Scaling AI-Driven Voice Technology with AWS and EKS
Discover how a secure, multi-account AWS setup and Kubernetes-driven architecture can enhance scalability and performance. Learn how our solutions using AWS EKS and event-driven autoscaling helped Sonantic meet their
high-demand growth confidently and securely.
Client Overview
Sonantic (Acquired by Spotify) specialises in creating hyper-realistic AI-generated voices from text, leveraging advanced technology to deliver human-quality synthetic voices for video games and the leisure industry. Their innovation enables game developers to access expressive, realistic voice acting that enhances the gaming experience.
As a seed-stage startup, Sonantic quickly attracted interest from major industry players. However, they faced the challenge of scaling up rapidly, deploying frequently, and ensuring their AWS security was adequate. Addressing these concerns and establishing a robust cloud security posture was crucial to support their growth and onboard new customers.
Challenge
Scalability
Enabling seamless scaling to accommodate new features, more users, and high transaction demands.
Security
Building a robust security framework with reliable backups and disaster recovery readiness to safeguard sensitive data and earn customer trust.
High Availability
Delivering consistent performance without interruptions.
Solution
Discovery Phase
Our partnership began with an in-depth assessment of Sonantic's existing infrastructure. We examined their growth trajectory, security posture, and scalability needs. Based on this evaluation, we developed a tailored solution to enhance their AWS environment.
Cloud-Native Security & Scalability Enhancements
- Re-Architecture with AWS EKS and GPU Nodes
We transitioned Sonantic’s infrastructure to AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) with GPU support for optimal AI-driven performance. This setup facilitated workload isolation and allowed for efficient resource management across multiple AWS accounts. - Infrastructure as Code with Terragrunt
Sonantic's Terraform setup was modularised using Terragrunt, simplifying management, improving reusability, and enabling quicker deployments. This transformation allowed their infrastructure to be more maintainable and responsive to changes. - Dynamic Scaling with KEDA and Prometheus
We implemented Kubernetes Event-Driven Autoscaling (KEDA) combined with Prometheus for metric-driven scaling. This enabled Sonantic to handle fluctuating workloads by scaling dynamically based on application needs. - Enhanced Monitoring and Testing
Real-time monitoring was set up using Grafana, allowing Sonantic to monitor performance, detect bottlenecks, and address issues promptly. Extensive testing ensured the infrastructure’s resilience and scalability.
Robust Security Implementation
Our approach prioritised security across all infrastructure components:- AWS Security Hub, GuardDuty, and CloudTrail
We set up AWS Security Hub to centralise security alerts, supplemented by GuardDuty and CloudTrail for proactive threat detection. AWS Config was used to track resource configurations, ensuring compliance across accounts. - DevSecOps Integration
Security was embedded into the DevOps pipeline. All Terraform configurations, Helm charts, and Kubernetes manifests underwent security checks, and Docker images were scanned before deployment, ensuring secure application releases.
Through these measures, Sonantic achieved a 100% compliance score in AWS Security Hub, adhering to best practices and industry benchmarks.
Results
Seamless Scaling
Both within Kubernetes clusters and across the AWS environment, supporting rapid growth.
Enhanced Security
Achieving a 100% AWS Security Hub Score for best practices and industry benchmarks.
Operational Efficiency
Improved management, reduced complexity, and faster deployments.
Customer Confidence
Robust, secure, and compliant infrastructure, positioning Sonantic for sustained growth and success.
Technology Stack
To achieve these results, the following technologies and tools were utilised:
- Cloud Computing: AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), GPU Nodes, AWS Security Hub, GuardDuty, CloudTrail, AWS Config
- Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, Terragrunt
- CI/CD: Kubernetes Event-Driven Autoscaling (KEDA), Prometheus, Grafana, CircleCI
- Security & Compliance: AWS Security Hub, GuardDuty, CloudTrail, AWS Config, DevSecOps practices
- Team Collaboration: Jira, Confluence, Slack
- Source Control: GitHub, Git