MNIT’s Deployment of AI-Ready Data & Infrastructure (Part 1) - Modernizing Mission-Critical Oracle Systems for the Future

In part I of this two-part series, leaders from MNIT, Microsoft, and Tessell discuss the thinking behind MNIT’s transition to a managed DBaaS model on Azure—and what it takes to modernize mission-critical systems without disrupting operations, while improving cost predictability and long-term sustainability.

This session will explore:

• Why MNIT selected a managed DBaaS approach for Oracle
  
  
• The operational realities they needed to solve: staffing constraints, disaster recovery complexity, and time-to-service
  
  
• How mission-critical systems raise the bar for reliability, security, and cost predictability
  
  
• The financial dimension: shifting from CapEx-heavy legacy models to an OpEx-aligned, FinOps-aware operating model.
  
  
• Governance and compliance considerations from the accountable owner’s perspective
  
  
• How building a modern, well-governed data platform today enables future AI initiatives - without premature AI adoption
  
  
• What went smoother than expected, and lessons that can help others avoid common pitfalls

This will be a practical discussion grounded in real-world decision-making—not a product pitch.

Part II will dive deeper into  architecture choices, HA/DR design, and operational best practices.

Who should attend?

• CIOs, CTOs, and IT Leaders
  
  
• Infrastructure and Platform Engineering Teams
  
  
• Oracle DBAs and Database Architects
  
  
• Cloud Strategy and FinOps Leaders
  
  
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance Stakeholders
  
  
• Teams responsible for modernizing mission-critical data platforms

What to Expect?

This session is designed for leaders and practitioners responsible for modernization decisions.

You can expect:

• A candid, experience-led discussion of why the transition was made
  
  
• Insight into how operational constraints shaped the modernization path
  
  
• Lessons learned from managing risk in mission-critical environments
  
  
• Perspectives on aligning infrastructure modernization with financial governance
  
  
• Clear takeaways for evaluating managed DBaaS models in complex environments
  
  

The format will be conversational but structured - focused on decisions, trade-offs, and outcomes that others can apply.