Key points:
- Manual administration was replaced by automated processes that reduced the risk of human error.
- Resource optimization and a FinOps approach reduced IT operating costs.
- Modernized CI/CD pipelines accelerated application deployment.
- Standardized procedures and automated configuration improved infrastructure security and reliability.
- The Aspecta team delivered a comprehensive solution for modernizing Volkswagen Group’s IT infrastructure, allowing teams to focus more on strategic initiatives.
Many automotive companies are moving from traditional monolithic systems to scalable cloud solutions. This transition can involve complex migrations, modernization of existing systems, and adoption of technologies such as containerization and Kubernetes orchestration.
Managed services and process automation help companies focus on their core business instead of routine infrastructure administration. Volkswagen Group addressed these requirements by modernizing its IT infrastructure, specifically its EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service) cluster solution.
The client
Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest carmakers with a portfolio of multiple brands and complex production and distribution operations. Supporting these operations requires flexible and reliable IT infrastructure that can adapt as requirements change.
The problem: Limitations and risks of monolithic infrastructure
Monolithic infrastructure created significant scalability and flexibility limitations, making it harder to adapt quickly to changing market requirements. Managing self-managed EKS nodes and images required extensive manual configuration directly in the console, which took time and increased the likelihood of human error. This approach increased the risk of outages and security incidents and placed a substantial operational burden on IT teams, leaving less time for strategic work.
Inefficient resource utilization led to higher operating and maintenance costs. Manual processes and limited automation caused delays in deploying new applications and updates, reducing organizational agility. These issues increased operational costs and made it harder for Volkswagen Group to respond quickly to new business and technology requirements.
Volkswagen Group defined the following objectives for modernizing its EKS cluster solution:
- Increase automation in EKS cluster management and deployment to reduce manual intervention and human error.
- Optimize resource utilization and reduce overall IT infrastructure operating costs.
- Improve scalability and flexibility so the IT environment can adapt faster to changing business requirements.
- Modernize CI/CD pipelines to deploy applications and updates more efficiently and quickly.
- Improve infrastructure security and reliability by eliminating manual configuration and introducing standardized procedures.
- Allow IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives instead of routine infrastructure administration.
The solution: Modernizing the EKS cluster infrastructure
The Aspecta s.r.o. team designed and implemented a comprehensive solution to modernize Volkswagen Group’s EKS cluster infrastructure. The approach included several key components:
- Complete code redesign: The existing infrastructure was rebuilt from the ground up with an emphasis on modularity, scalability, and maintainability. The new code made automation and integration with modern DevOps tools easier.
- Technology simplification: The team identified and removed unnecessary or outdated technologies, reducing system complexity. They replaced them with cloud-native solutions better suited to Volkswagen Group’s requirements.
- CI/CD pipeline modernization: A key part of the solution moved CI/CD processes from EC2 instances to an EKS cluster. This significantly increased automation across the application development and deployment lifecycle.
- Configuration automation: Configurations previously performed manually in the console were automated using Infrastructure as Code (IaC). This reduced manual intervention while improving consistency and repeatability across environments.
- Implementation of best practices: The solution introduced established practices for EKS cluster management, including automatic scaling, efficient resource management, and advanced monitoring and logging.
The team addressed several challenges during implementation:
- Migrating existing workloads: Moving from monolithic infrastructure to a modern containerized architecture required careful migration of existing applications. The team prepared a detailed migration plan with gradual migration and testing of each component to minimize the risk of outages.
- Integration with existing systems: The new solution had to work with numerous existing Volkswagen Group systems and processes. The team worked closely with different departments to identify and implement the necessary integration points.
- Meeting security requirements: The automotive industry has strict security standards. Implementing the new solution required detailed analysis and security measures including encryption, access management, and security monitoring.
Results: More automation and lower costs
The modernized EKS cluster solution delivered measurable results for Volkswagen Group:
- 50% increase in automation: Automating most EKS cluster management and deployment processes substantially reduced manual intervention and the associated risk of human error.
- 20% reduction in costs: Better resource utilization and removal of inefficient processes reduced costs across individual process stages, including infrastructure expenses and the cost of manual work.
- Manual configurations eliminated: Configurations were automated, improving consistency and reliability while allowing IT teams to focus on more strategic work.
- Faster deployment: Modernized CI/CD pipelines enabled faster and more reliable deployment of applications and updates, improving organizational agility.
- Greater scalability and flexibility: The new solution allowed Volkswagen Group to respond more quickly to changing requirements and scale IT infrastructure more efficiently.
Conclusion
Modernizing the EKS cluster solution for Volkswagen Group was an important step in the company’s digital transformation. The project addressed problems associated with inefficient, manually managed infrastructure and created a foundation for further development. The implemented solution improved automation, efficiency, and cost optimization. The 50% increase in automation and 20% reduction in costs demonstrate the measurable impact of the project.
The results improved operational efficiency and made the IT infrastructure more adaptable to new technologies and business requirements. Eliminating manual processes and increasing automation also allowed Volkswagen Group’s IT teams to spend more time on strategic initiatives and further development.
The project provides a practical example of IT infrastructure modernization in a large organization and shows how targeted investment in cloud technologies and automation can deliver measurable business benefits.
