Collaboration

Introduction

In an era where ransomware attacks threaten critical business operations, a global organization sought an unprecedented level of data protection for their multi-billion-pound infrastructure projects. Version 1 partnered with AWS and Databricks in a “three-in-a-box” collaboration to deliver the industry’s first tamper-proof, petabyte-scale data lake integrity solution. This partnership demonstrates how collaborative innovation can solve challenges that no single vendor could address alone.

Our customer operates across globally with billions in annual revenue, managing critical infrastructure data that underpins major engineering projects worldwide. The stakes were high: any data loss could halt multi-billion-dollar projects, trigger contract penalties, and undermine decades of legal defensibility.

Challenges

The customer faced mounting pressure from escalating ransomware threats across the built environment sector. Their existing Databricks-on-AWS data lake modernization program, while successful, left sensitive project data, geospatial models, and simulation datasets vulnerable to attack.

Key challenges included:

• No immutable backup capability: Native Databricks and AWS tools could not provide tamper-proof protection at petabyte scale
• Prohibitive costs: AWS Managed Backup solutions would cost thousands monthly for 1PB of data
  Complex metadata requirements: Standard backups could not preserve critical permissions, tags, and lineage data
• Recovery speed: Traditional restore processes could take days or weeks, unacceptable for time-critical projects
• Zero-tolerance for disruption: Any solution needed to operate transparently without impacting 1,000+ daily users
  Without resolution, a successful attack could cost millions in project delays, legal exposure, and reputational damage.

Solution

Version 1 orchestrated a unified engineering team combining AWS Solutions Architects and Engineers, Databricks technical specialists, and our own cloud-native experts. Working as a single unit with daily stand-ups and shared backlogs, we developed a ground-breaking approach:

• Multi-Account, Cross-Region Architecture – We designed a segregated backup environment using Amazon S3 Object Lock for immutable storage, ensuring data integrity even if primary accounts were compromised.
• Metadata-Aware Recovery – Our custom solution captures not just data but all associated Databricks metadata—permissions, tags, and lineage, enabling complete ecosystem restoration.
• Automated Workflows – Using AWS CloudFormation, Step Functions, and PySpark, we built fully automated daily snapshots and one-click recovery processes.
• Cost Optimization – Through intelligent S3 storage tiering and custom automation, we achieved the same protection as managed services at 25% of the cost.
• Vendor Collaboration – Direct engagement with AWS and Databricks product teams resulted in bug fixes and feature enhancements that benefited the entire ecosystem.

Real differences, delivered

We delivered capabilities that didn’t exist in any vendor toolkit—immutable Databricks backups with complete metadata preservation.

• Dramatic Cost Savings: Reduced backup storage costs by 75%, saving $461,000 annually compared to standard AWS managed backups.
• Speed Revolution: Recovery time dropped from days to under 15 minutes, a 99%+ improvement that transforms business continuity planning.
• Zero-Impact Delivery: Complete solution transparency meant 1,000+ users experienced no performance degradation or workflow changes.
• Extreme Resilience: Multi-account, cross-region design ensures recoverability even in worst-case compromise scenarios.
• Scalable Blueprint: The solution architecture now serves as a repeatable pattern for other enterprises facing similar challenges.

Delivered

We delivered exceptional results within an aggressive timeline:

• Rapid Value: Minimum viable backup operational in under 4 weeks
• Full Platform: Complete solution including automation, documentation, and disaster recovery procedures delivered in 6 months
• Seamless Handover: Embedded approach left customer teams fully self-sufficient with comprehensive runbooks and support procedures
• Proven Reliability: Successful GameDay exercises validated recovery procedures under pressure
• Customer Satisfaction: Client praised Version 1 consultants as “trusted members of the team” whose work “gives us unrivalled confidence that our data is secure”