Migration of platform`s infrastructure from PHP to AWS
Location: UAE
Industry: Fintech
About the project
The customer, operating a platform focused on AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance, required a significant overhaul to address critical issues in scalability and stability. The existing platform, built on an outdated PHP monolithic framework, struggled to meet modern performance demands, frequently failing under load and suffering from inefficient data storage practices and server misconfigurations.
The platform’s monolithic architecture and legacy PHP foundation posed significant hurdles. The lack of scalability made handling increased traffic without performance degradation difficult, while an unoptimized server configuration led to frequent application crashes.
The backend suffered from numerous issues due to the untuned PHP and Apache settings and database inefficiencies from a lack of indexing and extensive non-critical data stored within it. Furthermore, the client required integration with an AWS blockchain service, introducing a new layer of complexity due to the need for IP whitelisting.
This required a reconfigured networking approach, utilizing an AWS Network Load Balancer (NLB) with elastic IPs and an enhanced API that was both secure and scalable.
We delivered a modern, modular architecture by containerizing the application with Docker on AWS ECS and managing the infrastructure through Terraform following AWS best practices.
This approach included setting up three isolated environments and conducting load tests to ensure stability. The database was optimized with improved indexes and layered queries, while Application Performance Monitoring (APM) was implemented for rapid error detection.
These changes resulted in a cost-effective, high-performance platform capable of supporting ongoing growth and increased resilience.
Implemented features
Replaced the outdated PHP monolithic framework with a modular, microservices-oriented architecture to improve scalability, performance, and maintainability.
Utilized Docker to containerize the application, enabling isolated and consistent environments across development, testing, and production.
Deployed containerized applications on AWS Elastic Container Service (ECS) for managed scalability, simplifying orchestration and scaling of containers.
Implemented Terraform to manage AWS infrastructure, ensuring version-controlled, reproducible, and consistent environments.
Configured an AWS Network Load Balancer (NLB) with elastic IPs to enhance request distribution, manage traffic efficiently, and meet IP whitelisting requirements for the blockchain integration.
Established three isolated environments (development, staging, and production) for controlled testing, streamlined deployments, and minimized production environment risks.
Tuned PHP and Apache configurations, adjusting memory limits, cache settings, and optimizing other parameters to reduce server load and prevent application crashes.
Segmented the database to better distribute load and improve query efficiency, enabling faster response times.
Added indexes to key database tables and optimized SQL queries, reducing database query times and resolving bottlenecks in data retrieval.
Moved extensive non-critical data out of the main database, reducing storage demands and enhancing database performance.
Integrated APM tools for comprehensive monitoring of application performance, allowing for faster identification and resolution of issues.
Established a dedicated load testing environment to simulate high-traffic conditions, save performance metrics, and proactively assess system resilience.
Enabled seamless integration with AWS blockchain services, meeting AML compliance requirements and incorporating IP whitelisting for secure data access.
Developed a more secure and scalable API, ensuring sensitive AML data handled within the application meets modern security standards and compliance requirements.
Designed a modular AWS architecture to balance performance and cost, optimizing resource usage and reducing operational expenses.
Improved resource allocation and eliminated inefficiencies in server configurations, reducing infrastructure costs while enhancing platform performance.
Outcomes
Our architectural transformation achieved substantial improvements across key performance metrics. The platform now handles more requests, while operational costs dropped. Database query response time improved, reducing bottlenecks and increasing system efficiency. Deployment processes became faster thanks to seamless automation, eliminating manual steps for developers. Platform stability and user experience have greatly improved thanks to a two-thirds reduction in error detection and bug resolution times. Through close collaboration with our client, we delivered an MVP that met and exceeded expectations, creating a foundation for ongoing improvement and growth. The client has continued building on our accomplishments, making the platform more robust and reliable than ever.
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