Migrating to the cloud can be challenging, especially for teams with limited experience in cloud technologies. This success story highlights how a collaborative effort between a client and myself resulted in a smooth migration to Amazon Web Services (AWS). The client, predominantly a team of developers primarily focused on application development, successfully transitioned to AWS with a scalable, secure, and cost-optimized environment.
The team of CEE Travel Systems, an official partner of Travelport, had a strong background in Linux development but was still getting familiar with AWS. With only one dedicated infrastructure specialist, their early attempts to set up AWS resources using the AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) came with some challenges. They needed some extra guidance to understand which AWS resources to use and how to configure them properly.
“What made this project stand out was how collaborative it was. We weren’t just handing over Terraform scripts, but we worked directly with their team, walking them through user management issues and showing them how to optimize costs. By the end, CEE Travel Systems wasn’t just running on AWS. They actually knew how to manage and scale it themselves. That’s the kind of result we can be proud of.”
— Michal Režnický, Revolgy
To help the team build a strong AWS foundation, I set up regular consultations covering key AWS resources, their configurations, and best practices. These sessions clarified how to use AWS efficiently and laid the groundwork for future infrastructure planning.
As the consultations progressed, I noticed the team wasn’t always sure what to focus on next. To keep things moving smoothly, I proactively identified key areas for improvement. One key challenge was user administration. I used this as an opportunity to showcase Terraform’s capabilities and how it could complement AWS CDK for more efficient infrastructure management.
I developed an architectural scheme encompassing all future environments and application-related AWS resources.
Following AWS best practices, I set up the AWS Organization, creating Organizational Units (OUs) to manage different environments and business functions effectively. Utilizing the Account Factory for Terraform, I automated the creation of AWS accounts, ensuring a standardized and streamlined approach to account provisioning.
After a year of productive consultations, the client was ready to move forward with the migration to AWS, and I was happy to support them in that process. We created a detailed migration timeline, outlining key tasks and assigning responsibilities to the appropriate team members.
While the client’s development team concentrated on containerizing application components, I spearheaded the infrastructure development using Terraform from scratch. Key activities included:
Security was one of my top priorities. I set up Security services at the AWS Organization level, educating the team on Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) and effective remediation strategies.
To ensure comprehensive visibility across accounts:
Ongoing guidance was key in helping the client gain confidence in managing their AWS environment independently. I provided in-depth guidance on deployments, ensuring the team understood resource dependencies.
A robust access management system was established, featuring:
A major milestone was successfully exporting over 100 on-premises DNS entries and seamlessly migrating them to AWS Route 53, integrating them into Terraform for easier ongoing management. This migration ensured minimal downtime and enhanced DNS administration.
During the online migration phase, I provided real-time support, assisting with:
This successful migration journey highlights the power of teamwork, ongoing learning, and using the right tools. With regular check-ins, proactive problem-solving, and smart planning, the client didn’t just move to AWS — they also built up the in-house skills to manage their infrastructure confidently. Now, they’re set up to leverage the full potential of AWS, ensuring scalability, security, and cost-efficiency for years to come.
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Written by Roman Šoltész.