Many organizations face the challenge of how to successfully enter the cloud world. The transition that we naturally embrace in our personal lives faces a number of obstacles in the corporate environment. Instead of waiting and investing in its own IT, why did Raiffeisenbank ČR embark on the journey to the cloud? What has she encountered so far and what can others take away from her experience?

"We don't see ORBIT as a supplier, but as a partner on our journey. It doesn't wait for a job assignment, but looks for what can be done better. It comes up with its own suggestions, which contributes to the development of our entire AWS platform."

Jan Plecitý, Head of Cloud Services, Raiffeisenbank ČR

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On-premise, or a journey to the cloud?

I Raiffeisenbank Czech Republic (hereinafter referred to as Raiffeisenbank ČR) stood several years ago at a similar crossroads. Until 2020, it operated completely in an on-premise environment and she didn't use the cloud.

The original solution was functional. However, with the switch to DevOps and with the increasing demands for flexibility and speed of delivery, it became apparent that the cloud could better address these areas. Therefore, Raiffeisenbank ČR established a cloud team a based on past experience has invited our experts to participate.

They were to help the bank face the challenges characteristic of the financial sector - strict regulation, high demands on data security and the need to ensure uninterrupted operation of services for clients.

Starting the journey to the cloud = thorough mapping

Before starting the journey to the cloud, we prepared for Raiffeisenbank ČR cloud strategy and assessed the suitability of the application portfolio for migration. At the same time, we implemented cloud enablement - initial workshops with representatives of different departments on the possibilities of the cloud.

The actual journey to the cloud began afterwards - with a thorough analysis of the initial state of IT infrastructure Banks. Together, we:

• mapped existing systems and identified dependencies between them,
• evaluate which parts are suitable for early migration to the cloud,
• created a roadmap to the cloud including technical aspects of migration and organizational changes (all using AWS cloud technologies).

Two years of migration

We felt it was important to use the pilot migration to creation of an automated systemwhich will free the hands of Raiffeisenbank ČR. As part of the project automation of application deployment to AWS Thus, a platform was created that significantly accelerated the migration of applications.

Later came the most extensive phase of the entire journey to the cloud. We took advantage AWS Migration Acceleration Programwhich provides organisations with services, best practices and tools to save costs and speed up migrations. In just a few years, the bank's AWS infrastructure has grown several times over.

Successful migrations to AWS to date have resulted in something no one expected at the beginning of our journey to the cloud together: by 2024, we are already in the cloud migrated the bank's core and critical applications, which was a key milestone for Raiffeisenbank ČR.

In addition to migration, we have been intensively involved in optimising the cloud environment:

• We define standards and frameworks
• We create and manage the landing zone
• We set up cost and resource usage monitoring
• We automate repetitive tasks

"Raiffeisenbank ČR is a matter of the heart for me. I feel like a real member of the Cloud Services team, not just an external supplier. I really appreciate this cooperation."

Martin Gavanda, AWS Cloud Architect Lead, ORBIT

We become part of the client's team

The level of ORBIT's involvement in key activities of the bank's cloud team is so intense that the bank sees our employees as practically its own. We act as:

• a long-term partner on the road to the cloud, not a one-time supplier,
• active seekers of room for improvement,
• internal freelancers who are an integral part of the team.

This advantage has sometimes even turned into a disadvantage. Our occasional eagerness to solve tasks outside the direct project assignment was not always optimal from a financial point of view. Therefore, we had to learn to say "no" to our colleagues from Raiffeisenbank ČR.

This experience has moved us to manage expectations more effectively on both sides.

Halfway?

Currently, Raiffeisenbank ČR has successfully moved a significant part of its infrastructure and applications to the AWS cloud. Thanks to this is now benefiting:

• greater flexibility and the ability to react more flexibly to changes (e.g. application performance),
• from faster deployment of new services and changes,
• from shifting responsibility to business teams and decentralising decision-making,
• from the overall automation of change deployment.

On the other hand, AWS cloud is still a relatively new area for the bank. Members of internal IT operations teams are learning to operate partly in an on-premise environment and partly in the cloud.

That is why we continuously help them to acquire new competences and transfer knowledge from the cloud services team to "traditional" IT operations.

The project is not over yet - the journey to the cloud is a continuous process. Raiffeisenbank ČR continues to migrate applications to AWS in 2025. shared servicesservices that all AWS users use.

Recommendations of Raiffeisenbank ČR when going to the cloud

We are still "members" of the Raiffeisenbank CR cloud team today. We have been with them all the way - from initial ideas and visions through the first migrations to key projects in the past year. It was a useful experience that other organizations can benefit from.

What would the bank advise them to do? Moving to the cloud is not an easy thing to do - especially in a large organisation where not only technical but also process changes come into play.

The first steps should be cautious and therefore slow. But if the company persists, it will see a new, transformed and more flexible IT that will deliver change faster.

Raiffeisenbank ČR is an example of an organisation whose journey to the cloud is successful thanks to its partnership with ORBIT. It took its decision just a few years ago responsibly and already knows that it made the right decision.

ORBIT as your guide

Whether you're just starting to think about going to the cloud or you're already migrating your systems, we're ready to be your long-term partner and help you on your journey. We have a number of prerequisites to act as your cloud transformation guide:

• Experience with the complete journey to the cloud - from ideation to migration of critical applications,
• know-how on how to leverage the AWS Migration Acceleration Program,
• Competence in using tools to automate cloud migration and management,
• social skills to develop your teams' internal competencies.