From Single Point of Failure to 24/7 Reliability
Stabilising a 120-database estate and giving a solo DBA round-the-clock cover
Case Summary
codeSource provided managed database administration and round-the-clock DBA support across a roughly 120-database estate, reducing dependence on a single in-house DBA while improving database stability and performance.
Results
The environment became materially more stable, query response times significantly improved and the bank gained genuine round-the-clock support and leave cover for its internal DBA.
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The Client
This Australian bank began life as a credit union and has since grown into a tier-two retail bank. Its data environment spans roughly 120 databases supporting the bank’s operations, data science and analytics teams.
The Challenge
The bank’s entire database estate was managed by a single in-house DBA, who was the sole point of contact for every issue across all 120 databases. With no backup coverage, he could not take leave, there was no after-hours support, and he had little capacity to move beyond day-to-day firefighting onto the platform improvements the bank’s data science and operations teams needed. As a regulated financial institution, the bank also required any partner to meet a high bar for security and access control before being granted entry to its environment.
The Solution
codeSource was engaged to provide remote, managed database administration and support alongside the bank’s existing DBA (the bank retained the secure hosting and codeSource optimised it). This gave the bank after-hours coverage and holiday cover, and freed the in-house DBA to work on the improvements he had wanted to implement but never had the time or capacity to deliver himself.
Onboarding included a significant security audit, and codeSource operates under a framework – built in preparation for ISO 27001 certification – based on least-privilege access and a tightly limited number of personnel with access to the bank’s environment. codeSource’s primary point of contact was the DBA, working alongside the bank’s Chief Data Officer, Chief Operations Officer and wider data team.
In practical terms, the engagement gave the bank a managed database services layer around its existing DBA: extending coverage, improving database monitoring and performance, reducing single-person dependency and creating capacity for platform improvements without removing the internal DBA from the centre of the environment.
Technologies & Environment
- Database environment: Database managed services – approximately 120 databases supporting the bank’s operations, data science and analytics teams, with ongoing monitoring, support and performance optimisation.
- Security and access: A least-privilege access framework developed in preparation for ISO/IEC 27001
The Bank Database Environment at a Glance
The Result
The bank’s database and application environment is now materially more stable, query response times have significantly improved, and the DBA has genuine round-the-clock coverage – including the ability to take leave with confidence that the environment is supported in his absence.
For the bank, the managed database support model improved resilience without adding another full-time internal DBA, while giving the existing DBA more time to focus on longer-term platform improvements.
Key Wins
- Stabilised a 120-database estate that had previously depended entirely on one person.
- Improved the resilience and performance of the bank’s data environment, with significantly faster query response times.
- Delivered round-the-clock coverage, giving the bank – and its DBA – genuine peace of mind and leave cover.
- Passed a rigorous bank-grade security audit and operates under a least-privilege access framework aligned to ISO 27001.
Trusted by businesses across Australia
“I’ve been working with Connah at CodeSource on a new client platform for my wills and estate planning business, and the experience has been excellent. Connah listens, turns complex ideas into clear, working prototypes quickly, and is open to feedback along the way. Communication is great and the build has progressed smoothly. Highly recommend CodeSource.“
Jonathan Elcombe
Aditi
“If you are looking for data analytics consulting services in Sydney, Peter and the team at codeSource are well worth speaking to. Peter brings a strong depth of technical knowledge and approaches every project with professionalism and attention to detail. What stands out most is his ability to quickly understand complex requirements and provide clear, practical solutions.“
Maggie Orman
Orman Solicitors
“I’ve had a fantastic experience working with Codesource. Peter Prowse is extremely professional, knowledgeable and responsive. He takes the time to understand requirements properly and delivers with clarity and efficiency. If anyone is looking for reliable remote database management services in Sydney, I would highly recommend speaking with Peter.“
Roshy Sarabhai
Peakstone Finance