CASE STUDY
Avis Budget Group’s Seamless AWS Migration: Revolutionizing EMEA E-Commerce with D3Clarity
CLIENT:
Avis Budget Group
EMPLOYEES:
10,000+
INDUSTRIES:
Automotive
Retail
Travel & Hospitality
SERVICES:
Application Migration Service
Cloud Architecture Strategy
Cloud Cost Management
Cloud Security Services
Cloud Transit Networking
Content Distribution Networks
Day 2 Production Operations
Infrastructure as Code Automation
Web Security
PLATFORMS:
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS
Google Cloud
Human Security
PowerBI
ABOUT:
CHALLENGE:
Introduction:
Avis Budget Group (ABG), a global leader in mobility solutions, was at a crossroads with its complex technical infrastructure. This mix of cutting-edge cloud-native applications and necessary yet-to-be-modernized legacy systems was impeding ABG’s objective to lower operational costs while boosting its web and mobile applications’ performance, security, and reliability. ABG turned to D3Clarity — an AWS Advanced Tier Partner with the AWS Migration Competency, celebrated for its acumen in transitioning legacy systems to the AWS cloud to navigate this challenge.
Customer Challenge: Navigating a Complex, Multi-Faceted Technical Landscape
ABG’s situation reflects a common dilemma among large, established enterprises: managing a diverse and intricate technical landscape. This landscape, a blend of advanced cloud-native applications and legacy systems awaiting modernization, posed a formidable barrier for ABG to reach its strategic goals. These objectives were twofold: enhance the company’s web and mobile applications’ performance, security, and reliability and reduce operational costs.
At the heart of this challenge was ABG’s European e-commerce system. This system comprised over 150 unique web domains, each with specific requirements, rules, and configurations. These were developed by various teams over more than a decade, catering to a European customer base with distinct needs across multiple locations, languages, and countries. Each domain had its own compliance and operational necessities. Reliance on third-party Content Delivery Network (CDN) and Web Application Firewall (WAF) products further complicated the scenario. The legacy CDN and WAF solutions became a financial burden due to high licensing and data transfer costs. More critically, they impeded application performance and were limited by outdated, rule-based WAF logic. Managing domain-specific security rules for this extensive array of domains added to the operational strain, rendering the process cumbersome and inefficient.
ABG’s goal was to create a robust, secure, and cost-effective system that would improve the user experience for its diverse European customer base and future-proof its technological infrastructure. The company sought to harness the full potential of cloud computing to enhance operational efficiency and agility, modernize applications to minimize technical debt, and reduce reliance on costly licenses from third-party vendors. This ambitious undertaking aimed to transform ABG’s technological framework into a more streamlined, responsive, and economically viable structure.
Why AWS and D3Clarity?
ABG chose AWS for its global infrastructure, providing the necessary security and scalability to deploy applications close to end-users, thus enhancing performance and reducing latency. D3Clarity was selected for its proven track record with Fortune 500 clients, particularly in data and cloud engineering services. Known for reliability in project management, D3Clarity’s expertise in database migration and web application security was crucial for this project. The urgency to decommission ABG’s on-premises system before license renewals made D3Clarity’s understanding of ABG’s legacy technology and AWS’s next-generation solutions invaluable.
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SOLUTION:
What we delivered:
ABG’s solution included secure, private network connections via AWS Direct Connect redundant links and a transit network. Application Load Balancers (ALB) were set up for each application, configured to accept requests only from CloudFront, with added security layers for request validation. Terraform and AWS CloudFormation automated the entire architecture for precision and efficiency.
ABG leveraged the AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) for a seamless transition. This comprehensive program entailed an Assess Phase for thorough analysis, a Mobilize Phase for translating and validating existing WAF rules and CDN logic, and a Migrate & Modernize phase for the production deployment. Through this structured approach, ABG adeptly employed automated infrastructure-as-code techniques. This enabled the efficient configuration, validation, and migration of over 150 domains, each equipped with tailor-made AWS WAF rules, CloudFront Functions, and Lambda@Edge tasks, all achieved within a remarkably short timeline.
A comprehensive logging, troubleshooting, and alerting system was implemented to ensure real-time issue resolution. CloudFront, WAF, and ALB logged data securely to Amazon S3, with Amazon Athena for efficient data querying. Amazon QuickSight provided interactive dashboards for traffic data visualization, complemented by Amazon CloudWatch Alarms for real-time monitoring.
How we delivered:
The Process: Leveraging AWS MAP for a Successful Migration
D3Clarity’s approach to ABG’s migration project was methodically structured around the AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP), ensuring a comprehensive and efficient transition to the cloud. This multi-phased approach was critical in addressing ABG’s infrastructure’s unique complexities and scale, particularly the 150+ uniquely distinct domains and their associated ecosystems.
The use of MAP also opened substantial AWS partner co-funding, which D3Clarity passed on to reduce ABG’s migration costs substantially.
Assess Phase: Laying the Groundwork for Transformation
Business Case and Metrics: The initial phase involved developing a detailed business case, focusing on the strategic and financial metrics underpinning the migration. This assessment allowed for a clear understanding of the potential return on investment and set a benchmark for evaluating the project’s success.
In-Depth Analysis of Requirements: A thorough investigation of both business and technical requirements was conducted for each of the 150+ domains. This exhaustive analysis was crucial to understand each domain’s unique characteristics, dependencies, and operational nuances. Mapping these elements was essential to design a migration strategy that would modernize and optimize each domain’s functionality and performance in the cloud environment.
Mobilize Phase: Preparing for the Transition
Translating and Validating Legacy WAF Rules and CDN Logic: A significant part of the Mobilize phase was dedicated to translating and validating the existing legacy WAF rules and CDN logic. This process ensured that the security and delivery mechanisms would be seamlessly adapted to the cloud infrastructure, maintaining the integrity and performance of each domain.
Automation: D3Clarity focused on automating these components, which was critical in streamlining the migration process and minimizing potential disruptions due to human errors or inconsistencies during the transition.
Migrate & Modernize Phase: Implementation and Empowerment
Production Operations Documentation and Training: As part of the move to AWS, comprehensive documentation of the new production operations was created. Training sessions were conducted for ABG’s production operations team, which equipped them with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage the new cloud environment.
Assistance During and After Go-Live: D3Clarity provided extensive support during the go-live phase of the migration, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal operational impact. Following the go-live, ongoing assistance was offered to help ABG’s team adapt to the new systems, address any post-migration challenges, and optimize operations in the new cloud environment.
Through the structured and strategic use of AWS MAP, D3Clarity ensured that ABG’s migration project was not just about moving to the cloud but also about transforming the way ABG’s digital infrastructure supported its business goals. This careful, step-by-step process facilitated a successful migration, modernizing ABG’s technical landscape while aligning it with its broader objectives of efficiency, security, and scalability.
RESULTS:
Deliverables:
- Revenue Generation from Migrated Domains
- Reduced Latency and Enhanced Network Efficiency
- Increased Security and Compliance
- Scalability and Flexibility
Business Value:
- The transition of domains from the on-premises system to AWS directly contributed to increased revenue.
- The project significantly reduced latency by optimizing the CDN solution.
- The new system's security features, including the integration of AWS WAF and ALB with secret header validations, provided a more robust security posture.
- The cloud-based solution offered ABG the ability to scale resources up or down based on demand.
Results and Benefits:
The successful completion of ABG’s migration project, facilitated by AWS and D3Clarity, brought about several notable improvements and advantages. These results met the initial project objectives and set a new standard for ABG’s operational efficiency and service quality.
Key outcomes include:
- Revenue Generation from Migrated Domains: The transition of domains from the on-premises system to AWS directly contributed to increased revenue. This shift allowed ABG to leverage the advanced capabilities of AWS, leading to enhanced user experiences and potentially higher customer engagement and satisfaction.
- Reduced Latency and Enhanced Network Efficiency: The project significantly reduced latency by optimizing the CDN solution. This speed and response time improvement translated to a better user experience, particularly in web and mobile applications, thus fostering greater customer satisfaction and engagement.
- Increased Security and Compliance: The new system’s security features, including the integration of AWS WAF and ALB with secret header validations, provided a more robust security posture. This enhancement protected sensitive customer data and ensured compliance with industry standards and regulations.
- Scalability and Flexibility: The cloud-based solution offered ABG the ability to scale resources up or down based on demand. This flexibility was crucial in managing peak traffic periods effectively, ensuring consistent service quality without requiring extensive infrastructure investments.
- Operational Cost Savings: The move to AWS led to a significant reduction in operational costs. ABG reduced its expenditure on infrastructure and software licenses by decommissioning the on-premises system and avoiding license renewals for third-party CDN solutions.
