With over 25 years of expertise, Synthesis continues to pioneer groundbreaking technologies that deliver rapid impact and robust solutions for its customers. The introduction of Remapped enables Synthesis to further enhance its capabilities by simplifying and accelerating the complex Oracle workload assessment processes, ensuring consistent, accurate, and insightful outcomes for customers considering cloud migration.

“Partnering with Remapped empowers us to deliver optimized license assessments (OLAs) faster and more effectively,” said Paul Spagnoletti, Revenue Executive at Synthesis. “The ability to quickly and accurately assess complex Oracle workloads gives our customers clarity and confidence, streamlining their decision-making process and accelerating their migration journeys. This is a significant leap forward for cloud adoption in South Africa and a substantial value-add for our clients.”

The Remapped platform provides automated, data-driven technical and commercial analysis, significantly reducing assessment times and costs associated with Oracle workload migration projects. This partnership allows Synthesis to deliver enhanced value through reduced licensing complexities, optimized migration outcomes, and substantial cost savings, enabling them to provide a superior, expedited service to customers.

Remapped’s platform has already demonstrated substantial benefits globally, including an average 58% reduction in Oracle licensing costs and significantly shorter assessment periods. By leveraging Remapped, Synthesis anticipates driving greater efficiency and profitability for its customers, solidifying its position as the preferred cloud migration partner in the region.

Together, Synthesis and Remapped are reshaping the future of cloud migration in South Africa, helping businesses achieve faster, cost-effective, and strategically sound transitions to AWS cloud environments.

For more information, visit http://www.synthesis.co.za and https://remapped.ai/.

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The Impact of Broadcom’s Acquisition of VMware

Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware has brought significant changes, particularly in licensing and operational structures. The shift from perpetual to subscription licensing has increased costs for some customers by up to tenfold. This dramatic expense rise has prompted many organisations to reconsider their IT strategies and explore more cost-effective alternatives.

Why VMware Customers Should Migrate to AWS

Migrating to AWS offers numerous benefits which include:

• Enterprise Leader – AWS is positioned as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service, worldwide.
• Operational Resiliency – Helping millions of customers since 2006. Best availability track record. Running a wide variety of use cases at a greater scale than any cloud provider.
• Long-Term Value – Continuous improvement. Culture of customer cost reductions: 134 since 2006.
• Culture of Innovation – Recognized as the most innovative public cloud provider.
• Breadth and Depth – AWS offers 200+ services to support any workload, with custom-built silicon like Graviton and Nitro for better performance and efficiency.

AWS provides enhanced scalability, flexibility, and the opportunity to unlock further innovation with access to its comprehensive suite of services. By moving to AWS, businesses can reduce their reliance on costly VMware licenses and take advantage of AWS’s robust infrastructure and advanced capabilities.

Synthesis’s Migration Approach

Synthesis has developed a structured approach to ensure a seamless migration from VMware to AWS. This approach consists of four key phases:

1. Assess: The first step involves evaluating the current VMware environment and determining the best strategy for migrating workloads to AWS. This phase includes preparing a migration business case and a roadmap for future modernisation.
2. Mobilise: In this phase, Synthesis prepares workloads for migration by establishing a best practice landing zone, creating a migration framework, and securing the necessary resources. AWS investment can be used to cover this cost partially or fully in some cases.
3. Migrate and Modernise: Synthesis rapidly executes the migration of VMware servers to AWS, eliminating the need for VMware licenses. This phase ensures minimal downtime and disruption to business operations.
4. Operate and Optimise (Optional): Post-migration, Synthesis offers managed services to support customer workloads, ensuring a seamless transition and ongoing optimisation.

Addressing Key Challenges

The transition from VMware to AWS addresses several critical challenges faced by businesses in the wake of Broadcom’s acquisition:

• Licensing Changes: Broadcom’s new licensing model has significantly increased costs for on-premise VMware customers. Migrating to AWS eliminates the need for these costly licenses, providing a more cost-effective solution.
• Support and service disruptions: mergers often lead to restructuring and shifts in service and support models. By moving to AWS, businesses can avoid potential delays, reduced service quality, or changes in support terms associated with the acquisition.
• Strategic uncertainty: the future roadmap for VMware products under Broadcom’s ownership is unclear. Migrating to AWS provides businesses with a stable and predictable environment, aligning with their long-term IT strategies.
• Operational disruptions: the integration of VMware into Broadcom’s operations may cause temporary or long-term disruptions. AWS offers a reliable and stable platform, ensuring the continuity of critical operations.

Why Choose Synthesis?

