Banco Mercantil, a prominent Venezuelan bank with subsidiaries across 11 countries, has successfully completed the first phase of its ambitious migration project to Google Cloud. In collaboration with Atos, this phase marks a significant step in the bank’s broader strategy to transition away from its legacy data center infrastructure.
Overview of the Cloud Migration Project
12-Month Timeline for Phase One Completion
The first phase of the migration took place over a span of 12 months, concluding in December 2024. During this period, Atos assisted Banco Mercantil in moving more than 750 machines from the bank’s on-premises VMware-based data center to Google Cloud using Google Cloud VMware Engine. This transition aligns with the bank’s broader digital transformation objectives and underscores its commitment to adopting cutting-edge cloud technologies.
Strategic Collaboration with Atos
The partnership between Banco Mercantil and Atos is a key element in the cloud migration effort. Atos’ experience in cloud computing has been crucial in ensuring the smooth transition of the bank’s infrastructure. Fabio Beato, director of cloud computing at Atos for South America, emphasized that the goal has always been to increase Banco Mercantil’s digital maturity throughout the process. This approach is designed to enable the bank to operate with greater autonomy on the Google Cloud platform as the migration progresses.
The Five-Year Cloud Transformation Journey
The Role of Google Cloud in Banco Mercantil’s IT Future
The ongoing migration is part of a broader, five-year deal between Banco Mercantil and Google Cloud. Valued in the millions of Brazilian reais, this contract aims for a complete exit from the bank’s on-premises data centers. The project not only provides Banco Mercantil with enhanced scalability and security but also aligns with best practices in cloud adoption.
Ramon Oliveira, IT superintendent at Banco Mercantil, remarked on the importance of this collaboration, stating that the partnership with Atos and Google Cloud strengthens the bank’s commitment to innovation. He highlighted that the project ensures the bank’s IT infrastructure is secure, scalable, and aligned with the latest market developments.
Looking Ahead: Final Phase and Full Data Center Migration
As Banco Mercantil advances into the final phases of the migration, an additional 400-500 machines are slated for transfer to the cloud. This transition will result in a complete shutdown of the bank’s data centers, marking the successful culmination of a major infrastructure overhaul.
Why Financial Institutions Are Moving to the Cloud
Cloud Adoption in the Banking Sector
The financial services industry has increasingly turned to cloud providers to modernize their IT infrastructures. Banco Mercantil joins a growing list of financial institutions, including Danske Bank, Citigroup, and The Peruvian Bank, which have also signed agreements with major cloud providers in 2024. Cloud migration offers these institutions enhanced flexibility, security, and operational efficiency, all of which are critical in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Google Cloud’s Expanding Presence in Latin America
Google Cloud continues to grow its footprint across Latin America, with regions in São Paulo, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; and Queretaro, Mexico. Notably, a new data center in Uruguay is also under construction, expanding Google’s cloud infrastructure in the region to better support businesses like Banco Mercantil.
FAQ Section
1. Why did Banco Mercantil decide to migrate to Google Cloud?
Banco Mercantil’s decision to migrate to Google Cloud was driven by the need for a more scalable, secure, and modern IT infrastructure. The move aligns with the bank’s digital transformation strategy, ensuring long-term operational efficiency.
2. What is the role of Atos in Banco Mercantil’s cloud migration?
Atos provided the expertise and support necessary to migrate Banco Mercantil’s legacy data center infrastructure to Google Cloud, using tools like Google Cloud VMware Engine. The partnership aimed to boost the bank’s digital maturity and cloud capabilities.
3. How many machines were migrated in the first phase?
In the first phase of the migration, more than 750 machines were successfully moved from Banco Mercantil’s on-premises data center to Google Cloud.
4. What is the timeline for completing Banco Mercantil’s cloud migration?
The cloud migration is set to be completed over five years, with the first phase concluding in December 2024. The final phases will see the migration of an additional 400-500 machines to Google Cloud.
5. How does this migration affect Banco Mercantil’s IT infrastructure?
By moving to Google Cloud, Banco Mercantil will eliminate its reliance on on-premises data centers, allowing for a more flexible, scalable, and secure IT infrastructure that supports the bank’s long-term digital transformation goals.
