect.
- Streamlined Operations: AWS Managed Services automated routine tasks, freeing the IT team to focus on innovation, while AWS CloudFormation ensured quick, error-free deployments.
- Business Continuity: High availability was ensured through Multi-AZ RDS deployments and AWS Direct Connect, with automated backups in RDS and S3 providing secure data recovery.
- Continuous Improvement: Regular reviews with AWS Trusted Advisor ensured ongoing optimization and alignment with the evolving needs.
Conclusion
Our transformational approach was holistic, strategic, and highly collaborative. By leveraging the full suite of AWS services and applying our deep expertise in cloud transformation, we not only addressed the immediate challenges but also laid the foundation for their long-term success. The result was a highly optimized, secure, and scalable cloud environment that empowered to innovate, grow, and maintain a competitive edge in the fast-paced media and advertising industry.
About VE3
VE3 combines deep expertise and robust resources to deliver cutting-edge, tailored solutions. As a recognized AWS Partner with multiple specializations, we bring top-tier technical proficiency and industry knowledge to every project. Our team includes AWS Certified cloud architects, engineers, and DevOps specialists skilled in designing scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient cloud infrastructures. We leverage DevOps and automation tools like AWS CloudFormation for seamless, repeatable deployments and offer advanced data analytics and machine learning solutions using AWS services like Amazon SageMaker. VE3 provides 24/7 support and monitoring, dedicated account management, and global reach with local expertise, ensuring our clients achieve optimized cloud environments and sustained success on AWS.
For more information on how our AWS Managed Cloud Services can benefit your institution, please contact us to discuss your specific needs and explore how we can support your digital transformation journey.
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