MetamorfoseZ Program #5: Technology and partnership in times of crisis. With Léo Biscaglia.
The discussion revolves around a significant and challenging operation led by Leo Buscaglia from Procergs, the information and communication technology center for the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during a natural disaster caused by severe flooding. The narrative highlights the urgency and critical nature of ensuring that essential public services, especially payroll systems, remained operational amid chaos. Leo emphasizes the importance of contingency planning and prior preparations that allowed the team to respond effectively as the floodwaters rose. They had implemented disaster recovery strategies both in physical data centers and in the cloud. Despite these preparations, the flooding impacted their main data center, forcing them to react swiftly to prevent data loss. They prioritized migrating critical systems, like those for public safety and payroll, to cloud solutions, ensuring continued accessibility despite the flooding. Leo underscores the challenges faced—dealing with legacy systems and the need for quick restorations after systems were disrupted. The collaboration with major technology partners such as IBM and Microsoft was crucial, not only for technical support but also for logistical help, such as transporting backup tapes via air force planes. Throughout this crisis, the team faced emotional strain and burnout yet highlighted the resilience and community spirit within the organization. Leo reflects on the experience as a blend of tactical operations and human perseverance, underscoring the need for teamwork, flexibility, and emotional stability in crisis management.