Department of Veterans Affairs
IT Modernization and Cost Avoidance with Migration of IAM Services to the Cloud
Annual Cost Avoidance
$11M
Uptime Requirement
99.99%
Project Timeline
9 months
Applications Supported
900+
Context
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a multi-year initiative to modernize its network infrastructure and consolidate datacenters as part of its Cloud Smart strategy. This transformation supports one of the largest cloud migration for VA that included over 1000 integrated partners and 18M workforce users, veterans and their caregivers.
Challenge
VA selected its Identity and Access Management (IAM) services—a complex, mission-critical, bedrock system of systems—as one of the initial candidates for migration from a third-party datacenter to the secure VA Enterprise Cloud (Microsoft Azure Govcloud). The project required maintaining high availability and functionality during the transition.
greenthreads developed the target architecture based on Microsoft Azure Govcloud (MAG) Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) design, incorporating High Availability (HA) deployment to meet uptime requirements of 99.99%.
Solution
greenthreads led the migration effort, delivering expertise in architecture, redesign, and deployment. Our team updated the architecture to leverage Azure’s cloud capabilities, ensuring alignment with the system’s functional and non-functional requirements.
greenthreads developed the target architecture based on Microsoft Azure Govcloud (MAG) Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) design, incorporating a High Availability (HA) deployment to meet uptime requirements of 99.99%. The architecture included multi-region deployment design to support disaster recovery and business continuity needs.
By applying industry best practices, DevSecOps principles, and automation tools, greenthreads streamlined the project timeline and achieved Authority to Operate (ATO) compliance.
Result
- Delivered the project on time, within budget, with zero downtime, in just 9 months.
- The system was migrated successfully and became the VA’s “poster-child” for the benefits of cloud migration. Our effort was highlighted as a success story in the VA’s OIT Year in Review.
- Improved system scalability, availability, and operational efficiency, while recognizing cost savings.
$11M
Potential cost avoidance
annually
9 months
Zero downtime
Benefit
“Moving to the cloud represents one example of how innovation at VA drives responsible stewardship and fiduciary responsibilities outlined by the accountability and authority the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA). This “cloud-first” move alone is expected to lead to approximately $11M potential cost avoidance annually, promoting better stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
– OIT Year in Review.
