PRE - Modern applications for traditional environments

Digital transformation, Internet applications and IoT features require rapid development of modern applications and their continuous adaptation and updating.

Traditional applications and platforms require a lot of routine and manual work, implementing every change is a potential risk.

What was the goal

Deploy a hybrid cloud-native application platform to help easily integrate new applications and features, save staff time, and support the delivery of applications from external developers.

Our challenges

• Building a platform for running cloud-native applications
• Application for B2B communication
• Deployment of smart meters
• Optimizing the coordination of DevOps approach implementations
• Building internal knowledge and expanding competence

Part 1

Concept

The first part of the project involved a range of discussions and consultations with the PRE development team, the PRE infrastructure team and staff from external suppliers or service providers. Based on the results of the discussions, it was possible to design the necessary solution methodology with the application of the DevOps concept. For recapitulation only, the definition of this concept is given subsequently:

(TOUCH4IT. DevOps: what is it? Touch4IT [online]).

"DevOps is a set of practices and a kind of cultural change (supported by automation tools and lean processes) that creates an automated software delivery channel. As a result, it enables organizations to provide better service and deliver applications in much less time."

(DEMARTINE, Amy. What is DevOps? Forrester [online])

DevOps is a set of practices and cultural changes (supported by automation tools and lean processes) that creates an automated software delivery channel. As a result, it enables organizations to provide better service and deliver applications in much less time.

The project clearly defined the processes for design, development, implementation and support of application upgrades. The results of the above solution concept were presented and confirmed by the company's IT department management.

Part 2

Implementation

The second part of the project focused on a new cloud application platform. The platform was implemented using Tanzu Kubernetes Grid product as two geographically separated clusters with implementation of new VMware vSphere infrastructure including VMware vSAN data storage.

Again, just for the sake of recap, we will add the definition of Kubernetes technology.

The platform has been tested and upgraded throughout the year and has therefore changed and improved significantly since its first initial design. As part of the project delivery, many installation procedures and developer tool integrations were created.

The platform has been integrated with current hardware security devices that play an important role in web-based access to applications and sensitive client data.

Effects of the solution

• PRE Group - acquired a highly functional cloud enterprise platform Kubernetess with geographic high availability, excellent scalability and long-term sustainability
• The solution is also associated with other significant effects such as standardization of application architecture, reduction of time and cost of new application implementations, reduction of the number of network changes required to deploy a new application