World’s largest on-prem data platform migration to AWS/EMR
About
With a complex ecosystem comprising 65,000 data pipelines, 257 source systems, and 25 petabytes of storage—expanding by over 300 TB each month—the organization set out to modernize its Cloudera Hadoop environment by migrating to a fully cloud-native architecture using AWS EMR. After evaluating 13 global IT services providers, the bank selected HCLTech for our outstanding migration strategy and deep domain expertise, noting that the “HCLTech proposal was not just better but outstanding compared to other vendors.”
The Challenge
Executing a large-scale cloud migration with zero disruption
A leading financial institution set out to modernize one of the largest on-premises data environments in the industry. With tens of thousands of data pipelines and massive volumes of both structured and unstructured data, the client’s legacy Hadoop platform had reached its scalability and performance limits.
To enable cloud-native innovation, the organization needed to migrate this complex ecosystem to the cloud—without compromising business continuity or compliance. This demanded a partner who could not only re-architect the platform but also ensure stability, automate workflows and embed observability throughout the transition.
Key challenges included:
- Scalability limits of legacy Hadoop systems
Increasing difficulty in optimizing and maintaining high-volume data workloads - Tens of thousands of data pipelines
Required precision, orchestration and testing to ensure seamless migration - High risk of disruption
Business-critical operations and compliance mandates required uninterrupted service - Need for architectural redesign
To support cloud-native scalability, integration and future-ready infrastructure - Lack of observability and automation
Manual workflows and limited testing capabilities increased execution risks
The Solution
Automation-led migration of one of the world’s largest on-prem data platforms
To address the complexity and scale of the migration, the client partnered with HCLTech to execute a multi-phase, automation-first cloud migration strategy. The engagement began with a detailed assessment of the current environment, followed by a tailored architecture blueprint and risk-mitigation plan.
A unique simulation-driven approach was implemented to test platform stability and performance before go-live. With integrated GenAI capabilities and deep AWS collaboration, HCLTech ensured a seamless transition to a scalable, high-performance cloud-native environment.
The features and characteristics of our solution included:
- Current state assessment and architecture mapping
Conducted stakeholder workshops to identify interdependencies and capability gaps - Simulated production environment
Enabled real-time testing of workloads to predict failures and optimize stability - GenAI-enhanced observability
Used AI tools to identify anomalies, assist with code analysis and automate testing cycles - Cloud-native foundation build (Tranche 1)
Included infrastructure setup, IAM enablement and re-platforming with a dedicated 55-member team - Full-scale migration execution (Tranche 2)
Migrated 65,000 data pipelines and 25 PB of data to AWS with a peak team of 230+ engineers - Co-delivery model with AWS and client teams
Enabled seamless coordination between the bank as the system integrator and HCLTech as the strategic delivery partner
The Impact
Industry-defining cloud migration that enabled scale, speed, and innovation
The phased, automation-driven approach delivered by HCLTech enabled one of the largest and most seamless data modernization initiatives in global financial services. The engagement not only minimized disruption but also accelerated the client’s ability to innovate, scale analytics and drive operational efficiency.
- Clear architectural roadmap
Established a structured foundation with defined interdependencies and risk controls - Validated performance at each stage
Phased execution ensured platform stability and workload readiness before go-live - Seamless AWS transition
Successfully migrated one of the industry’s largest on-prem environments to the cloud - Rapid full-platform modernization
65,000+ data pipelines and 25PB of data transitioned without disruption - Future-ready, cloud-native platform
Enabled high-performance analytics, improved scalability, and innovation acceleration - Improved operational efficiency
Eliminated legacy limitations and empowered business units with a modern data backbone
