Phase 1 of Long-Term Modernization: Migrating a Legacy Platform to Cloud-Ready Infrastructure

About the Client

Synega is a Norway-based provider of remote professional services, specializing in accounting. Operating since 2014, the company offers access to certified experts through a proprietary digital platform that supports remote collaboration and service delivery, without the need for on-site presence.

The platform integrates key business functions, from task management to billing and analytics, into a single, robust, and secure environment.

Business Challenge

Synega approached Polcode with a clear objective: to migrate their application infrastructure from dedicated physical servers in Norway to a cloud-based environment on AWS. The initial goal was to move away from on-premise infrastructure and ensure the system could scale efficiently in a cloud-native environment.

The company was looking for a long-term technology partner who could support the platform end-to-end, from infrastructure transition to backend development and QA. To ensure the platform was ready for future growth, the project began with a code audit and strategic planning phase.

Initial Assessment

Code Audit & Strategic Planning

Before beginning any upgrades, Polcode conducted a thorough code and infrastructure audit. The audit evaluated the codebase and architecture in terms of scalability, performance, and maintainability.

Key outcomes of the audit included:

Clear cost-benefit analysis of cleaning up legacy code
Identified risks and technical debt
Recommendations for adding automated tests
Comparison of AWS pricing models with tailored cost-saving strategies

The audit provided Synega with a clear, expert-backed picture of the current state of the system along with actionable recommendations. It served as a strategic basis for prioritizing next steps, including the decision to begin with PHP and Laravel upgrades.

The audit gave clarity and confidence to move forward and helped build the foundation for a strong, long-term partnership.

Hear from our Client:

Polcode helped us migrate our on-site servers to AWS, providing a thorough assessment, smooth transition, and ongoing infrastructure support. Their in-house expertise and best-practice approach have given us greater security and confidence in our systems.

Communication has been seamless, and the collaboration excellent. We highly recommend Polcode for their professionalism and technical knowledge.

The Solution

Following the audit, Polcode initiated a phased modernization process, starting with application-level upgrades and followed by cloud migration preparations.

Deliverables

PHP Upgrade: from 7.4 to 8.2 in 3 stages (8.0 → 8.1 → 8.2)

Laravel Upgrade: from version 8 to 11 in 3 steps (9 → 10 → 11)

AWS Cloud Migration: infrastructure preparation and environment setup after framework and language upgrades.

End-to-End Testing: full system verification after deployment.

System Overview

Synega’s platform is a feature-rich SaaS solution designed to support remote accounting services. It brings together essential business functions such as client relationship management, task coordination, and secure document handling into a single, centralized environment.

The platform is integrated with third-party services and supports a range of features for internal communication, access control, and performance monitoring. Built with scalability and compliance in mind, it serves 50-100 daily active users and is prepared to support further growth.

Challenges We Solved

Legacy Stack Migration: Ensuring compatibility across updated PHP and Laravel versions.
Coordination with Previous Provider: Required careful scheduling and handover to complete migration smoothly.
Collaboration Standards: Worked with the client’s developer to align on code quality expectations and implement code reviews.

Results & Impact

As a result of the modernization project, Synega now operates in an up-to-date, stable environment based on Laravel 11 and PHP 8.2. The migration to AWS slightly increased the cost, but this was expected in exchange for a more robust setup.

With a cleaner codebase and improved deployment flow, the system is easier to maintain and better suited for continuous development. Manual end-to-end testing ensured system stability after the migration.The client also benefits from a single technology partner who supports everything from backend development and QA to cloud operations and project management, creating a stable foundation for long-term growth.