- Improved Management and Monitoring: The integration of Amazon CloudWatch, Athena, and QuickSight provided ABG with sophisticated tools for real-time monitoring, logging, and data visualization. This improvement enabled quicker decision-making, more effective troubleshooting, and better strategic planning.
- Streamlined Project Execution: The use of Terraform for infrastructure automation streamlined the migration process. This approach reduced manual errors, accelerated deployment times, and ensured a consistent and repeatable process across the project.
- Enhanced User Experience: The overall system performance, reliability, and security improvements directly translated to a superior user experience. This change likely increased customer loyalty and a more substantial brand reputation for ABG.
- Environmental Benefits: By moving to a cloud-based solution, ABG potentially reduced its carbon footprint, aligning with broader environmental and sustainability goals.
- Knowledge Transfer and Empowerment: The project included aspects of knowledge transfer, empowering ABG’s in-house teams with the skills and understanding necessary to manage and optimize the new cloud-based environment in the future.
Conclusion:
In summary, ABG’s migration to AWS, executed with the expertise of D3Clarity, not only resolved immediate technical challenges but also positioned the company for future growth, cost savings, and enhanced customer experiences.
This case study demonstrates D3Clarity’s ability to effectively navigate complex cloud migration challenges. If you are looking for a partner to guide your digital transformation journey, visit www.d3clarity.com for more case studies, a complete description of our service, and an easy path to discuss how we can tailor a solution for your unique needs.
About Avis Budget Group
Avis Budget Group (ABG), a global mobility solutions leader with brands such as Avis, Budget, and Zipcar, has a footprint across approximately 180 countries with over 11,000 rental locations. The company’s commitment to innovation and superior customer service drives it to offer diverse services — from hourly and one-way rentals to long-term vehicle rentals and car-sharing solutions — focusing on seamless digital and mobile technologies for enhanced customer experience.
About D3Clarity
Pioneers in Data-Driven Cloud Transformation
D3Clarity stands at the forefront of professional services as an AWS Advanced Tier Partner, distinguished by our AWS Migration Competency. Our expertise is deeply rooted in migrating legacy networks, databases, and applications to the AWS cloud. We don’t just facilitate technology shifts; we balance innovation with governance, ensuring a seamless transition into a data-driven, cloud-empowered era for our clients.
Our commitment is to elevate data and critical infrastructure quality and management, seamlessly integrating these elements with the essential human and processual aspects. Our solutions are comprehensive and turnkey, focusing on enhancing data quality and governance, mastering data management, and preparing data for reliable analytics. We specialize in modernizing cloud applications, prioritizing security, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
At D3Clarity, our passion for business modernization is fueled by the transformative power of data and cloud technology. We view data as the lifeblood of any organization—a powerful tool that, when leveraged correctly, can significantly boost profitability, inform strategic decisions, and guide businesses toward a future marked by assured success. Our role extends beyond service provision; we are dedicated data and cloud evangelists committed to empowering your organization with cutting-edge solutions and expertise.
AWS Services leveraged in this case study:
- AWS Shield Advanced
- AWS WAF
- Amazon S3
- AWS Athena
- AWS Quicksight
- Lambda
- Lambda@Edge
- Amazon CloudFront
- Amazon Route53
- Application Load Balancer
- Amazon EC2, EC2 for Windows, and ECS
- CloudWatch
- CloudTrail
- CloudFormation
- AWS Direct Connect
- AWS Transit Network
- AWS Control Tower
- Amazon Kinesis,
- Amazon Glue
- AWS Config
I’ve been working with D3Clarity since 2017. They've helped us migrate over our very first application from Azure to AWS and have been with us since. They have a very knowledgeable & professional staff that have helped us in our digital migration from our on-prem data centers to the AWS cloud.
Anthony Raiti
Director of Cloud Operations
Avis Budget Group
D3Clarity provided us with invaluable insights, visualizations, topography maps and tools to help us make better decisions with our cloud infrastructure.
Greg Falconer
CEO
iVitaFi
We selected D3Clarity to architect and migrate our Customer Services application to AWS and I can confidently say that their services are “top notch.”
Kavita Singh
Functional Manager, Customer Services Apps
Payless Car Rental
D3Clarity went above and beyond. They are great to work with and create long lasting relationships!
Tam Anderson
Program Manager
Independent Publishing Coop
Great partnership with D3Clarity!
Kevin Acker
System Architect
Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds
D3Clarity’s experience with multiple MDM vendors, helped make the implementation a success.
Gary Daniell
Director of Engineering
AGDATA
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