AWS RDS MySQL Database Migration for Healthcare Platform
Discover how we helped a digital healthcare platform migrate its MySQL database from EC2 to Amazon RDS, boosting performance and security.
Our Customer
Health Services Marketplace
Healthera is a UK-based digital healthcare platform that allows patients to manage prescriptions, medications, and health services through a single online portal. For pharmacies and healthcare providers, it offers a way to modernize service delivery, reduce administrative workload, and support sustainable business growth in an increasingly digital landscape.
THE CHALLENGES
Database Infrastructure Limitations that Hindered App Scalability
As usage of the healthcare platform increased, the customer’s backend infrastructure struggled to meet evolving performance and compliance requirements. The MySQL database supporting the patient portal was hosted on a single Amazon EC2 instance and independently managed by the internal DevOps team.
Consequently, the platform faced the following challenges:
- Performance Bottlenecks Due to Monolithic EC2 Deployment
Growing patient data and concurrent traffic pushed the single-instance architecture to its limits. The lack of horizontal scalability led to higher query response latency and increased risk of outages under load. - Operational Overhead Due to Manual Database Management
Backups, patching, replication, and failover were all manually managed, which consumed significant engineering hours and reduced overall operational agility. - Fragmented Compliance and Auditing Practices
The key compliance requirements such as encryption, logging, and access controls were implemented using custom scripts and third-party tools. This led to inconsistent enforcement and significant operational overhead. - Delayed Security Updates and Configuration Inconsistencies
Security updates were often delayed due to manual processes. Custom security configurations lacked centralized enforcement, increasing vulnerability exposure.
THE SOLUTION
MySQL Migration from EC2 Instance to Amazon RDS
To resolve the challenges of the self-managed MySQL database, we migrated Healthera’s MySQL database from Amazon EC2 to Amazon RDS for MySQL. The transition to a fully managed, highly available database service was aimed at minimizing downtime, reducing operational complexity, ensuring compliance, and enabling future scalability.
Near-Zero Downtime Migration
We performed a near-zero downtime migration by configuring replication between the source and target environments. This ensured that data remained synchronized during the cutover process, allowing the platform to stay available without service interruptions.
Enhanced Data Security with Encryption
With AWS Key Management Service (KMS) we enabled encryption at rest to strengthen data protection and meet healthcare regulatory requirements. Built-in encryption removed the need for manual key handling and ensured consistent enforcement of security standards.
Automated Backup and Patching
By leveraging native RDS capabilities, we automated backup and patch management, replacing manual scripts. As a result, this reduced human error, ensured timely updates, and enabled reliable recovery points.
Real-Time Monitoring and Performance Optimization
We integrated Amazon CloudWatch and RDS Performance Insights to enhance monitoring and performance visibility. At the same time, these tools allowed for real-time tracking of query behavior, anomaly detection, and proactive optimization of resource utilization.
Infrastructure as Code for Consistent Management
Using Terraform, we defined the RDS environment to support consistent provisioning and configuration management. This improved deployment reliability and enabled rapid recovery from backups in disaster recovery scenarios.
THE RESULTS
Impact of a Successful MySQL Database Migration to RDS
The migration to Amazon RDS delivered a scalable, secure, and cost-optimized data layer that eliminated operational, performance, and compliance risks while supporting long-term platform growth.
Improved Compliance Posture
Built-in encryption, audit logging, and access controls helped the client meet healthcare data protection standards more effectively, eliminating reliance on custom compliance mechanisms.
Accelerated Query Performance
Average query response times improved noticeably, supporting a faster and more responsive user experience across the platform.
Reduced Maintenance Overhead
Automating backups, updates, and routine maintenance tasks turned down manual effort, freeing up the DevOps team to focus on higher-value initiatives.
Increased System Reliability
With automated backups, point-in-time recovery, and managed patching, the platform achieved higher availability and reduced risk of service disruptions.
Flexible Architecture for Future Growth
The RDS-backed setup enabled seamless scaling to accommodate increasing traffic without requiring major architectural changes.
Greater Observability and Performance Optimization
Enhanced monitoring using Amazon CloudWatch and RDS Performance Insights enabled faster issue diagnosis and more precise performance tuning.
WHY ROMEXSOFT
Trusted Partner for Amazon RDS Projects
As an AWS-certified RDS Service Delivery Partner, Romexsoft has extensive experience delivering secure, performant, and scalable database solutions on Amazon Web Services. Our team will help you set up, operate, and grow your relational database in the cloud.
Clients choose us because the systems we build help them:
- Achieve full compliance with healthcare regulations
- Ensure near-zero downtime during RDS migrations
- Automate backups, patching, monitoring, and recovery end to end
- Minimize manual database management efforts
- Reduce database costs under growing workload.
