Revive CI/CD Pipeline - GitHub to DigitalOcean

Restore CI/CD Pipeline Between GitHub and DigitalOcean
Project Overview:
We have a Next.js application with Payload CMS that needs its deployment workflow restored following a security incident with a previous developer. The source code is in a private GitHub repository and the application is currently running on DigitalOcean.
Scope of Work:

Connect the GitHub repository to DigitalOcean deployment
Configure GitHub Actions workflow for automated deployments
Set up required environment variables and secrets in GitHub
Retrieve and document existing database and storage credentials from DigitalOcean
Verify database connectivity and ensure application functions correctly
Document the deployment process and credentials for future reference
Security review and lockdown of all access points

Current State:

Full source code available in GitHub (private repo)
Application currently running on DigitalOcean
Full access to DigitalOcean account
Previous CI/CD configuration needs to be rebuilt

Required Skills:

Experience with Next.js deployment
Familiarity with Payload CMS
GitHub Actions / CI/CD pipelines
DigitalOcean (App Platform or Droplets)
Environment configuration and secrets management
Database management (PostgreSQL/MongoDB/Supabase)

Deliverables:

Working automated deployment from GitHub to DigitalOcean
Full documentation of all credentials, environment variables, and infrastructure
Successful test deployment
Handover meeting to explain the setup