The Challenge
Using raw AWS S3 buckets or compatible object storage can be extremely confusing for non-technical clients, and building custom file portals for sharing documents securely is highly labor-intensive. The client required a SaaS gateway that abstracts complex cloud storage protocols into a beautiful, lightweight dashboard for multiple tenants.
Important requirements included generating time-limited secure download links, segregating bucket files on a per-tenant basis, managing subscription billing tiers, and providing a master dashboard for the platform owner to monitor disk space and bandwidth quotas.
The Solution
We engineered a custom PHP middleware framework that interfaces directly with S3-compatible cloud storage endpoints. The application abstracts tenant isolation in the MySQL layer, mapping specific user folders or buckets programmatically to avoid cross-tenant access.
We integrated Stripe Billing to handle tier limitations automatically, suspending file creation or restricting file sizes if accounts exceed their thresholds. The central dashboard enables instant drag-and-drop uploads via secure chunked API calls.
Technical Architecture & Highlights
Allows tenants to generate secure, cryptographically signed S3 URLs that expire after a configurable duration, ensuring private files are not exposed to the public internet.
A comprehensive administration console that imports AWS/S3 storage buckets, monitors global metrics, configures tenant limits, and includes a full user impersonation tool.
Allows developers to generate custom API keys and access tokens for programmatic file uploading and downloading, complete with full audit logging.
Built-in collaboration flows with secure email invitations, custom team roles (Admin, Editor, Viewer), and controller-level security middleware checking permissions.