To set up IT infrastructure for a new operation in Brazil, start with a carrier availability check at the address, ideally before signing the lease. Then line up redundant internet links from two carriers, telephony, an Anatel-certified network and Wi-Fi, firewall and VPN to headquarters, a cloud or data center decision, LGPD controls and local vendor contracts, and test everything before day one. The checklist below follows that order.
Before signing the lease
- Carrier availability: ask at least two carriers to check technical availability at the exact address. Where a carrier has no network nearby, it may need to build the last mile, which adds time.
- Building infrastructure: check where the telecom room will be, how cables reach it, and whether the building allows new fiber to come in.
- Power: voltage varies across Brazil (127 V or 220 V depending on the city). Check it before ordering equipment, and plan for UPS and grounding.
- Brazilian entity: business contracts are usually signed by a company registered in Brazil, with a CNPJ (company tax ID). Its timing affects when you can sign with carriers and vendors.
Connectivity
- Main business link sized for the operation and for traffic to headquarters and the cloud.
- Second link from another carrier, over a different physical path, if the site cannot stop.
- SLA in writing, with repair time and credits when it is not met.
- Contract reviewed: lock-in period, cancellation fee, price adjustment index, automatic renewal and rules for changing address.
Telephony
- Local phone numbers and, if needed, a toll-free (0800) number.
- Corporate mobile lines and a device policy.
- Integration with the telephony or collaboration platform used at headquarters.
Network and Wi-Fi
- Structured cabling, switches and access points sized for the floor plan.
- Anatel-certified equipment. Telecom equipment used in Brazil, such as routers and Wi-Fi access points, must be certified by Anatel, the national telecom regulator. Check before importing from headquarters.
- Separate network for guests and for devices such as printers, cameras and IoT.
Security
- Firewall with VPN to headquarters, managed under the corporate standard.
- Network segmentation between users, servers, guests and devices.
- Multi-factor authentication for remote access and administrative accounts.
- Central logging of access and security events.
Cloud or data center
- Decide what runs locally, what runs in the cloud and what stays at headquarters.
- Check latency from the Brazilian site to headquarters systems. The major cloud providers have regions in São Paulo, which can help for local workloads.
- Backup and recovery defined for anything that runs locally.
LGPD
- Map which personal data the Brazilian operation will collect (employees, customers, suppliers) and where it will be stored.
- Define how data is transferred to headquarters, with legal support.
- Prepare the incident response routine. See LGPD for foreign companies.
Vendors and contracts
- At least two proposals for each critical service.
- References from companies that already work with each vendor in the same region.
- Contracts reviewed in Portuguese, technically and legally.
- Billing set up: Brazilian vendors issue invoices (notas fiscais) in BRL to the local entity.
Go-live
- Every link, call flow, VPN and system tested before day one.
- Failover tested: unplug the main link and check that the site keeps working.
- Documentation handed over: diagram, contracts, vendor contacts and support procedures.
- A single point of contact defined for the first weeks of operation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first step to set up IT in Brazil?
The carrier availability check at the address. It defines which carriers can serve the site and how long activation may take, and it should start before the lease is signed if possible.
Can we bring network equipment from headquarters?
Yes, but telecom equipment must be certified by Anatel and imports have their own procedures and lead times. Buying from local distributors is often faster.
Do we need two internet links?
If the operation stops when the internet goes down, yes. The second link should come from another carrier and over a different physical path, or both may fail together.
How I can help
I act as the local IT partner for foreign companies setting up in Brazil, from assessment to delivery: availability checks, vendor selection, contract review, on-site coordination and go-live testing. See IT setup in Brazil or talk to me.