Our client is an established name in the hospitality industry, known for delivering exceptional service and prioritizing guest satisfaction. Faced with the rapid evolution of industry demands and the necessity to maintain high standards, they identified a critical need to modernize their IT infrastructure. This modernization initiative was also imperative to enhance operational efficiency and security in a landscape where digital transformation is pivotal.
The Challenge
Confronting operational and security risks
As we examined upgrading the hotel's digital infrastructure, we uncovered significant operational and security challenges. From aging Linux systems reaching end-of-life to outdated servers posing security risks, and from revenue disruptions to high maintenance costs, the need for an overhaul was glaring.
- Technical debt: The aging Linux infrastructure based on older versions of CentOS and RHEL had reached the end of life and support, posing significant operational and security risks.
- Security vulnerabilities: Outdated servers jeopardized sensitive guest information, needing urgent updates to enhance security measures.
- Revenue impact: The frequent disruptions in digital infrastructure affected hotel bookings and overall revenue.
- High maintenance costs: The outdated IT infrastructure demanded extensive, costly maintenance efforts to remain functional.
The Objective
Goal-oriented modernization
The aim is to revamp and secure our client's technological backbone to ensure continuous operational excellence and guest satisfaction.
- Modernize to mitigate technical debt: Transition all servers to the latest RHEL versions to modernize infrastructure effectively and mitigate risks from outdated systems.
- Bolster security: Enhance capabilities to secure sensitive data and systems by upgrading to the most secure, supported versions of operating systems and tools.
- Stabilize and increase revenue: Ensure system stability to prevent disruptions affecting the guest experience and revenue flow.
- Reduce maintenance overheads: By updating to newer systems, reduce the frequency and cost of maintenance required to support outdated infrastructure.
The Solution
Strategic infrastructure modernization and server updates
Through a collaborative partnership, HCLTech significantly contributed to an expansive infrastructure modernization project, streamlining and securing the client's IT operations. HCLTech's expertise was pivotal in updating critical servers, enhancing system stability and ensuring compatibility with the latest technologies.
- Server upgrades: A significant part of the project involved upgrading over 3,300 servers. The old systems running on CentOS and RHEL were modernized to the latest version of RHEL, ensuring enhanced security and improved functionality.
- Comprehensive discovery and analysis: Before any migration occurred, an in-depth analysis of the existing infrastructure was performed. This crucial step helped understand the present capabilities and shortcomings, guiding the development of an effective migration strategy.
- High-level migration planning: Post-analysis, a strategic migration plan was crafted. This plan was designed to orchestrate the transition smoothly, minimizing disruptions while aligning with the overarching business objectives and technical requirements.
- Configuration file migration: The project handled the migration of all operating system environment configuration files, ensuring they were accurately moved and integrated with the new server setups. This aspect was vital for maintaining system stability and performance post-migration.
- Application compatibility support: The migration project also upgraded 500 web servers to Apache 2.4, enhancing digital portal security and performance. This effort ensured that around 50 identified critical applications were compatible with the new infrastructure. It was essential for maintaining functionality and avoiding any loss of service.
- Decommissioning and support: After the successful migration, old virtual instances were decommissioned to streamline operations and reduce unnecessary overheads. Additionally, hyper-care support was provided after the migration to promptly resolve any arising issues and ensure that the new systems operated optimally.
- Web server upgrades: As part of the infrastructure modernization, 500 web servers were upgraded to Apache 2.4. This upgrade was crucial for improving the security and performance of the client's digital portals.
- Planning and assessment: 1 month
- Testing and optimization: 1 month
- Implementation and migration: 21 months
- Total duration: 2 years
This comprehensive and structured approach not only enabled the modernization of critical IT components but also prepared the client’s systems for future technological advancements and challenges. The project significantly enhanced the operational efficiency, security and scalability of the client’s IT infrastructure, providing them with a robust platform for growth and innovation.
The Impact
Securing operations and enhancing efficiency
The efforts put into the modernization project brought forth significant improvements for our client:
- Enhanced security: The updated infrastructure significantly lowered the risks of security breaches that could compromise sensitive guest data.
- Operational continuity: The modernized infrastructure assured minimal downtime, supporting continuous business operations and enhancing guest satisfaction.
- Improved performance: Upgraded servers and applications significantly enhanced system performance, improving the overall user and guest experience at the hotels.
Key milestones achieved for the client:
- Successfully migrated 3,300+ servers to RHEL
- Completed the migration of ~600 CentOS and RHEL servers ahead of the Q4 2023 deadline
- Migrated high-priority PCI-compliant servers
- Decommissioned ~600 outdated servers
- Collaborated with multiple application teams to migrate 2,500+ servers
- Saved costs by eliminating 550+ CentOS6 Cisco AV licenses, which were EOL by December 2023
- Upgraded 490 Apache web servers and completed middleware upgrades to ensure compatibility with the latest RHEL and Apache versions
Each aspect of this project, from planning through implementation, was carefully aligned with the core challenges and objectives initially identified, resulting in a streamlined, secure and efficient IT infrastructure for our client. This strategic enhancement not only ensured current operational efficiency but also positioned the client for future advancements in the highly competitive hospitality industry.