Synthesis stands out as a trusted partner for AWS migrations, with over a decade of experience and recently attaining AWS Premier Tier status. Recognised as one of the most highly skilled AWS partners in South Africa, Synthesis has a proven track record of successfully migrating customers to AWS. The company has also obtained the AWS Migration and Modernisation Competency, further demonstrating its expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional results. Our competencies provide our customers with AWS Funding on migration as an added benefit.

AWS Migration Pathways and Tools

AWS offers multiple migration pathways to suit different needs, including AWS native services such as EC2, ECS, EKS and Outposts. AWS’s native migration tools, such as AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) and AWS Database Migration Service (DMS), along with third-party ISV tools such as Cloudamize and Migration Evaluator, accelerate and simplify the migration process.

Synthesis’s customer-centric approach ensures that each migration is tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of the business. The no-cost assessment provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of migrating to AWS, helping businesses make informed decisions about their IT strategies.

The acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has created significant challenges for businesses relying on VMware’s on-premise solutions. Synthesis offers a timely and cost-effective solution by facilitating the migration to AWS, enabling businesses to reduce costs, enhance scalability, and unlock new opportunities for innovation. With a structured approach and a proven track record, Synthesis is the ideal partner to guide businesses through their cloud migration journey.

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Synthesis began its Microsoft Azure journey with cloud opportunities arising from customers.  Some key success stories include Synthesis’s involvement in payment modernisation and the development of PayShap, the rapid payments platform for real-time payments. The architecture required high performance and latency. The solution leverages Microsoft Azure’s cloud infrastructure to ensure robust scalability and maintains sub-second transaction processing through its distributed architecture. Globally, Synthesis has digitalised and transformed the logistical system of one the largest logistics shipping companies in Singapore. The transition evolved from a manual process incorporating different partners, departments, and countries to an automated digital platform hosted on Microsoft Azure, explains Rui.

Microsoft Azure recently hosted the Ignite session, from November 18 to November 22, 2024, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, to share innovation on data and AI. The rise of AI agents and security was very topical. Microsoft is investing in data, AI, and some of the custodian products such as data fabric. Some of these automated tools can be used to streamline and centralise data. Orchestrated agents will be integrated with Microsoft products to enable automated day-to-day tasks, understand, and look for trends and patterns within the data. It’s like having your own personal assistant, says Rui.

Microsoft already has Copilot which enables users to use prompts to access information easily. Add in a prompt that says, “Give me a short write-up that explains what Microsoft Azure is” and within seconds, the tool generates text; “Microsoft Azure is a comprehensive cloud computing platform and service created by Microsoft. It offers a wide range of cloud services, including computing, analytics, storage, and networking. Users can choose and configure these services to develop, deploy, and manage applications through Microsoft’s global network of data centres. Azure supports various programming languages, tools, and frameworks, making it a versatile solution for building and scaling applications in the cloud.” To add to this, orchestration agents will further enable prompts that will review lengthy documents and only pull-out necessary information.

Security is a priority in discussion with Microsoft investing in tools to enable data safety. Guard rails can ensure that data is user-specific and not exposed to everyone. The sensitivity of the data needs to be considered to ensure that the right guardrails are put in place for AI agents, adding an additional layer of security advises Rui.

Everyone has an opinion of AI and what it means for future business. There are both positive and negative connotations around it. Rui believes that any malicious intent around AI will be addressed by regulations. The concept of the Industrial Revolution that came into effect resulted in the automation of machines that have replaced human involvement and streamlined processes. It was not a case of simply replacing the workforce but working in conjunction to equip the workforce with the skills to manage the machines. Replacing jobs with robots and developing skills amongst resources. Mundane tasks can be replaced by AI or robots and, eventually, there will be an equilibrium.

Think of the advancement of transportation and the concept of when cars came to be. Individuals were using horse carriages and there were jobs in farming horses and building carriages that were taken away. But at the same time, there were new jobs created with the need to build cars. There’s always this sort of equilibrium that forms a balance concludes Rui.

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This was the conversation on an episode of Synthesis TV where Chris Erasmus from Amazon Web Services (AWS) South Africa and Paul Spagnoletti from Synthesis Software Technologies share their insider insights.

The Rise of AI Awe

From its recommendation engine to Alexa, Amazon has been successfully implementing AI for over 25 years. And this success has been a key factor driving the company’s renowned leadership across markets.

Spagnoletti explains how Synthesis has been using it to enhance its customers’ efficiency for years from fraud detection to email routing.

What has caused the global awareness, hype, and a step change according to Erasmus is that this technology is now in the hands of consumers. It has become democratised at pace.

“In terms of the evolution of humanity, many people think of the internet as the “big thing,” explains Spagnoletti, “but it’s not. It’s going to be AI and most importantly, it’s going to be the way we handle AI that we will be known for in generations to come. That is where the excitement lies. And, of course, without the internet and the cloud, AI would not have been put into the palm of our hands. Technologies like the internet, cloud, and data intelligence are all very big pieces of this incredible puzzle that we’re playing with, enabling everyone to experience AI.”

