Dev IncCase Studies
Dev Inc helps organizations modernize applications to take advantage of the latest advancements in cloud, DevOps, data, and security. We can help you improve performance, security, usability, and scalability while reducing costs and increasing agility.
The following projects were delivered by me (Bert Johnson) in recent years. Let's launch your next project together.
Statewide Cloud Brokerage
Cloud Migration
Dev Inc Architect Leads Statewide Cloud Adoption
State government was tasked with providing secure, cost-effective cloud services to dozens of agencies and hundreds of municipalities. I served as principal architect, leading a team to develop a cloud adoption strategy, including governance, architecture, financial controls, and security and privacy. The strategy included a multi-cloud approach to leverage the strengths of Azure and AWS, with both commercial and Government Cloud options.
The team established a cloud center of excellence to provide training, best practices, and shared services to agencies. The team also developed a Cloud Management Platform to streamline agency procurement of cloud services in a secure, cost-effective manner aided by automation.
In recent years, I have assisted state agencies with cloud product rationalization, architecture decisions, and migration of IaaS, PaaS, CaaS, and data workloads.
Technologies
 Microsoft Azure |  Amazon Web Services |  Kuber |  SQL Server |  Aviatrix |  Datadog |  Azure DevOps |  Terraform |  ServiceNow |
Dispatching Application Rebuild
Application Modernization
Dev Inc Architect Rebuilds Dispatching Application, Unlocking Innovation
A national plumbing company needed to modernize a legacy dispatching application used by hundreds of CSRs for thousands of technicians. The application had been built using RPG decades prior and had significant issues regarding usability, performance, and scalability. The company's entire revenue was tied to the ability to schedule technicians efficiently.
I led a team of developers to redesign, rearchitect, and rewrite the application using modern web technologies. A new web-based UI provided a single pane-of-glass view of the company's technicians, schedule, and tickets. Along the way, modern DevOps tooling, automation, and QA processes were introduced. The new application provided reusable APIs that pave the way for mainframe retirement.
I served as architect, full-stack developer, and executive liaison to deliver the project on-time and on-budget to widespread acclaim.
Technologies
 C# |  .NET |  TypeScript |  React | SQL Server |  VMware |  Okta | Datadog |  Bamboo |  Snyk |
Accounting SaaS Platform
SaaS Development
Dev Inc Brings Accounting SaaS Platform to Market
I served as chief architect and lead developer for a successful SaaS tax and accounting platform. The software allows CPAs to manage their entire tax workflow in one platform, including data collection, analysis, workpaper generation, and e-signatures.
The software is cloud-native, built using Go, TypeScript, and React, with a Kubernetes microservices architecture that allows for scalability and flexibility. The platform is multi-tenant, with a focus on security, performance, and usability.
I led the first year of product development and successfully launched with multiple clients. I recruited the initial team of engineers and transitioned operations to them, where they've continued to flourish.
Technologies
 Go | TypeScript | React |  MongoDB | Kuber |  OpenShift | Amazon Web Services |  Google Cloud Platform |  Open |  GitHub | Terraform |  Vault |
Bank DevSecOps Strategy
IT Strategy
Dev Inc Architect Drives Bank Dev DevSecOps Strategy
One of the largest institutional banks needed to modernize its software development practices to improve security, compliance, quality, and agility. I served as a consultant to the CTO, leading a team to develop a DevSecOps strategy that would be adopted by all developers.
The strategy included a rationalized toolset, a comprehensive CI/CD pipeline, multiple forms of automated testing, and a shift-left approach to security. The team also developed a new governance model that allowed developers to move quickly while maintaining compliance with internal and external regulations.
In additional to DevSecOps, my team provided a multi-year roadmap for improvements spanning infrastructure, data, security, and IT service management.
Technologies
 Java | TypeScript | VMware | Kuber | SQL Server |  GitLab |  Veracode |
Cloud Management Platforms
Platform Engineering
Dev Inc Architect Builds Turn-Key Cloud Management Platforms
I have built cloud management automation tools for multiple clients, including the state cloud brokerage above. Each allows for self-service provisioning of common templates in a secure, compliance, predictable, and cost-effective way.
The most complete cloud management platform (CMP) I deployed used ServiceNow as a service catalog front-end and triggered Terraform workflows through Azure DevOps. All pipelines are observable and data flows back to each organization's configuration management database (CMDB).
