Vexcel is an international company that specializes in aerial imagery and geospatial data. Since its founding in 1992, it has grown into a global organization with technical and operational teams spread across five continents. Vexcel designs and builds its own UltraCam camera systems, used by mapping agencies and commercial partners worldwide to produce high quality ortho, oblique, 3D and multispectral images.
Alongside the hardware, Vexcel runs one of the world’s largest aerial imagery programmes. The Vexcel Data Program collects and refreshes imagery in over 40 countries, delivering accurate and consistent data products that include elevation models, textured 3D meshes and AI based insights. These are used by customers in insurance, utilities, telecom, government and infrastructure to support tasks like property analysis, asset monitoring, smart city planning and post disaster response.
By combining camera technology, global aerial collection and scalable data services, Vexcel gives organizations a reliable way to access and use location based information at scale.
As Vexcel’s data footprint expanded, so did the demands on their storage platform. They were using Ceph in different ways across the organization: as an object store for internal services, as block storage for virtualization, and as a caching layer to support high volume image processing. While the team had successfully implemented Ceph across key parts of their platform, they recognized that deeper in house expertise was needed to get the most out of it. The system was in place, but daily challenges made it clear that extra support would help them use it more effectively.
Without a clear operational structure in place, the team had limited visibility into how the system responded under pressure. Even small issues sometimes took more time to resolve than expected, which made it harder to focus on long term planning. The IT team handled each situation with dedication, but it became clear that a more proactive approach would help them save time, reduce complexity, and support the platform’s growth more effectively. Vexcel sought support, not just to solve immediate problems, but to better understand their environment and build the knowledge and structure needed to move forward with confidence.
Vexcel partnered with 42on to regain control over their storage environment. Instead of handing things over, the goal was to build internal knowledge and confidence, so the team could take care of daily operations themselves. 42on started by providing targeted consultancy to stabilize the existing setup and solve the most pressing issues. But the focus quickly shifted to long term improvements.
Together, a more structured way of working was introduced. Regular planning meetings were set up to review performance, discuss updates, and prepare for changes. 42on also advised on hardware selection, helping Vexcel avoid unnecessary costs and make smarter investments. Over time, the collaboration gave the team better visibility into their platform, along with the tools and knowledge to manage it more effectively.
This was not about replacing systems or starting over. It was about improving what was already in place and making sure the team had the insight and support they needed to move forward with confidence.
Since working with 42on, Vexcel has gone from a reactive setup, to a stable and predictable environment. The team now works in a more structured way, with scheduled reviews and clear plans for updates, hardware changes and performance improvements. Instead of fighting urgent issues, they can focus on long term priorities and stay ahead of problems before they impact production.
The technical gains are clear, but the shift in mindset has been just as important. With a better understanding of how Ceph works, the team feels more confident and more in control. They no longer rely on guesswork or quick fixes. And when questions do come up, they know exactly where to turn.
After three years of working together, Vexcel sees the partnership as a turning point. What started as a search for help during a difficult phase has become a long term collaboration that continues to support their growth.
42on supports Ceph teams with the complete operation of Ceph clusters by providing Consultancy, Training, Emergency Assistance, and Managed Services.
Why choose 42on as your partner for your open source infrastructure?
42on's passion for open source, particularly Ceph, is not just a statement but a core ethos. Actively engaged in the Ceph and related open source communities, our contributions to GitHub, tech blogs and events showcase our enthusiastic involvement
We avoid vendor lock-in and work together with clients that use open source or subscribed Ceph. This vendor-agnostic approach ensures clients have the freedom to choose their preferred vendor while benefiting from 42on's expert support and guidance.
We understand that every business has unique needs. Therefore, we provide a range of services that allow you to customize your level of control. You can choose to maintain complete control or delegate tasks as you see fit.
