How Seamless, Scalable, and Reliable Website Operations Were Achieved

Discover how a fast-growing Software provider for financial services revolutionized its deployment process and delivered business value with a cutting-edge CI/CD pipeline, powered by Azure DevOps. Facing the need for faster releases and greater reliability, the team partnered with us to eliminate manual deployments and embrace modern DevOps practices. This transformation not only streamlined operations but also positioned their digital presence for future growth.

Before Adopting DevOps

The website was hosted on a Windows Server using IIS, with application code managed in a Git repository. Frequent updates to the codebase were necessary to keep pace with evolving business demands, highlighting the need for an efficient and reliable deployment process.

Challenges

Before engaging with us, the deployment process was heavily manual, resulting in:

  • Manual Code Deployment: Each update to the application requires developers or operations staff to intervene directly, which is time-consuming and increases the likelihood of human error. This manual process slows down release cycles and limits efficiency.
  • File transfer and configuration are handled by developers with server access: Developers must log in to servers to upload files and adjust configurations, a process that exposes the system to potential security risks and complicates auditing and traceability.
  • No separate testing environment available: Without a dedicated environment to validate updates, code changes are pushed directly to production, increasing the risk of introducing untested bugs or disruptions to live services.
  • Deployment delays and temporary downtime: Manual deployments can be unpredictable, sometimes causing service interruptions or requiring sites to be offline while updates are applied, which negatively impacts user experience.
  • Lack of defined pipeline structure: The absence of an automated, standardized deployment pipeline leads to inconsistent deployments, lack of reproducibility, and difficulties in scaling or troubleshooting the release process.

Adopting Azure DevOps

Our team designed and implemented a robust, automated DevOps workflow using Azure DevOps. This solution addressed every pain point, future-proofed and support ongoing development in the digital delivery pipeline.

Azure DevOps Integration

  • Established a specialised Azure DevOps organisation and project designed to meet the client’s specific workflow requirements.
  • Integrated the existing Git repository—whether hosted on Azure Repos or external platforms—directly with Azure DevOps to enable efficient and streamlined code management.

CI/CD Pipeline Deployment

  • Continuous Integration (CI): Every code commit automatically triggered validation and build processes, ensuring early detection of issues
  • Continuous Deployment (CD): Automated deployments flowed first to a development environment, then—after successful testing—safely to production
  • Deployment scripts crafted in PowerShell and YAML standardized the process, while the IIS Web App Deployment task ensured smooth releases on Windows Server

Environment Configuration & Security

  • Separate Development and Production stages with approval gates guaranteed safe, controlled rollouts
  • All secrets and credentials managed securely with Azure Key Vault

Results & Business Impact

  • Deployment Time Reduced by 70%: The introduction of automated pipelines has significantly minimized downtime and manual errors. With faster deployment cycles, teams can now focus their efforts on innovation and value-added tasks rather than tedious operational activities.
  • Enhanced Reliability: Dedicated staging environments have facilitated comprehensive testing, resulting in higher quality releases. As a result, end-users experience fewer disruptions, and support teams spend less time addressing post-release issues.
  • Future-Ready Scalability: The infrastructure is now positioned to accommodate rapid organizational growth and the deployment of new features efficiently. This scalable foundation allows for seamless integration of emerging technologies and ensures that fluctuating workloads are handled with ease, giving the organization a distinct competitive edge.
  • Improved Security & Compliance: Keys and credentials are managed in accordance with industry best practices, strengthening overall security posture. Rigorous access controls and continuous monitoring ensure that sensitive data remains protected and regulatory requirements are consistently met.
  • Optimized Performance: Azure Front Door provides fast, secure, and globally optimized web experiences. Customers benefit from low latency and high availability, regardless of their location, which translates to increased satisfaction and enhanced brand loyalty.

With these advancements, the organization has not only improved operational efficiency but also laid a solid groundwork for future success. These strategic investments empower teams to deliver exceptional digital experiences while supporting sustained business growth.

Conclusion

If your organization is seeking to streamline its deployment processes, increase operational reliability, and confidently deliver new features to users, our expertly crafted Azure DevOps solutions offer a transformative path forward. By leveraging automation, secure workflows, and scalable infrastructure, we equip your teams to reduce downtime, minimize errors, and accelerate time to market. Organizations that partner with us benefit not only from technical enhancements, but also from improved security, compliance, and customer satisfaction, laying the foundation for future growth and innovation in a digital-first landscape. Reach out to us today to discover how we can tailor our solutions to help your business achieve results that drive long-term success and exceptional digital experiences.

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