Case Study
Modernizing While Migrating: Phaedon Upgrades and Moves 597 Servers to AWS
Clearscale combined OS modernization with a phased migration to give Phaedon a secure, scalable cloud foundation.
Client Profile
Industry Advertising and Marketing
Loyalty Technology Provider
ServicesAmazon EC2Amazon S3
Amazon VPCAWS IAM
Overview
Phaedon, an advertising and marketing company, found itself at a defining crossroads following a corporate separation. The organization needed to exit its shared on-premises data center under a strict deadline, and its mission-critical loyalty platform depended on an aging fleet of infrastructure that could no longer stay on-prem without risk.
The company had 597 Windows and Linux virtual machines running outdated operating systems, some no longer supported. They required not just migration, but modernization, and they needed it fast. Clearscale partnered with Phaedon to deliver a move-andupgrade strategy that would preserve business continuity and build a cloud foundation ready for what came next.
Meet Our Hero
Phaedon s engineering team carried the weight of two
simultaneous pressures: a hard exit deadline from the data
center, and the responsibility of keeping their revenue-generating loyalty platform running without disruption.
They knew a simple lift-and-shift wouldn’t be enough. The server fleet included aging Windows Server 2012 systems and various Linux distributions that were increasingly difficult to maintain. Their vision was clear: migrate everything to AWS and upgrade the operating systems along the way so the company could shed technical debt and step confidently into a secure, scalable cloud environment.
The Goal
Phaedon needed to:
- Migrate all 597 VMs to AWS with minimal downtime.
- Perform in-flight operating system upgrades to eliminate legacy security risks.
- Ensure full business continuity during and after cutover.
- Establish a secure, well-governed AWS environment that could support
future innovation.
The Challenge
Migrating 597 servers, each with unique interdependencies, posed several major challenges:
Challenge 01: OS Modernization
Many servers required upgrades to Windows Server 2019 or 2022 during the migration.
Challenge 02: Complex Dependencies
The fleet included jump boxes, database servers, and application servers that needed carefully orchestrated sequencing to avoid disruption.
Challenge 03: Legacy Constraints
Minimal automation existed in the on-prem environment, making migration planning and execution more complex.
Challenge 04: Security & Governance
Phaedon needed a secure, well-architected AWS environment built from scratch, complete with IAM controls, isolated networks, and proper guardrails.
The Solution
Clearscale executed a structured, multi-wave migration using the RiverMeadow migration platform to modernize Phaedon’s infrastructure with speed and precision.
Step 01: Phased Migration Strategy
- Clearscale designed a pilot wave followed by five larger waves.
- This allowed teams to refine procedures, reduce risk, and manage complex dependencies.
Step 02: RiverMeadow Platform Utilization
- A gent-based migration: Source servers used RiverMeadow agents for data collection and transfer.
- Continuous differential syncs: After an initial full copy, only changes were synced, minimizing downtime and keeping target servers current.
- In-flight OS modernization: Legacy systems were upgraded to modern, supported OS versions as part of the migration flow.
Step 03: Orchestrated Cutovers
- Each wave followed a detailed runbook.
- Clearscale led collaborative cutover sessions involving final syncs, server shutdown, spin-up in AWS, and validation before traffic cutover.
Step 04: Secure, Best-Practices AWS Environment
The new environment included well-designed VPCs, IAM roles, security groups, and isolated networks aligned with AWS best practices.
The Impact
Phaedon’s migration delivered both immediate stability and
long-term strategic value:
Minimal Downtime: Differential syncs and phased cutovers kept disruption to an absolute minimum.
Fully Modernized Server Fleet: All Windows and
Linux systems now run on supported OS versions,
eliminating security liabilities.
Secure, Well-Architected AWS Foundation: The company now operates in a resilient environment with proper governance and isolation.
Future-Ready Infrastructure: This foundational
move unlocked the ability for Phaedon to modernize its loyalty platform and accelerate innovation.
Use Cases
This successful migration project demonstrates Clearscale’s ability to execute high-stakes, deadline-driven cloud transitions. The following use cases showcase specific scenarios where our approach delivered business-critical continuity and modernization without disruption.
- High-stakes, deadline-driven Cloud Migrations for consumer-facing and revenue-critical infrastructure.
- Seamless execution of complex migrations for AdTech and marketing clients without any unplanned disruption.
- In-flight OS Modernization alongside data center exit projects.
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