Clare Controls, a leading provider of smart home security solutions, partnered with Mission to optimize its AWS infrastructure, enhance security, and modernize its cloud operations. Through Mission's expertise, Clare Controls achieved significant cost savings, improved system stability, and streamlined development processes.

This case study explores how Mission's comprehensive managed and professional services helped Clare Controls leverage AWS technologies to drive innovation and maintain its competitive edge in the smart home security market.

Clare Controls offers smart, secure, and simple home solutions that blend professional installations with DIY-style modification and system expansion. Their products enhance safety and convenience, help conserve energy, integrate entertainment, and provide home security, all managed through a sleek, user-friendly app.

Clare Controls had been using AWS as its cloud platform for some time but faced challenges in maintaining and optimizing its infrastructure. Clare Controls recognized the need for specialized cloud expertise to manage its growing infrastructure needs and keep pace with cloud technologies.

Clare Controls chose Mission as their AWS partner for several compelling reasons. First, AWS directly introduced Mission to the company as a top partner and trusted advisor. Mission offered comprehensive expertise in AWS services and cloud optimization, providing both immediate support and long-term strategic guidance. Their flexible engagement models for both managed cloud and professional services aligned well with Clare Controls' needs. Mission's strong track record in helping companies modernize their cloud infrastructure was particularly appealing. Moreover, their expertise in cost optimization and security enhancement made them an ideal partner for Clare Controls' specific challenges.

Clare Controls continued to leverage AWS as their cloud platform due to its comprehensive suite of services that aligned perfectly with their infrastructure needs. AWS's scalability was crucial to support their growing business. The platform's advanced security features were particularly important for a home security provider. Additionally, robust managed services like Amazon MQ and Amazon EKS offered the reliability and ease of management that Clare Controls required.

Clare Controls started working with Mission through Mission Cloud Foundation – Mission’s managed service that helps businesses optimize their usage of AWS. Cost optimization was a key focus, with various measures implemented including modernizing storage solutions and optimizing instance types. Security enhancements were introduced, including the implementation of AWS security services such as Amazon Security Hub, AmazonGuardDuty, and Amazon Inspector. Mission also implemented CIS security benchmarks and improved IAM role management.

Clare Controls then grew their relationship with Mission to engage Mission’s expert professional services team. The Mission team began by modernizing the existing Kubernetes cluster, migrating it to newer versions to ensure better performance and security. The team improved the repository structure by separating Kubernetes and Terraform configurations and implementing a shared module structure for AWS services. This enhancement improved code management and reduced the risk of infrastructure changes impacting application code.

A significant part of the solution to Clare Controls challenges involved migrating from self-managed RabbitMQ to Amazon MQ, improving reliability and reducing management overhead. Mission also enhanced automation for the Kubernetes cluster, improving efficiency and reducing manual tasks.

Additionally, Mission has helped the company through multiple acquisitions. First, Clare Controls was acquired by SnapOne and then SnapOne was recently acquired by Resideo.

Today, Mission provides ongoing support and optimization for Clare Controls. This allows for flexible resource allocation and addresses a backlog of development tasks, ensuring Clare Controls can continually improve its infrastructure. 

The partnership with Mission delivered significant benefits to Clare Controls. Through infrastructure modernization and optimization, the company achieved thousands of dollars in monthly savings. System reliability was enhanced by centralizing services and improving cluster management. The implementation of advanced AWS security services significantly improved Clare Controls' overall security posture.

Development processes were streamlined through improved repository structure and automation, leading to increased efficiency. By leveraging Mission’s professional services team, Clare Controls took advantage of Mission’s on-demand AWS expertise, enabling efficient scaling of their cloud operations.

The successful transition to newer, more efficient AWS services and best practices resulted in a modernized infrastructure capable of supporting Clare Controls' innovative products. Perhaps most importantly, the partnership freed up internal resources, allowing Clare Controls to focus on product development and innovation rather than infrastructure management.

Brian Zagorski, a senior software engineer at Clare Controls, who has been with the company for almost 10 years, summarized the impact of the partnership: "Now managing our clusters is easier than ever before. This has been a game-changer for us to not have to worry about this. At the very beginning, we had a lot of redundant work that we've now automated. It gives more security to the customer because we're not mixing applications with infrastructure as code."

The success of this partnership has positioned Clare Controls to continue innovating in the competitive smart home security market, with a robust, efficient, and secure cloud infrastructure supporting their operations.