IT infrastructure for companies setting up in Brazil
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If your company is opening an office, plant, distribution center or branch in Brazil, your IT and telecom infrastructure must be ready on day one: redundant internet links, telephony, network, security, cloud or data center, LGPD compliance and contracts with local vendors. I act as the local partner who coordinates all of it, from assessment to delivery.
The problem
Setting up IT in Brazil from abroad is hard for reasons that do not show up in a spreadsheet. The carriers and vendors are different. Contracts come in Portuguese. Link activation depends on each carrier’s technical availability at the address. LGPD has its own requirements. And there is no one you trust on the ground to chase deadlines and solve problems.
What must be ready on day one
Internet links and redundancy
A dedicated link plus a second link from another carrier, over a different path, when the operation cannot stop.
Telephony
Local numbers, extensions and corporate mobile lines.
Network and Wi-Fi
Cabling, switches, corporate Wi-Fi and a separate network for guests.
Security
Firewall, network segmentation, VPN to headquarters and access control.
Cloud or data center
Deciding what runs in the cloud, what runs on site, and how everything connects to headquarters systems.
LGPD compliance
Technical controls for processing personal data in Brazil, aligned with your legal team.
Contracts with local vendors
Vendor selection, side-by-side proposals and a technical review of contracts.
Typical timelines and risks in Brazil
- Link activation: timing depends on each carrier’s technical availability at the address. The carrier may need to build the last mile, which adds time. That is why the availability check must start early, if possible before the lease is signed.
- Contracts in Portuguese: lock-in periods, cancellation fees and service levels (SLAs) usually sit in clauses that need a technical read.
- Choosing vendors: service quality varies a lot from region to region. References from someone who has worked with them make a difference.
- Importing equipment: bringing hardware from abroad involves its own procedures and lead times, and telecom equipment such as routers and Wi-Fi access points must be certified by Anatel, Brazil’s telecom regulator. Buying locally is often faster.
- LGPD: personal data of Brazilian employees and customers follows its own rules, including for transfers abroad.
How I work
1. Assessment
I learn the type of operation, the address, the headquarters systems and the opening date.
You get: the list of what is needed, the risks and a schedule with the critical path.
2. Design and vendors
I define the architecture, check availability with the carriers, compare proposals and review contracts.
You get: the technical design, side-by-side proposals and a vendor recommendation.
3. Implementation
I coordinate carriers, installers and vendors on site, with reports to the headquarters team.
You get: a single point of contact in Brazil and follow-up on every activation.
4. Delivery
I test everything before day one, document it and hand over to the local team or headquarters.
You get: working infrastructure and complete documentation.
Experience with multinational operations
- FCA (Fiat Chrysler): the world’s first IBM Power8 platform for SAP HANA, integrating Brazil, the US and Italy. I worked on the project at IBM, as Servers Sales Manager Sr.
- ArcelorMittal: SAP HANA (CO module) upgrade at the Luxembourg headquarters, without downtime, while at IBM.
- IBM: over BRL 20 million in mission-critical solutions and C-level relationships with large companies in Brazil.
- Brazilian carriers from the inside: at Century, I served 474 B2B clients in connectivity, cloud and security.
- Languages: Portuguese (native); English and Italian with advanced reading and writing and intermediate conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What IT does a foreign company need to open an operation in Brazil?
Internet links with redundancy, telephony, network and Wi-Fi, firewall and security, a cloud or data center decision, LGPD compliance and contracts with local vendors. All of it must be ready and tested before the first day of operation.
How long does it take to activate an internet link in Brazil?
It depends on each carrier’s technical availability at the address. Where the carrier already has a network, it is faster. Where it must build the last mile, it takes longer. That is why the availability check should be the first step of the project.
Does LGPD apply to foreign companies?
Yes. LGPD applies to anyone who processes personal data collected in Brazil, regardless of where the company is headquartered. IT needs proper access control, logging and security, plus care with data transfers abroad. Legal aspects should be handled with a specialized Brazilian lawyer.
Do we need someone on site?
It helps a lot. Activations, site surveys and following up with vendors move faster with someone present. I work remotely or on site, depending on the project.
Can we buy network equipment abroad and ship it to Brazil?
You can, but imported telecom equipment must be certified by Anatel, and imports have their own procedures and lead times. Buying from local distributors is often faster and simpler.
Let’s talk about your case
Tell me in a few lines what is happening or what you are planning. I reply personally.
Prefer email? james.eustachio@gmail.com · Contact form