Scalable web development for large enterprises: best practices
Scalable enterprise web platforms can evolve and grow with your business, and remain fast, secure and functional as traffic, data and user numbers increase.
The following web development strategies can be used to create flexible and extensible web platforms, applications and websites.
Modular architecture
The scalability of web platforms is greatly influenced by the design approach. With a modular architecture, i.e. by breaking down the application into smaller, independent components or modules, individual functions—such as user management, content delivery, inventory tracking, checkout, payment systems etc.—can be extended and upgraded without having to disrupt the entire system.
By component-based development, i.e. building the platform from independent modules, you can also expect shorter and/or less downtime during updates and upgrades.
Another approach that is useful for larger, complex systems is service-oriented architecture (SOA): building an application as a set of services that operate independently and provide well-defined functionality. Individual "services" (functions) can thus be scaled, developed, operated independently, they are also platform-independent and can be reused.
Cloud infrastructure
Leveraging cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Microsoft Azure, available resources can be scaled up or down in real time, allowing the platform to adapt to the current traffic and data volume.
Cloud platforms offer automated scaling features that dynamically allocate server resources based on traffic fluctuations. This is particularly useful for enterprises that experience seasonal or campaign-driven spikes in user activity.
Implementing load balancers across servers helps distribute traffic efficiently, ensuring no single server is overloaded. This keeps the platform responsive and minimizes downtime during peak traffic.
For example, a global media company might use AWS to automatically scale server capacity during live streaming events, preventing crashes while ensuring seamless delivery to millions of users.
Scalable database
As enterprises grow, the amount of data they manage—e.g. customer data, transactions, content…—can also grow exponentially. In such cases, a scalable database is needed to maintain performance.
Database sharding refers to the splitting of large databases into smaller, more manageable pieces that can be spread across multiple servers. (For example, a financial services company might separate customer data by region.) This allows for faster queries and reduces the risk of overloading a single server.
Efficient caching mechanisms, such as Redis or Memcached, store frequently requested data in memory, shortening response times. Additionally, proper indexing of databases can also speed up data retrieval, optimizing performance as the platform scales.
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Implementing a content delivery network (CDN) can significantly improve the performance of websites by delivering content from servers closer to the user's location. Companies with a global or multi-geographic target audience can use a content delivery network to ensure that all users have fast and stable access to their website.
CDNs replicate static website content (such as images, videos and scripts) and store the copies on a global network of servers in multiple locations. When a user requests a page, the CDN delivers the content from the server closest to them, so it loads quickly.
CDNs are also invaluable in managing sudden traffic spikes (e.g. during marketing campaigns).
Optimizing code
Efficient, clean code is essential for scalability. Bloated or inefficient code that contains unnecessary parts or that is more complex than necessary can slow down websites and make it difficult for the system to handle increased traffic.
CSS, JavaScript and HTML can be reduced in size using minification and compression techniques.
By asynchronously loading resources, it is possible to ensure that the most critical parts of the web page, such as content and navigation, are displayed first. This also improves page load speed.
Regular monitoring and optimization
Scalability involves continuous monitoring and optimization, with regular reviews of code, databases and infrastructure, to ensure that the platform is constantly adapting to the company's continued growth.
It's worth investing in monitoring tools that provide real-time insights into system performance, traffic patterns, and potential bottlenecks. With performance monitoring tools such as New Relic or Datadog, you can monitor server performance and application health. Such tools allow businesses to identify and address performance issues before they impact the user experience.
Scalable security measures
As an enterprise grows, so does its potential attack surface. Security measures deployed on scalable web platforms must also be scalable to maintain data security and protect against cyber-attacks and unauthorized access.
Sensitive information can be protected by encrypting the data. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC) can prevent unauthorized access as the platform expands.
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks overload servers with traffic. Scalable platforms should be equipped with robust DDoS protection (e.g. AWS Shield, Akamai Kona), either through cloud services or integrated into the CDN, to mitigate these attacks.