Leveraging Cloud Technology for Biotechnology Innovations
A prominent international biotechnology company overhauls its GxP-relevant Tableau System to AWS cloud with a scalable, secure, and cost-effective solution that adhere to stringent biopharmaceutical regulations.
Our client is a global biotechnology leader committed to innovating in the field of active immunotherapies for a tailored treatment of serious diseases. The company has earned international acclaim for their significant contribution to the development of a unique immunization technology that played a key role in addressing a worldwide health emergency. Beyond this notable achievement, their broad range of products includes targeted cancer treatments, solutions for infectious diseases, and cutting-edge regenerative medicine.
Our client was faced with the complex task of migrating their existing GxP-relevant Tableau System into the AWS cloud. This move was crucial in their strategic shift towards a more scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud-based infrastructure. The challenge lay not only in the technical aspects of the migration but also in ensuring compliance with the strict regulatory standards associated with handling and processing biotech data.
The client needed to maintain the integrity, security, and accessibility of their critical data during and after the migration. Furthermore, it aimed to enhance system performance and efficiency without disrupting its ongoing research and operations. To navigate this intricate process, the client asked for the expertise of valantic Software & Technology Innovations GmbH as a certified AWS advanced partner to support.
valantic, leveraging the AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP), provided a comprehensive solution to the client’s challenge. The process was divided into three phases: “Assess”, “Mobilize”, and “Migrate and Modernize”.
The first phase of the process, “Assess,” was crucial in understanding the scope and requirements of the client’s migration project. valantic performed a comprehensive evaluation of the client’s existing GxP certified Tableau System. It identified the key areas that required attention and the steps necessary for a successful migration. This assessment phase also involved a detailed analysis of the potential risks, TCO-analysis and the development of strategic mitigation plans to ensure a smooth transition.
In the “Mobilize” phase, valantic focused on preparing the resources required for the migration. This involved setting up the necessary AWS Services, configuring the environment, and establishing a detailed migration plan. The mobilization phase was critical in ensuring all the prerequisites were in place before the actual migration began. valantic’s expertise in AWS MAP was crucial in this phase, helping to streamline the preparation process and set the stage for a successful zero-downtime migration.
The final phase, “Migrate and Modernize“, involved the actual migration of the client’s system into the AWS cloud. valantic ensured that the system was modernized according to AWS best practices and GxP standards. It utilized various AWS Services, including EC2 (Windows Server), KMS, FSx for Windows File Server, Network Load Balancer, Application Load Balancer, S3, Secrets Manager, RDS MS SQL, and RDS PostgreSQL, AWS Backup. The work in this phase not only includes migrating the data but also involves optimizing the system to enhance its performance, security, and scalability. The successful completion of this phase marked the achievement of the client’s strategic move towards a cloud-based Tableau Server infrastructure.
The entire environment has been fully implemented as Infrastructure as Code (IaC) utilizing Terraform, along with a Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipeline leveraging GitHub Actions. This approach allows valantic and the client to conduct a variety of tests on the IaC code prior to its deployment in the environment. By doing so, the solution can maintain high GxP standards, ensuring that both the infrastructure and applications are qualified and validated. This method not only enhances the efficiency of deployments but also upholds valantic’s commitment to quality and regulatory compliance.
Diagram of the target architecture
Partnering with valantic opened a significant opportunity for the client. This collaboration enabled the client to successful migrate their Tableau environment. Executed in an efficient and highly performant manner, the migration adhered to all necessary best practices and stringent GxP standards. This ensured not only a seamless transition to the cloud but also the preservation of data integrity and system functionality throughout the process.
The migration project successfully yielded a stable, functional, fully qualified, and validated environment that remains compliant with pharmaceutical health standards. This outcome serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the implemented strategies. The new cloud-based infrastructure significantly enhanced system performance and reliability, providing a robust platform for the client’s critical operations. Moreover, the move to the cloud aligns with the client’s strategic goals, offering scalability and flexibility for future growth. The successful partnership with valantic and the transition to AWS has positioned the client to better navigate the digital landscape, underscoring the value of their cloud strategy. In doing so, the client plans to increasingly rely on AWS services and valantic’s cloud expertise.
Dr. Robert Klimke
Director Advanced Cloud Solutions
valantic Software & Technology Innovations