Business Breakdown

But why are so many businesses experiencing a breakdown and not business build-up when it comes to using AI?

“Because not everyone is taking the step back and actually thinking about the data and their data strategy and having that house in order to take real advantage of AI. That’s the biggest contributor to AI success,” explains Erasmus.

Spagnoletti explains that his customers’ first request is to use AI to leapfrog their business. But this is often where the mistakes come in. Businesses want to jump into AI without the fundamentals in place and without understanding the most relevant use cases for their businesses. Explaining this creates the “penny-drop moment.”

“We get so caught up in the passion around the technology that we go for the big shiny thing when actually some of the work that that AWS have done within Amazon itself, around the supply chain for example, that’s not the big shiny thing but the value to the business is profound. It’s almost hidden and nobody really talks about that. We get caught in the hype and not the value that can be built with AI anywhere from overlooked processes to boring administration. Value can live anywhere,” says Spagnoletti.

The AI Advantage

For successful businesses, Generative AI is already being used to create smarter, more personalised customer experiences, streamline internal operations, and even drive new business models. In many ways, AI represents the next frontier for these businesses.

Their recipe for success, according to the discussion on Synthesis TV, lies in their implementing the fundamentals and moving from there.

They start with an understanding of the underlying data fabric. They assess its accuracy, determine its location, and strategise how to leverage it effectively.

They understand where they want to go, and what they want to achieve and plan a clear route forward taking progressive steps over massive manoeuvres. Success is about the business value and not about the technology itself. Successful projects are purpose-driven.

Security is ground zero and they ensure data safety before launching any solutions. This includes foundational details from understanding where their data sits and how secure it is.

Lastly, most of these businesses have migrated to the cloud because it makes implementing AI cheaper, faster, and more effective.

Cloud Cadence

AI has been a driving factor around cloud cadence. Businesses once asked: “Should we move to the cloud?” Today the question has shifted to “How do we move to the cloud most effectively?”

However, businesses that “lift and shift” into the cloud miss the opportunity to access AI. Businesses are increasingly recognising that they must refactor and optimise their systems to fully unlock the cloud’s potential and the AI advantages that it enables. “Our customers understand that success means modernising and optimising the cloud. A recent customer wanted to lift and shift 60% of their estate only to come back to us and ask to optimise it completely. They want to leverage the cloud fully to shift the needle and access innovation,” says Spagnoletti.

However, migrating to the cloud is not simple. Many companies face significant challenges balancing legacy processes with the demands of modern cloud solutions. Businesses that haven’t fully transitioned are often caught in a state of “paralysis by analysis,” hesitating to move forward due to their fear of failure.

To force themselves into the new world of cloud, some companies are opting for a lift and shift as a stepping stone.

However, getting the technical aspects of the cloud right is not the only challenge. Cultural resistance often presents an even bigger obstacle. Legacy businesses may struggle with outdated principles and processes that slow down their adoption of newer technologies. The real challenge isn’t just moving to the cloud—it’s educating all relevant employees, gaining approval, and making the most of cloud infrastructure once there.

Engaging the Experts

Overcoming these challenges is where AWS and Synthesis play a critical role. They offer expertise not just in cloud infrastructure but also in optimising cloud adoption so businesses can thrive with AI and implement AI innovations successfully.

Synthesis, with its roots in software development rather than infrastructure, has taken a unique approach to cloud adoption. Unlike traditional infrastructure players who were forced to adapt to the rise of cloud computing, Synthesis embraced cloud technologies from a development perspective, recognising that putting code on servers wasn’t enough. AWS, with its flexibility, scalability, and constant innovation, became its platform of choice, allowing Synthesis to extend the value of its software for its clients.

“As AWS’s first Advanced Partner in Africa, and now 1 of 2 AWS Premier Partners in Africa, Synthesis has been instrumental in helping companies not only migrate but also fully leverage cloud-native features to shift the needle in their business operations.

We have spent over a decade investing in competencies and being at the forefront because we know what the cloud can achieve for businesses. Today, by combining our cloud skills and data, security, and AI expertise, we are proud to work hand in hand with AWS to ensure our customers are an AI success story and not another failed business” explains Spagnoletti.

The awe surrounding AI is apt and with the right expertise, foundations, technologies, and clear directions, certain businesses will be guaranteed radically transformative outcomes. The stage is set. It is now up to the players to own the show.

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The achievement is significant and differentiates Synthesis as an AWS Partner who demonstrated expertise and notable success in helping customers design, architect, build, migrate, and manage their workloads on AWS.