While CMPs aren't applicable to every organization, the core principles of automation, traceability, and scalability are universal.
Technologies
| Microsoft Azure | Amazon Web Services | Kuber | SQL Server | Azure DevOps | Terraform | ServiceNow |
Multi-Cloud Migrations
Cloud Migration
Dev Inc Leads Migrations Across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
I have assisted dozens of organizations migrate to the cloud, ranging from small and medium businesses to Fortune 500 clients. These have ranged from tactical (i.e., rapid IaaS lift-and-shifts due to data center closures) to strategic (taking advantage of unique cloud capabilities).
One large hospital system was migrating to all three major clouds in order to take advantage of best-of-breed options. While that's not recommended for most organizations, I helped them deploy their landing zone architectures in each cloud and established standards and clear criteria for adopting each cloud product.
I oversaw migration of Windows and Linux workloads (IaaS), containers (CaaS), and multiple data workloads (DBaaS and PaaS). I also supported a team of researchers performing repeatable genomics analytics workloads in AWS.
Technologies
| Microsoft Azure | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud Platform | Kuber | SQL Server | Azure DevOps | Terraform | ServiceNow |
SaaS Freight Application Overhaul
Application Modernization
Dev Inc Launches Reimagined Supply Chain Platform
An integrated supply chain solution providers manages a SaaS freight application used by thousands of shippers, carriers, and brokers. The application was initially built using a monolithic architecture that was difficult to maintain and scale.
I singlehandedly redesigned and rebuilt the platform using RESTful Go microservices, a React front-end, and a PostgreSQL back-end. Due to integrations, compliance, and data sovereignty requirements, the solution uses a federated cloud model spanning Alibaba Cloud and Azure globally.
Data cutover has been seamless, allowing shippers, consignees, and carriers to continue operations without interruption. The new platform has been praised for its performance, usability, and scalability.
Technologies
| Go | TypeScript | React |  PostgreSQL | Microsoft Azure |  Alibaba Cloud |  Cloudflare | Open | GitHub |  OpenTofu |
Email Intelligence MVP
SaaS Development
Dev Inc Rapidly Develops MVP to Validate CRM Opportunity
A CRM software company had the innovative idea to inject context to inbound messages, such as the sender's CRM, ERP, and social media data. That would allow customer service reps to get a full view of their customers directly within their inbox, without having to cross-reference other systems.
The project was initially based on my open source OpaqueMail .NET proxy library, which augments emails with end-to-end encryption over IMAP and SMTP. I partnered to extend the proxy and develop a product MVP featuring flexible plugins for Salesforce, Dynamics, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other systems.
My minimum viable product validated market feedback and the vendor has since spun the product into its own company.
Technologies
| C# | .NET | TypeScript | MongoDB | GitHub |
Insurance Cloud Decision Models
IT Strategy
Dev Inc Architect Codifies Cloud Architecture and Governance
A pharmacy benefit manager had a diverse mix of workloads across all three major clouds, as well as on-prem data centers. The CTO needed to rationalize the mix of cloud and on-premises workloads to reduce costs, improve security, and increase agility.
I partnered with the enterprise architecture team to rationalize workloads, define architectural standards, and define clear decision models for applications, infrastructure, and data. This included a guided decision matrix of where to host each workload based on security and compliance, performance, cost, and human factors.
The effort helped consolidate redundant environments and prevented further sprawl.
Technologies
| Microsoft Azure | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud Platform | VMware | Terraform | Vault |
E-Commerce Site Optimization
Platform Engineering
Dev Inc Architect Identifies Solutions to Reduce Load Times By 60%
I frequently assist website owners with optimizing their e-commerce sites for performance, security, and usability. A leading online retailer needed to improve their site's performance to increase conversions and reduce bounce rates.
I assessed the website's Azure configuration, its C# codebase, as well as the team's DevOps processes to identify bottlenecks. I developed a report of dozens of prioritized improvements organized into a phased roadmap. Within weeks, we were able to reduce load times by over 60% through a mix of code and configuration changes.
The site's improved performance led to higher conversion rates and lower bounce rates.
Technologies
| C# | .NET | TypeScript | Microsoft Azure | Cloudflare | SQL Server |