GCP Applied Technologies (GCP AT), a global leader in construction products and materials, faced a significant challenge: needing to migrate all its enterprise applications, including critical SAP systems, out of the traditional data center model with a tight deadline to complete it.
As the company looked to modernize its IT infrastructure, it saw an opportunity to meet the deadline and transform its operations for future growth. With the help of their certified partner, Managecore - a Protera company, GCP AT successfully moved to the Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
Leveraging the power of RISE with SAP, this migration was completed by Managecore - a Protera company on time and on budget. In addition, the new RISE with SAP solution positioned GCP AT for enhanced agility, security, and long-term success in the cloud.
Quick Takeaways
- With the leadership of Protera, GCP Applied Technologies successfully migrated over 150 enterprise applications, including SAP systems, to RISE with SAP and additional applications native to Google Cloud within six months.
- The migration called for a complete network redesign, enhancing security through segmentation and improving overall protection for sensitive data.
- Protera became a trusted advisor, providing ongoing managed services to ensure GCP AT’s cloud operations and enterprise applications remained efficient and optimized.
- Partnering with a RISE with SAP certified expert ensured that the migration aligned with best practices, maximizing performance and scalability.
Background: Why GCP Applied Technologies Chose Cloud Migration
Facing Data Center Decommissioning Deadlines
GCP Applied Technologies faced a deadline to decommission its traditional data centers, prompting the need for a swift and efficient IT overhaul. With over 150 enterprise applications, including mission-critical SAP systems relying on outdated infrastructure, GCP AT’s CIO saw an opportunity to modernize by migrating to the cloud.
Moving to the Google Cloud Platform offered significant cost savings through better resource utilization and reduced hardware needs.
In addition, the new cloud infrastructure enhanced GCP AT's security posture by providing more robust protection and scalability that an on-premise setup couldn't match.
Partnering with Protera for Seamless SAP Integration
GCP AT partnered with Managecore - a Protera company, a RISE with SAP-certified expert, to fully align their SAP applications with cloud capabilities. This partnership enabled seamless integration of SAP applications into the cloud, ensuring optimal performance, efficiency, and long-term sustainability in the new environment.
The Challenge: Complex Enterprise Application Migration
However, GCP Applied Technologies faced the task of migrating over 150 enterprise applications, including mission-critical SAP systems, from two separate data centers. These applications were essential to their day-to-day operations, making any potential downtime or disruption costly for the business.
Tight Deadline for Data Center Decommissioning
Adding to the complexity, GCP AT was working against a tight six-month deadline to decommission its data centers. The sheer scale of the migration and the time pressure made it a highly intricate project that required expert handling.
The Need for a Cloud Migration Expert
Recognizing the magnitude of the challenge, GCP AT's Chief Information Officer, Robyn McCall, realized they needed a partner with deep expertise in SAP application support, cloud migrations, and RISE with SAP.
That's when Managecore - a Protera company was brought on board. With knowledge of complex cloud migrations and certified experience with RISE with SAP, Managecore was the perfect fit to lead the project and ensure a smooth, on-time transition to the Google Cloud Platform.
The Role of Protera and RISE with SAP
Protera was vital to the success of the RISE with SAP migration project. As a trusted cloud and SAP migrations expert, Managecore - a Protera company, has a proven track record of handling complex projects for large enterprises.
A deep experience in migrating SAP systems to the cloud made Protera the perfect partner to take on GCP AT's ambitious project. Protera's familiarity with GCP and expertise in SAP ensured the migration would be smooth and secure.
Managing the Migration Process
Managecore's project management approach was critical to the success of this large-scale migration. From the outset, Managecore created a detailed plan to guide the transition, focusing on minimizing risks and avoiding disruptions to GCP AT's operations.
With an emphasis on thorough preparation and efficient execution, Managecore - a Protera company completed the project on time and within budget, meeting GCP AT's tight six-month deadline.
RISE with SAP Certification
The partnership provided long-term benefits, ensuring that GCP AT's SAP systems would perform optimally in the cloud, with the flexibility to scale as needed.
Network Security Enhancements
An important part of this transformation was the redesign and segmentation of GCP AT's network. The migration provided an opportunity to enhance network security by implementing segmentation.
This enhancement improved the overall security architecture, ensuring greater protection for sensitive data and critical applications.
Immediate Business Benefits
The results of the migration were immediately visible. GCP AT gained increased business agility, enabling the company to respond more quickly to market demands and internal IT needs.
The enhanced security measures further strengthened their infrastructure, reducing risks.
Most importantly, the migration created a strong foundation for future IT growth, positioning GCP AT to scale its operations and innovate using cloud technologies well into the future.
The Importance of Partnering with a Certified Expert
Partnering with an experienced RISE partner like Protera was crucial to the success of GCP Applied Technologies' cloud migration. Protera didn't just complete the migration; the company became a trusted advisor and long-term managed services provider for GCP AT.
This ongoing partnership ensured GCP AT's critical SAP applications remained optimized and efficient in the new Google Cloud Platform environment. By continuously monitoring and fine-tuning cloud operations, Protera helped GCP AT avoid performance issues and improve operational efficiency.
The Digital Transformation Journey
GCP Applied Technologies' successful migration to the Google Cloud Platform marks a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey. Partnering with Protera helped GCP AT transition their critical enterprise applications, including SAP, to the cloud. This move enhanced their security and operational efficiency and positioned the company for future growth.
GCP AT's story is a powerful example of the benefits of working with trusted, certified partners for companies looking to modernize their IT infrastructure. Leveraging RISE with SAP ensures that cloud migrations are executed smoothly and aligned with best practices, allowing businesses to uncover the full potential of the cloud.
Contact Protera to learn how we can assist with your cloud migration.