Implementation of a data science infrastructure at AOK Baden-Württemberg
High-performance and secure at the same time: meeting the requirements of data science and IT administration
Advantage
Creating the optimal framework conditions for data science through a high-performance, scalable and secure IT infrastructure - from conception to user training.
Challenge
Harmonizing high requirements for security, availability and maintainability with the agility and dynamism of data science.
Toolset
Posit's leading enterprise solutions are at the heart of the data science infrastructure.
Background
AOK Baden-Württemberg wants to actively promote and further professionalize the topic of data science. The technical core of this initiative is the expansion of the existing IT infrastructure so that it is equally geared towards the special requirements of data science (agility, development speed) and IT administration (security, maintainability).
ITSCare, an AOK subsidiary and specialist for IT services in the healthcare market, is relying on the data science experts from eoda for this.
Solution
As a first step, they recorded the status quo of the IT environment and the goals of AOK Baden-Württemberg as part of their established data infrastructure assessment and designed a data science infrastructure based on this.
The concept developed by eoda successfully convinced the stakeholders at AOK Baden-Württemberg. Building on this, eoda also took over the implementation of the infrastructure.
At the heart of the data science infrastructure at AOK Baden-Württemberg is the leading enterprise stack Posit Team with the solutions Posit Workbench, Posit Connect and Posit Package Manager:
Posit Workbench
Posit Workbench is the central development environment for R and Python code. In addition, eoda provides options for executing Jupyter and VS code sessions.
Posit Package Manager
With the Package Manager, the infrastructure has a solution for the professional management of Python and R packages.
Posit Connect
With Posit Connect, eoda builds the bridge between analysts / data scientists and specialist users, who can then be provided with the results as easily as possible, for example in the form of Shiny Apps.
To meet the strict administrative security requirements from an administrative perspective, eoda is establishing a test environment in addition to the production environment. Corresponding staging server activations were provided for this.
Connection to the Advanced Analytic Platform
To create a cohesive platform from a user perspective, eoda integrates the Posit components with appropriate open-source technologies, such as version/code management (GitLab) or container virtualization (Docker).
Scope of implementation and configuration services
eoda’s implementation services included the initial software installation, configuration and setup on the servers provided. In addition, eoda was responsible for linking the servers and all other relevant customer systems, such as the connection to existing databases and the data warehouse (SAP Hana), as well as creating and ensuring a basic role and authorization concept. The latter in connection with the central directories (Active Directory and LDAP).
During implementation and configuration, the focus was always on performance optimization, for example through parameterization, and scalability to ensure further technical development.
The data science infrastructure designed and implemented by eoda met all of the customer’s acceptance criteria and could therefore be transferred to productive operation.
Accompanying the after-go-live
In addition to the actual implementation and configuration, eoda also supported the 6-week after-go-live phase and trained the users and administrators in the use of the new data science infrastructure. In addition, eoda created a comprehensive operating manual and IT security concept. The IT security concept serves to ensure availability, integrity, confidentiality, authenticity and risk assessment.
Empowering Data-Driven Intelligence is the eoda mission. Thanks to close cooperation with the eoda experts and individual support during the handover, ITSCare and AOK Baden-Württemberg were able to get to grips with their new data science infrastructure so well and in such depth that they are able to operate it independently.
Result
Assessment, conception, implementation and knowledge transfer: eoda has created a high-performance data science infrastructure for ITSCare and AOK Baden-Württemberg – from the initial idea to successful productive use. With its partner network and as a Full Service Certified Partner of Posit, eoda is also able to support its customers in the procurement of software licenses.
With this data science infrastructure, AOK Baden-Württemberg is creating optimal working conditions for analysts and data scientists, while at the same time meeting the high requirements for security, availability and maintainability of IT administration – today and in the future.
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