Modernizing Enterprise Search for Secure Engineering Knowledge
Overview
Working with Synaptics to modernize its internal enterprise search platform by replacing a legacy Google Search Appliance deployment with a secure, scalable search solution built on Lucidworks Fusion. The engagement focused on improving access to engineering, product, and corporate knowledge while preserving Synaptics’ existing security and access control models.
The solution powered Synaptics’ DocConnect portal and enabled employees to efficiently discover documents, technical artifacts, and system records across multiple enterprise repositories without compromising performance or security.
The Challenge
Synaptics relied on a Google Search Appliance (which I help implement) to index and search critical internal systems including file shares, Confluence, Jira, Agile PLM, and source code repositories. Over time, the platform became difficult to scale and maintain, while search quality suffered due to poor metadata, security complexity, and cluttered results.
Key challenges included:
- maintaining strict document‑level security
- handling multiple enterprise content sources with different authentication models
- reducing noise from outdated document versions,
- improving performance under heavy security constraints
- migrating search functionality without disrupting existing business workflows.
Solution
Designed and implemented a Lucidworks Fusion–based enterprise search platform to replace Synaptics’ existing Google Search Appliance while maintaining functional parity and improving relevance, performance, and security.
Enterprise Connector Integration
The solution integrated multiple enterprise content sources including file shares, Confluence, Jira, Agile PLM, and other internal systems. Each source was configured with appropriate connectors and crawling strategies to ensure accurate indexing and secure access.
Security and Access Control Preservation
A core requirement of the engagement was preserving Synaptics’ existing authentication and authorization model. The search platform enforced document‑level security so users only saw content they were permitted to access, addressing a major pain point of the legacy system.
Relevance and Result Quality Improvements
Implemented relevance tuning strategies to reduce clutter from outdated document versions, improve title and metadata accuracy, and surface the most useful and current content first. Facets and filters were introduced to help users quickly narrow results.
Performance and Scalability Enhancements
By modernizing the search architecture and tuning query behavior, the new platform delivered faster response times and improved stability, even under complex security constraints and large content volumes.
Phased Delivery and Knowledge Transfer
The engagement was delivered through structured iterations including requirements definition, connector setup, testing, user validation, and production deployment. Documentation and knowledge transfer enabled Synaptics teams to operate and maintain the platform independently.
Technologies Used
- Lucidworks Fusion
- Enterprise search connectors
- Secure search and access control
##Results
- Successfully replaced the legacy Google Search Appliance
- Improved relevance and usability of enterprise search results
- Preserved strict security and access control requirements
- Reduced noise from outdated and irrelevant documents
- Established a scalable foundation for future search enhancements