PostgreSQL App Modernisation for a Government Agency
A German state authority modernising from legacy systems to Java and PostgreSQL needed internal upskilling. We provided a PostgreSQL expert who delivered tailored training and hands-on migration support - boosting team confidence, ensuring system stability, and accelerating their digital transformation.
Situation
A state authority responsible for managing salaries, pensions, and benefits for approximately 455,000 public sector employees, retirees, and beneficiaries, needed IT support. Annually, the authority processes around 2 million benefit applications, disbursing approximately €1.98 billion in reimbursements.
To modernise its core applications, the authority initiated a project to migrate from legacy systems like Natural/Adabas and COBOL to a modern architecture based on Java and PostgreSQL. A critical component of this transition was equipping the internal database administration team with the necessary skills to manage and operate the new PostgreSQL environment effectively.
Approach
Interval was engaged to support the resourcing of this project with an experienced PostgreSQL specialist, who would take on the role of delivering training to the client’s technical teams and supporting the system migration.
Our expert PostgreSQL consultant designed and delivered comprehensive training sessions tailored for the authority's database administrators and Adabas/Natural developers. The training encompassed foundational knowledge and practical application of PostgreSQL within the context of the authority's target architecture.
Additionally, our expert provided hands-on support during the migration process, assisting teams in navigating the technical challenges associated with transitioning from mainframe systems to a Linux and PostgreSQL environment.
Outcomes
The training sessions significantly enhanced the client team's proficiency in PostgreSQL and Linux, providing them with both the theoretical understanding and practical experience needed to operate confidently in the new system landscape. Over the course of the programme, the client’s database administrators developed the capability to manage, maintain and optimise their PostgreSQL environments independently.
By focusing on real-world application scenarios and aligning closely with the authority's new target architecture, the training not only accelerated the team’s learning curve but also ensured that best practices for database administration and system performance were embedded from the outset. This proactive approach helped mitigate common risks associated with major system migrations, such as data loss, system downtime and operational bottlenecks.
As a result, the authority was able to proceed with its application modernisation project more efficiently and with greater assurance of long-term system stability.