DevOps and development acceleration framework leveraging AWS for a state agency
This customer is a state agency responsible for managing gaming operations, including ticket sales and distribution. As a key contributor to public funding, it relies heavily on robust IT infrastructure to support its operations and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.
Client challenge
The customer was in the midst of a migration effort to replace legacy system capabilities hosted on end-of-life IBM i-Series hardware. The goal was to transition to an internally developed application platform running on Microsoft Windows and SQL Server. This complex project had several priorities, including migrating core functionality, adding new capabilities, and maintaining continued operations and support for both the legacy and new platforms.
The simultaneous demands of migration, feature development, and ongoing support caused delays in achieving key milestones. Teams frequently had to balance competing priorities such as maintaining system functionality, developing new features, and upskilling staff. Without modern development and operational tools, the agency struggled with productivity challenges and the risk of operational disruptions.
Our solution
Rise and Shift implemented a comprehensive solution to strengthen the customer’s application development platform, advancing code maturity and accelerating development velocity. Key elements included:
- Code delivery and testing: We established automated CI/CD pipelines, providing a streamlined and reliable pathway for code deployment. This enabled faster and more consistent releases, reducing the risk of errors in deployment processes.
- Platform observability and resilience: AWS-native observability tools were integrated to improve system monitoring and incident response capabilities. These tools provided real-time insights into system performance, enabling proactive management and enhanced resilience.
- Scalable and capitalizable assets: All functionalities for code delivery, testing, and observability were developed as agency-owned assets. This approach ensured long-term scalability and autonomy for the customer, minimizing reliance on external vendors for future enhancements.
Throughout the project, Rise and Shift focused on collaboration and knowledge transfer, onboarding the application development team to the new environment and aligning workflows with the AWS framework. By leveraging AWS services, the solution enhanced platform resilience, observability, and scalability while positioning the agency for continued innovation.
Results
- Increased productivity: Development velocity improved by approximately 25-30%, allowing the agency to deliver features and fixes faster.
- Enhanced operational insight: Integrated AWS observability tools improved documentation, traceability, and system monitoring, enabling faster issue resolution and better resource allocation.
- Streamlined deployment: The CI/CD pipeline brought the entire application code base under a unified deployment framework, reducing deployment times and operational risks.
- Scalability and autonomy: The capitalizable assets created during the project provided the customer with a scalable platform and reduced future costs.
About Rise and Shift
Founded on the principles of cloud democratization and leveraging AWS services to meaningfully transform businesses, Rise and Shift brings a team of globally renowned AWS experts with deep technology know-how and broad business expertise to empower our clients to activate and actualize their business outcomes. Our innovative approach to cloud transformation and delivery ensures rapid, high-quality impact that outpaces our larger industry peers.
