Ensuring water safety and data security for nearly 10 million customers
1
The Challenge
A local government agency, covering nearly 10 million residents across more than 15 counties, was responsible for its region’s water quality, water supply planning, ecosystem restoration, land management, and, most critically, flood control during natural disasters, which it accomplished by raising and lowering levies based on water level data.
To meet its mandate, the agency had developed over the years a complex portfolio of more than fifty integrations across two networks, one dedicated to the collection and processing of in-field sensor data and the other to the running of the organization itself. The agency had built these integrations in Mule 3, but support for this version was coming to an end, which posed a significant security threat. Holding large amounts of sensitive government data, the agency could not assume such a risk and migration to Mule 4 was a must.
This shift was easier said than done, however. The agency’s IT team had developed numerous integrations with customized Java code rather than using MuleSoft’s less code-intensive components and connectors. The existing code did not follow MuleSoft recommendations for Mule 3 applications, which meant most of the code could not be migrated successfully and a significant amount of junk code would be created. The agency needed a partner to help solve this issue quickly and ensure a smooth migration without disruption.
2
The Solution
The district turned to Argano for help, and the solution experts and consultants quickly got to work. First assessing the issue and outlining the client’s desired outcomes, the Argano team then developed a strategic plan to complete the migration to Mule 4 within the required timeframe.
The Argano team divided the agency’s application portfolio into two groups: one containing the in-field sensor and control system applications (the SCADA system), and one containing the agency’s enterprise applications. Starting with the SCADA applications first, the team designed a single code template—covering functions such as error handling and data initialization—that could be used to build each of the integrations in a consistent way.
It was discovered that some of the Java libraries used in the client’s Mule 3 implementation—many of which were to be pulled into Mule 4—contained Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). The integrations would either be replaced by Mule components, or their Java code modified to use updated libraries.
With the SCADA applications migrated and now in user acceptance testing, the Argano team applied a similar process to the agency’s enterprise applications to complete the migration.
3
The Results
With a successful, on-time migration to Mule 4, the agency now has peace of mind, operating reliably and securely in an environment where downtime could be deadly. Today, the agency can leverage data from all sensors that feed directly into the downstream system. This data is used during hurricane season to regulate water levels within its levies to ensure the safety of its residents.
With ongoing technical support, the agency continues to be protected through the frequent updating of the platform’s security features. The simplified architecture is much easier to maintain, making future upgrades and migrations less complex and faster to complete – essentially future-proofing the agency and ensuring it can meet its mandate of keeping the region’s water safe.