Summary of AWS Podcast Episode #691: "[Migration Special Series] AJE Group's Cloud Transformation Journey to AWS with CloudHesive"

Release Date: October 24, 2024

Introduction

In episode #691 of the AWS Podcast, hosted by Daniel Flores, the focus is on the comprehensive cloud transformation journey of AJE Group, a Peruvian-owned multinational in the food and beverage sector. The discussion features Sandra Woolcott, CIO of AJE Group, and Federico Del Campo, Team Leader of the Solutions Architect Department at Cloudhesive, AWS Partner Premier. This episode delves into the challenges, strategies, benefits, and insights gained from AJE Group's migration to Amazon Web Services (AWS) with the assistance of Cloudhesive.

Guest Introductions

• Sandra Woolcott, CIO of AJE Group (00:08): Sandra introduces herself and provides an overview of AJE Group, highlighting its growth from a small Peruvian enterprise founded in 1988 to the fourth largest bottling company worldwide with operations on four continents and 9,000 employees. She emphasizes the company's mission to democratize beverage consumption, especially among vulnerable populations, and its continuous efforts to innovate and expand.

• Federico Del Campo, Team Leader at Cloudhesive (02:53): Federico shares his extensive 20-year experience in the IT industry, transitioning from on-premise infrastructure to virtualization and, more recently, specializing in AWS cloud infrastructure. At Cloudhesive, he leads a team responsible for designing, deploying, and migrating cloud architectures, ensuring robust and scalable solutions for clients across the Americas.

Technological Landscape Before Migration (04:26)

Sandra outlines AJE Group’s pre-migration technological setup:

• ERP System: A custom ERP named "Mike" on the Erelli platform, running on outdated Linux and Microsoft systems with SQL 2003 databases.
• Mixed Hosting: Partial hosting on-premise in Dallas managed by IBM and partial hosting on AWS.
• Infrastructure: Utilized VMware VCenter hypervisor, 20 terminal servers, MySQL databases, Tableau for business intelligence, and Active Directory for identity management.
• Development Stages: Limited to two main instances for development and production, with tools and solutions over a decade old.

Drivers for Migrating to AWS (06:43)

Sandra explains the motivations behind AJE Group’s decision to fully migrate to AWS:

1. Focus on Core Business: By delegating operational support and infrastructure management to AWS, the corporate team can concentrate on enhancing the company's value proposition.
2. Scalability and Flexibility: The seasonal nature of beverage sales demands the ability to rapidly scale infrastructure up or down cost-effectively.
3. Organizational Growth: Expansion into new markets and product categories requires increased data storage, processing speed, and seamless integration of new technological solutions.
4. Performance Enhancement: Ensuring system performance to prevent operational disruptions that could lead to significant revenue losses.
5. Global Optimization: Overcoming connectivity issues by distributing applications across AWS regions tailored to specific geographic needs.

Notable Quote:

"We need to provide infrastructure and services that ensure agility, speed, scalability, and security aligned to the business strategic plans while maintaining a cost control..." (14:40)

Collaborating with Cloudhesive: Designing the AWS Architecture (10:33)

Federico delves into Cloudhesive’s role in the migration process:

• Comprehensive Assessment: Detailed evaluation of existing resources in Dallas.
• Network Redesign: Transition from a mesh to a STAR network topology using AWS Transit Gateway for centralized subnet management.
• Multi-Account Strategy: Ensuring compliance with AWS’s Well-Architected Framework.
• Migration Strategy: Implementing a LEAF and Jeep migration approach to achieve quick wins within tight timelines.
• Security Enhancements: Deployment of inspection VPC and network firewall for east-west traffic inspection.
• Cost Optimization: Reduction of NAT gateways and centralizing outgoing traffic to decrease networking costs.
• Connectivity Solutions: Establishing multiple site-to-site VPNs between AWS regions and data centers to ensure reliable communication across global operations.
• Data Migration: Successfully migrating 7 terabytes of data, including databases and servers, within a 10-day window using AWS Application Migration Services.
• Backup Solutions: Utilizing AWS Backup Services to replicate on-premises backup plans, ensuring data safety.

Notable Quote:

"The AWS application migration services... was a real game changer." (14:31)

Post-Migration Benefits (14:40)

Sandra highlights the key benefits AJE Group realized after migrating to AWS:

1. Enhanced Security: Protection against cyber-attacks, crucial for a company sponsoring high-profile events and sports teams.
2. Modernized Technology: Leveraging AWS’s extensive services for testing, MVPs, and scalable implementations, overcoming the limitations of outdated systems.
3. Improved Network Performance: The STAR network model significantly enhanced connectivity for Asian operations, improving application performance and user productivity.
4. Cost Efficiency: Reduced operational costs compared to maintaining on-premise solutions, allowing flexibility for growth and minimizing the corporate team's burden on infrastructure management.
5. Operational Agility: Ability to rapidly implement and adopt new solutions, supporting continuous digital transformation and business growth.