“Synthesis is delighted to achieve AWS Premier tier partner status” said Michael Shapiro, Managing Director at Synthesis. “I am incredibly proud of our team for achieving Premier partner status. This recognition validates our deep expertise in AWS and highlights the significant benefits for our customers. With this achievement, we can offer even greater access to advanced AWS resources, solutions, and support. Our clients with our assistance can confidently leverage the full potential of AWS to drive innovation, realise global reach with high availability, and scale efficiently, all while benefiting from our team’s proven commitment to their success in navigating complex cloud journeys.”

To earn the Premier tier, partners must complete a rigorous approval process through accreditations and certifications, must demonstrate a long-term investment in their relationship with AWS, and must have extensive expertise in deploying customer solutions on AWS. AWS Premier Tier Services Partners also have a strong team of AWS Trained & Certified technical consultants and have deep expertise in project management and professional services.

The Journey To Now…

Synthesis has been working with AWS for more than 10 years, being one of the longest-standing AWS partners on the African continent. The software development company has been proudly recognised as a technically astute partner for AWS, which has been supported by the achievement of many competencies.

Confirming our ability to execute for our customers and naturally AWS, some of our highlights would include:

• Designing and deploying many of the initial AWS Landing Zones ( LZ’s)
• Migrating and modernising complex workloads in the Banking sector
• Being the first local partner to obtain Competency accreditation in Financial Services in the SSA region
• Being the first local partner to obtain Security competency in the SSA Region

Synthesis possesses core competencies spanning multiple domains, including Financial Services, Security Solutions, Migration and Modernisation, DevOps, Microsoft Workloads, and Public Sector.

While the achievement of this significant milestone is a notable accomplishment for Synthesis, the primary beneficiary remains the esteemed Synthesis clientele. The success attained ultimately translates into enhanced value and advantages for our valued customers.

Synthesis possesses an extensive and proven history of experience complemented by multiple professional certifications. Our organisation is well-equipped to support clients through every phase of their digital transformation journey. We deliver value-added services in the following areas:

• Assessing customer’s environment for Cloud
• Building out Landing Zones against the backdrop of best practice
• Migrating and modernising workloads for the cloud
• Automating through DevOps
• Providing insight through the Synthesis FinOps practice
• Securing environments through Cloud Security offerings and services
• Underpinning this with MSP (Managed Services Partner) capability, operationalising   cloud environments through best-in-class engineering skills

Synthesis then further enhances investment in cloud through native and ISV (Independant Software Vendor) solutions like Platform Engineering, Event Streaming, GenAI, and ML (Machine Learning) modelling, to name a few, to extend applications and deliver business and customer value.

“We are really appreciative to our amazing partners at AWS for this recognition. Our partnership continues to grow stronger owing to the close collaboration and focus. As we expand and grow our operations across Europe and the Middle East, this premier status serves as a powerful validation of our capabilities and expertise. It reinforces our reputation as a trusted partner and opens doors to new opportunities, solidifying our position as a leading cloud solutions provider in these dynamic markets”, explains Ariel Weber, Head of Growth at Synthesis.

This year, Synthesis was voted the preferred software development company in South Africa for large business projects (MyBroadband, 2024).

Making contributions to the advancement of technology in our country, Synthesis recently won the Prize of Excellence with AWS for the AI Launchpad solution and the Intelligent Software Partner Award 2024 at the ICT Awards Africa.

“For Synthesis, it does not stop there, we now offer a VMWare no-to-low-cost migration program to migrate from VMware to native AWS technology such as EC2/ (The heart of the AWS architecture allowing organisations to have scalable computing capacity providing the ability to develop and deploy applications without hardware constraints).  We are also currently looking at additional competencies such as MSP, GenAI, and Cloud Operations. The Premier Partner Status now provides even more benefits and access to these programs and advantages for our customers, which is very exciting for us”, says Paul Spagnoletti, Head of Cloud, Security, and Managed Services at Synthesis.

Synthesis recently assisted BankServAfrica in the launch of PayShap, the first fully functioning ACH payment system that runs in the cloud, the first application to be implemented in the AWS cloud because it didn’t have the complexity of legacy systems and would allow Synthesis to establish a well-architected cloud infrastructure for future implementations of migrations of applications.

The PayShap platform was launched in March 2023 and was built to address key goals recognised by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA). Synthesis designed and developed Cloud infrastructure for BankservAfrica as a requirement for the deployment of PayShap, and built the foundation for the organisations ongoing cloud journey. The payments platform links communication between BankservAfrica and the participating Top-tier South African Banks. The platform provides best-in-class AWS cloud and security benefits. The solution that has been deployed provides a scalable inter-bank, real-time payments system with a greater uptime from the launch date.

This is a testimonial to our success, and we look forward to many more stories to share.

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