Baker Street Analytics: Enterprise Data Analytics Platform

Project Overview

Baker Street Analytics, a leading data and analytics firm, required a comprehensive enterprise-grade data analytics platform to serve their growing client base. TTD Consulting delivered a complete end-to-end solution built entirely on Microsoft Azure, featuring modern architecture, robust security, and white-label capabilities for multi-tenant scalability.

Our development team built a sophisticated platform combining .NET Core APIs for backend services, Angular for a responsive frontend experience, Auth0 for secure authentication, and a comprehensive Azure DevOps CI/CD pipeline spanning multiple environments. The solution leverages Azure Blob Storage for file management, Application Insights for monitoring, Cloudflare for content delivery, and includes comprehensive user management with role-based permissions and third-party API integrations.

The Challenge

Baker Street Analytics needed a robust, enterprise-grade data analytics platform that could scale with their business and provide white-label capabilities for multiple clients. The solution required:

• Cloud-Native Architecture: Building the entire platform on Microsoft Azure to leverage cloud scalability, reliability, and managed services.
• Modern Technology Stack: Implementing .NET Core APIs and Angular frontend for performance, maintainability, and developer productivity.
• Enterprise Security: Integrating Auth0 for secure, scalable authentication and authorization with support for multiple identity providers.
• Multi-Environment CI/CD: Creating robust Azure DevOps pipelines with Azure Boards for project management and deployment across development, staging, and production environments.
• White-Label Capabilities: Designing a multi-tenant architecture that allows customization and branding for different clients while maintaining a single codebase.
• Comprehensive Monitoring: Implementing Azure Application Insights for real-time performance monitoring, logging, and diagnostics.
• Data Management: Architecting a hybrid database solution with both MySQL and MS SQL Server to support different data requirements and integrations.

Our Solution

TTD Consulting delivered a comprehensive enterprise data analytics platform built entirely on Microsoft Azure, leveraging best-in-class technologies and cloud-native architecture. The solution provides Baker Street Analytics with a scalable, secure, and maintainable platform that serves multiple clients through white-label capabilities.

Platform Architecture

The platform was architected using modern, cloud-native principles for maximum scalability and reliability:

• .NET Core APIs: Backend services built with .NET Core for high performance, cross-platform compatibility, and robust API development.
• Angular Frontend: Modern, responsive single-page application providing exceptional user experience across all devices and screen sizes.
• Auth0 Authentication: Enterprise-grade authentication and authorization with support for SSO, multi-factor authentication, and social logins.
• Azure Web Services: Scalable hosting infrastructure with automatic scaling, load balancing, and high availability.
• Azure Blob Storage: Secure, scalable file storage for documents, reports, and data exports with CDN integration.
• Hybrid Database: MySQL and MS SQL Server databases architected for optimal performance and data management flexibility.
• Cloudflare Integration: Global CDN for fast content delivery, DDoS protection, and enhanced security.

DevOps & CI/CD

• Azure DevOps Boards: Comprehensive project management with work item tracking, sprint planning, and team collaboration.
• Multi-Environment Pipelines: Automated CI/CD pipelines deploying to development, staging, and production environments with automated testing and approvals.
• Infrastructure as Code: Azure Resource Manager templates for consistent, repeatable infrastructure deployment.
• Automated Testing: Integrated unit tests, integration tests, and automated deployment validation.
• Release Management: Controlled release processes with automated rollback capabilities and deployment gates.

Key Features

• User Management: Comprehensive user administration with invitation workflows, profile management, and account lifecycle.
• Roles & Permissions: Granular role-based access control with customizable permissions for different user types and clients.
• Third-Party API Integration: Seamless integration with external services and data providers for enriched analytics capabilities.
• White-Label Scalability: Multi-tenant architecture supporting custom branding, configurations, and feature sets per client.
• Application Insights: Real-time monitoring, logging, and performance analytics with custom dashboards and alerting.
• Data Analytics: Powerful analytics engine processing and visualizing complex data sets with interactive dashboards.

Technical Excellence

The platform implementation followed industry best practices and Microsoft Azure Well-Architected Framework principles:

• Clean Architecture: Layered architecture with clear separation of concerns, domain-driven design, and SOLID principles.
• API Design: RESTful APIs with comprehensive documentation, versioning, and robust error handling.
• Security First: Implementation of security best practices including encryption at rest and in transit, secure secret management, and regular security scanning.
• Performance Optimization: Caching strategies, database query optimization, and CDN integration for optimal performance.
• Scalability: Horizontal scaling capabilities with stateless architecture and load balancing for handling growth.
• Monitoring & Observability: Comprehensive telemetry, logging, and monitoring with Application Insights for proactive issue detection.
• Code Quality: Automated code analysis, unit testing, and peer review processes ensuring maintainable, high-quality codebase.

Development Approach

TTD Consulting brought full-stack expertise and Azure cloud architecture knowledge to deliver this comprehensive solution:

• End-to-End Development: Complete ownership from requirements analysis through architecture, development, testing, deployment, and ongoing support.
• Agile Methodology: Iterative development with Azure Boards for sprint planning, daily standups, and continuous stakeholder engagement.
• Azure Expertise: Deep knowledge of Azure services, cloud architecture patterns, and cost optimization strategies.
• DevOps Culture: Automated CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and continuous improvement mindset.
• Quality Assurance: Comprehensive testing strategy including unit tests, integration tests, and user acceptance testing.
• Documentation: Detailed technical documentation, API specifications, and operational runbooks for long-term maintainability.

Results & Impact

The successful delivery of the Baker Street Analytics platform provided significant business value and technical capabilities: