Client Overview

Founded in 2001, Centek Group specialises in the development of engineering solutions for casing running environments.

Their focus has always been to reduce risk and rig time. They design and manufacture a range of centralizers and stop collars that provide unprecedented standoff, ensuring optimum pipe centralisation, aiding pipe rotation and easing the string to total depth without issue. 

Challenge

The legacy system was originally built using .NET framework 4 with an API running on PHP 5.6.4. Centek did not specify any performance issues or challenges but asked for a thorough analysis of their codebase, improvements to security and migration to a new hosting environment. Our goal was to enhance the system's security, upgrade the API, and migrate the infrastructure to Azure, while maintaining the system's current functionality.

Solution

PSP’s software development team undertook a detailed analysis of Centek’s system, performing a security audit of the main system's codebase, addressing vulnerabilities and code inefficiencies and upgrading the API from PHP 5.6.4 to the latest stable version. We also migrated hosting to Azure for improved scalability and reliability and developed a roadmap for potential future updates to bring the system more in line with modern standards, with ongoing support for end users.

Approach

1. API Upgrade

The API was running on PHP 5.6.4, which was no longer supported with security updates. We upgraded it to the latest stable version of PHP, improving its security and compatibility with current technologies, without altering its functionality or impacting the system's performance.

2. Security Audit

The core system, built with .NET Framework 4, had been operating reliably but had accumulated several outdated coding practices and security risks. We conducted an extensive security audit and identified areas for improvement:

• Updated and refactored code to remove security vulnerabilities.
• Addressed practices that were no longer secure by modern standards.

These changes strengthened the system’s overall security without affecting its operational stability or performance.

3. Migration to Azure

We moved the hosting of the API, backend database, and application files to Microsoft Azure, which provided the client with more robust cloud infrastructure. This migration included:

• Hosting the API in Azure, ensuring better scalability and resilience.
• Migrating the database to the cloud for improved security and maintenance.
• Setting up streamlined deployment processes in Azure to facilitate easier updates in the future.

4. Collaborative Rollout

We coordinated with Centek and their IT provider to ensure the changes were rolled out smoothly, and with minimal disruption

PSP’s development team continues to offer ongoing support and monitoring, providing Centek with peace of mind knowing their system is safeguarded and can perform efficiently.

Conclusion

Our focus was on improving the system’s security and infrastructure, addressing key risks while preserving the stability of the legacy technology. Although the system continues to run on an older tech stack, the work done ensures that it remains secure, resilient, and well-supported in its current environment. We successfully completed the project without interrupting the client’s operations.