Why we chose AWS

If you’re considering migrating from Computer Concepts Limited (CCL) to Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosting, this blog will provide insights into why AWS offers an improved solution—one that enhances reliability, reduces costs, and future-proofs your digital presence.

Earlier this year—after many months of research and evaluation—Silverstripe committed to migrating our remaining CCL-hosted clients over to AWS. With CCL's recent restructure and business changes, it became clear that we needed to ensure our clients remained on a stable, future-focused platform. We knew it was essential to choose a platform that not only met our clients’ current needs but also set them up for long-term success.

Why Silverstripe made the shift to AWS

After hosting with both CCL and AWS for over 8 years, we determined that consolidating everything onto AWS was the right move. We needed a platform that was highly-available, secure, and could deliver a top-tier experience for our clients, while also lowering costs. Going all in on AWS was the obvious choice.

Moving fully to AWS is part of our long-term strategy to enhance the services we offer. By moving clients off CCL, we can focus on a single, optimised platform, allowing us to improve our service provision and redirect resources away from platform maintenance. As cloud technology has advanced, the need for a largely on-premise solution like CCL has diminished. AWS offers a modern, flexible solution that aligns with the digital needs of today's organisations.

The AWS advantage: key benefits 

AWS has a range of features that make it an excellent hosting option. If you’re looking for improved security, reliability, and cost efficiency, AWS delivers on all fronts. Here are some key benefits that AWS provides:

1. Enhanced security and compliance: AWS is compliant with the Aotearoa New Zealand Government’s Cloud First Policy and maintains the same high-level security certifications as CCL, including ISO 27001:2022 and Tier 1 Security and Compliance certification from DIA Marketplace. This ensures your data and operations are safe, secure, and compliant with governmental requirements.
2. Superior uptime and performance: With AWS, you get 99.9% uptime, compared to CCL’s 99.7%. That might sound like a small difference, but it adds up to a more reliable, consistent user experience for your customers.
3. Auto scaling for growth: AWS automatically adjusts its capacity based on your needs. This mitigates the risk of running into performance bottlenecks or capacity issues, ensuring your site remains fast and responsive even as traffic fluctuates.
4. Disaster recovery by default: AWS offers active disaster recovery out of the box, with built-in redundancy across multiple availability zones. This means there’s almost zero chance of your services going down, even in the event of an unexpected outage.
5. Reduced costs and maintenance: AWS’s automation minimises manual maintenance, saving time and money. It’s also generally less expensive than CCL. This cost efficiency, combined with lower manual maintenance, allows you to save money while benefiting from a more advanced platform.

Migration made easy

Migrating from one platform to another can sound daunting, but we've made the process as smooth and seamless as possible. We’ve been transitioning clients from CCL to AWS since 2021, perfecting our approach and building on our experience. Our team designed the Silverstripe Cloud Public Sector AWS platform with flexibility and security in mind, so we have an intimate understanding of its features and capabilities.

Our migration process is built on best practices, ensuring your data, applications, and systems are transferred securely, with minimal disruption to your operations. And because we’ve completed many migrations already, we know how to navigate the intricacies of each unique client situation, helping you avoid common pitfalls along the way.

Risks of staying on CCL: the clock is ticking

While CCL has served many clients well in the past, its time is coming to an end. Silverstripe’s CCL platform will be retired on 30 September 2025, and continuing to rely on it after this date will no longer be possible—you won’t have access to your website or any of its functionality.

1. End of support: After 30 September 2025, Silverstripe will no longer offer CCL hosting. If you delay migration and are still on the platform in the months leading up to this date, you’ll need to make the switch to AWS in a hurry. This could result in higher costs, rushed decisions, and a greater risk of service disruption.
2. Vulnerabilities: As Silverstripe's CCL platform operating system approaches end-of-life, security vulnerabilities become a major concern. Without ongoing updates and support, your systems could be exposed to risks that could compromise your data and operations.
3. Extended support costs: From 1 April 2025, staying on Silverstripe's CCL platform will incur additional costs due to the need for extended support. This means you’ll be paying more to maintain a platform that’s less reliable and secure compared to AWS.

Simply put, the longer you stay on CCL, the greater the risks and costs you’ll face. 

Migration support

We’ve set ourselves up to give you 100% support throughout the entire migration process, guiding you or your agency through each step and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

We provide detailed information on the migration process upfront, so you know exactly what to expect. Throughout the migration, we’ll check in regularly to make sure everything is functioning as planned, and our team will be on hand to address any questions or concerns you may have.

Once you’re up and running on AWS, you’ll have access to all the documentation and resources you need to manage your new platform. And because the dashboard remains the same as what you’re used to with CCL, there’s no learning curve for system users.

Our ongoing collaboration with AWS means continuous improvement

One of the many advantages of migrating to AWS is the ongoing relationship between Silverstripe and AWS. Our close collaboration means that we’re able to continuously improve the platform and provide our clients with the latest features and advancements.

By consolidating onto AWS, we’re freeing up resources that were previously tied up in maintaining the CCL platform. This allows us to spend more time enhancing our offering and working directly with AWS to bring you the best possible hosting experience.

What’s next?

With less than six months before extended support costs kick in on 1 April 2025, now is the time to act. Moving to AWS will give you peace of mind, eliminate the extra risk, and help you avoid paying for extended support. The Silverstripe CCL platform will fully retire on 30 September 2025, so getting your migration booked now ensures a smooth transition well before deadlines start impacting your budget and operations.

If you're ready to make the move to AWS or have any questions, we're here to help. Reach out to your account manager or email us at migration@silverstripe.com, and we’ll guide you through the next steps.