When scale becomes the constraint
With more than 174,000 employees worldwide, Ford’s engineering teams relied on a vast GitHub Enterprise Server (GHES) environment supporting tens of thousands of repositories. Over time, that scale introduced operational friction. Governance varied across teams. Security controls required modernization. Platform administration demanded increasing effort. At the same time, Ford’s broader modernization agenda called for cloud-ready platforms that could scale with global development needs.
Ford needed a way to modernize its DevOps platform without disrupting day-to-day engineering work. The path forward required precision, automation, and enterprise-grade governance applied consistently across the entire GitHub ecosystem.
A deliberate move to a cloud-native DevOps foundation
Ford partnered with Cprime to execute one of the largest GitHub Enterprise Cloud (GHEC) migrations in the automotive sector. The initiative focused on migrating the platform at scale while improving how GitHub was governed, secured, and operated across the enterprise.
The engagement centered on four tightly orchestrated workstreams:
Large-scale GitHub migration
Cprime led the migration of approximately 35,000 repositories from GHES to GHEC. Teams, permissions, and repository metadata were migrated and validated through a phased, automated approach designed to support a seamless cutover with minimal disruption to developers.
Enterprise administration and governance
The GitHub organization was rebuilt with modern governance principles. Centralized access controls, SSO integration, and standardized repository lifecycle and branching guardrails established a consistent operating model across teams and regions.
CI/CD workflow modernization
GitHub Actions workflows were optimized and standardized. Integrations with tools such as SonarQube and Nexus aligned security and quality checks directly into delivery pipelines, improving consistency across builds and deployments.
Developer experience and operational support
Cprime supported high volumes of developer inquiries throughout the migration. Reusable workflow templates and clear documentation helped platform teams collaborate more effectively and adopt standardized practices at scale.
Execution at enterprise scale
Migrating tens of thousands of repositories required more than tooling. It demanded disciplined execution, deep platform expertise, and close coordination with Ford’s internal teams. Automation played a central role, enabling repeatable processes for migration, validation, and governance enforcement.
By sequencing the work in phases and validating continuously, the program maintained operational stability while advancing Ford’s modernization goals. Developers retained access to their work, teams transitioned without friction, and the platform emerged more resilient and scalable.
Outcomes that strengthen the platform
The initiative delivered measurable platform advancements aligned to Ford’s modernization priorities:
- Successful migration of more than 35,000 repositories to GitHub Enterprise Cloud
- Stronger enterprise governance and security controls across GitHub
- More consistent CI/CD workflows with fewer pipeline inconsistencies
- Improved operational efficiency for DevOps and platform teams
- A scalable, cloud-ready DevOps foundation designed for continued growth
Together, these outcomes positioned GitHub as a reliable, governed, and enterprise-scale platform capable of supporting Ford’s global engineering organization.
A foundation built for what comes next
For Ford, DevOps modernization extended beyond a single migration. The shift to GitHub Enterprise Cloud established a platform that supports ongoing evolution, whether that involves scaling development capacity, tightening security and compliance, or enabling future innovation across teams.
By combining large-scale execution with thoughtful governance and developer-centric enablement, the program aligned platform modernization with real operational needs.
Ready to modernize your DevOps platform?
Enterprise-scale platforms demand more than point solutions. They require deliberate orchestration across migration, governance, security, and developer experience. If your organization is preparing to modernize GitHub, standardize CI/CD, or build a cloud-ready DevOps foundation at scale, now is the moment to take the next step.
Connect with our team to explore what that transformation could look like for your organization.
