Planning and Delivering a Secure HaloNxt Web App–Based Solution: A DevOps and SecOps Perspective

Successfully delivering a secure, performant, and compliant HaloNxt web application requires careful coordination between architecture, DevOps and SecOps. Here’s how Digital Path approaches this process from planning through deployment.

1. Architecture & Requirements Planning

The foundation begins with clearly defined business goals, which are translated into a high-level architecture. Early decisions include selecting between Azure App Services, Functions, or containers; choosing a multi-tenancy model; and defining a deployment strategy across South Africa North and South regions for compliance and performance. Technology stack, storage options, and integration with existing SQL Server instances are finalized at this stage.

2. Security & Compliance Planning

Security is baked in from the start. Azure Key Vault manages secrets, while Managed Identity ensures secure service-to-service access. Azure Policy and Blueprints enforce compliance, and RBAC manages role-specific access. Identity is handled through Azure AD or Microsoft Entra ID, and web traffic is secured with WAF and DDoS protection via Azure Front Door or Application Gateway.

3. DevOps & CI/CD Pipeline Setup

A structured CI/CD pipeline automates builds, tests, and deployments using Azure Repos and YAML pipelines. Environment gates control promotion (dev → staging → prod), and Azure Monitor integration ensures operational awareness through automated alerts.

4. Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Using Terraform, infrastructure is defined as code for repeatability. Modular templates provision App Services, VNets, Subnets, SQL instances, and Key Vaults. This ensures parity across all environments and simplifies governance through Deployment Stamps.

5. Application Security Hardening

Security hardening involves enforcing HTTPS, integrating WAF, using private endpoints, and minimizing public exposure. Code is scanned for OWASP Top 10 risks, and Azure Defender for App Service helps detect threats in real time.

6. Monitoring & Observability

Visibility is achieved using Azure Monitor, Application Insights, and custom dashboards. Alerts and KQL queries help detect anomalies early. Operational workbooks provide insights for developers, DevOps, and executives.

7. API Management

APIs are exposed and secured via Azure API Management (APIM), applying policies for IP filtering, JWT validation, caching, and rate limiting. APIM’s Developer Portal supports both internal and external consumers.

8. Backup, DR & SLA Planning

Automatic backups for App Services and SQL databases are configured with regionally redundant storage. Clear RTO/RPO targets and failover documentation ensure resilience, validated through disaster recovery drills.

9. Post-Deployment Validation & Handover

Final deployment includes UAT validation, penetration testing, and readiness checks. All design decisions are documented in Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), and a full handover pack is delivered with runbooks and escalation paths.

10. User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

The UAT phase verifies that the app meets business needs. Test cases cover critical flows like authentication, role-based access, data submissions, and integrations. Formal sign-off follows successful execution and stakeholder approval.

💡 Gideon van Zyl’s Insight

“Security and scalability aren’t opposing forces—they’re design principles. At Digital Path, we embed both from day one to ensure HaloNxt solutions are resilient, compliant, and enterprise-ready.”

hello@digitalpath.co.za