Notable Quote:

"We leave those activities for the experts whose main task is precisely that to maintain the infrastructure always updated and optimized." (17:08)

Working with Cloudhesive (19:40)

Sandra emphasizes the critical role Cloudhesive played in the migration:

• Exceptional Communication: 24/7 support and a deep understanding of AJE’s business needs.
• Expert Guidance: Comprehensive planning, risk identification, and contingency strategies ensured a smooth migration.
• Efficient Execution: Successful transfer of over seven terabytes of data securely and swiftly, maintaining business continuity.
• Optimization Support: Assistance in optimizing AWS services post-migration to prevent cost overruns and enhance performance.

Notable Quote:

"Cloudesive was instrumental in helping us to understand what we did wrong and how to properly optimize the use of the services and avoid dying of a heart attack." (26:47)

Challenges Faced During Migration (21:20)

Federico outlines the primary challenges encountered and their solutions:

1. Data Synchronization within Tight Timeframe:

   • Challenge: Migrating seven terabytes of data within 10 days.
   • Solution: Leveraging AWS Application Migration Service for efficient and timely data transfer.

2. Networking Architecture Design:

   • Challenge: Designing a scalable and secure network to handle increased traffic.
   • Solution: Implementing the STAR network model with AWS Transit Gateway, enhancing scalability and reducing complexity.

3. Inter-Regional Communication:

   • Challenge: Ensuring reliable communication between various regions and data centers.
   • Solution: Establishing multiple site-to-site VPNs between AWS Transit Gateway and Fortinet devices to maintain consistent connectivity.

Notable Quote:

"The migration of 7 terabytes of data, including resources like databases and no less than 40 Linux and Windows servers... had to get that done in just 10 days." (21:20)

Lessons Learned and Future Considerations (23:03)

Federico shares key takeaways from the migration project:

1. Importance of Robust Network Design: Emphasizes the necessity of a solid network framework from the outset.
2. Utilizing AWS Tools: Recognizes the potential of services like AWS Snowball for large data transfers.
3. Considering AWS Direct Connect: Suggests implementing AWS Direct Connect for more reliable and faster connectivity in future projects.
4. Continuous Improvement: Highlights the value of ongoing learning and iterative enhancements to provide optimal services.

Advice for Organizations Considering AWS Migration (24:19)

Sandra Woolcott:

• Team Preparation: Ensure the team has the necessary skills to facilitate a smooth migration.
• Clear Objectives: Define technical, functional, and business expectations clearly.
• Expert Partnership: Choose a partner with strong communication skills and a deep understanding of business needs.
• Comprehensive Planning: Identify critical success factors and risks, develop contingency plans, and monitor each step meticulously.

Sandra’s Quote:

"Do not start without having a clear idea of the technical requirements and the required performance." (24:19)

Federico Del Campo:

• Detailed Infrastructure Analysis: Conduct thorough assessments of current infrastructure, needs, and goals.
• Experienced Professionals: Collaborate with seasoned experts to base plans on practical experience rather than theory.
• Network Design Focus: Prioritize efficient and secure network architecture.
• Phased Migration: Implement migration in stages, conducting tests at each phase to ensure a smooth transition and minimize downtime.

Federico’s Quote:

"Plan the migration in phases, conduct tests at each stage and adjust the implementation as needed for a smooth transition and minimize downtime." (26:37)

Anecdote: A Costly Oversight (26:47)

Sandra shares a lighthearted yet instructive story from the migration process:

• Situation: In their enthusiasm to leverage AWS's flexibility, AJE Group initially over-provisioned resources to accommodate testing.
• Outcome: This led to an unexpectedly high AWS bill, causing immediate financial concerns.
• Resolution: AWS provided a discount to mitigate the cost, and Cloudhesive assisted in optimizing resource usage to prevent future overspending.

Sandra’s Quote:

"We almost died on the spot, since the number basically invalidates all the economic arguments. Fortunately, AWS understood our predicament, saved the day by making a discount, and Cloudesive was instrumental in helping us to understand what we did wrong and how to properly optimize the use of the services..." (26:47)

Conclusion (27:54)

Daniel Flores wraps up the episode by thanking Sandra and Federico for their valuable insights into AJE Group’s successful migration to AWS with Cloudhesive’s expertise. He encourages listeners to apply the lessons learned and consider the highlighted strategies for their own cloud transformation endeavors.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Simon Lish (00:08):

  "This is the nitty gritty details of what can make or break a cloud migration."

• Federico Del Campo (14:31):

  "The AWS application migration services... was a real game changer."

• Sandra Woolcott (17:08):

  "We leave those activities for the experts whose main task is precisely that to maintain the infrastructure always updated and optimized."

• Sandra Woolcott (26:47):

  "Cloudesive was instrumental in helping us to understand what we did wrong and how to properly optimize the use of the services and avoid dying of a heart attack."

This detailed summary encapsulates the key elements of AJE Group's migration journey to AWS, highlighting the strategic decisions, collaborative efforts with Cloudhesive, challenges overcome, and the substantial benefits realized post-migration. Listeners gain valuable insights into effective cloud transformation strategies, the importance of expert partnerships, and practical advice for organizations contemplating similar transitions.