Maximizing Oracle workloads: Why Google Cloud is the next step

Every year, CFOs approve millions to keep aging on-prem Oracle systems running. When first installed, these workloads delivered the kind of reliable mission-critical operational support the businesses needed. Today, they add to the heavy cost of standing still, diverting resources from cloud modernization, AI, and customer-focused innovation.

For over four decades, Oracle has been the backbone of enterprise IT, powering applications in companies big and small across industries from finance to healthcare to retail. But the landscape is shifting. Maintaining on-premise estates is getting increasingly costly. It also constrains agility, and blocks AI adoption, a boardroom-level priority.

The downside of on-site legacy systems

Typically, organizations spend 60% to 85% of their IT budget maintaining legacy applications. On average, this amounts to $40,000 per year in maintenance costs for IT departments (ServiceNow survey). Beyond the financial drain, aging infrastructure slows progress. RAND research lists poor data management among the leading reasons why AI projects fail.

Organizations that remain on legacy on-prem systems risk falling behind in operational speed, modern capabilities, and data-driven decision-making. Cloud adoption is inevitable, and the momentum is clear: businesses are moving away from on-prem systems to cloud.

This is where Google Cloud and Oracle’s exclusive partnership, amplified by Virtusa’s expertise, offers a unique path forward.

Why Google Cloud changes the game

More than 1.3 million companies worldwide run on Google Cloud, drawn by its balance of stability and innovation. Its edge lies in:

• AI-first innovation: BigQuery, Looker, Vertex AI, and Gemini foundation models for real-time insights and faster AI development.
• Enterprise-grade infrastructure: A resilient global network with continuous refreshes and seamless scalability.
• Exclusive Oracle partnership: Oracle Database@Google Cloud with integrated support and low-latency performance.
• Security and compliance: Built-in encryption, granular IAM, and support for standards such as HIPAA and PCI DSS.
• Cloud economics: Flexible pricing, license portability, and simplified contracting for cost efficiency and predictable spend.
• Flexible architecture: Deployment options across Compute Engine, GKE, Bare Metal, and OCI Interconnect.

For organizations running Oracle, this means modernizing with ease, while preserving the reliability they trust. The decision comes down to: pursing efficiency today or prioritize readiness for tomorrow.

Two strategic paths forward

Migration: Optimizing for efficiency

A low-risk, cost-effective path for enterprises that want to move Oracle workloads to Google Cloud while retaining complete control. Benefits include:

• Seamless rehost or re-platform options, with the ability to upgrade versions.
• Access to the full Oracle services portfolio on Google Cloud.
• Simplified contracting, license benefits, and unified single window support Google.
• Enhanced security and compliance posture.

Deployment variants under migration:

Enterprises can choose from multiple deployment models depending on performance, control, and integration needs:

• Oracle Database@Google Cloud: A fully managed service by Oracle, hosted in Google Cloud data centers, ideal for mission-critical workloads like Exadata and RAC.
• Oracle on Google Compute Engine: Flexible rehost option, giving enterprises control with Oracle running directly on GCP virtual machines.
• Bare Metal Solution (BMS): Dedicated, high-performance hardware tightly integrated with Google Cloud services, suited for latency-sensitive or performance-heavy workloads.
• Oracle Interconnect for Google Cloud: A private, low-latency connection between OCI and GCP, enabling hybrid cloud deployments.

These options optimize existing Oracle estates, but for enterprises aiming to cut technical debt and prepare for future innovation, the real opportunity lies in transformation.

Transformation: Building for future growth

Transformation means re-architecting Oracle databases into cloud-native services like AlloyDB, BigQuery, or PostgreSQL for enterprises looking beyond migration. This path unlocks:

• Reduced technical debt and improved agility.
• Continuous performance and productivity gains through Google-managed databases.
• Deeper and native integration with the Google Cloud ecosystem.
• Scalability and global reach with cloud-native flexibility.

Transformation enables enterprises to scale globally, operate more efficiently, and align IT with fast-changing business priorities.

Accelerating the Oracle advantage on Google Cloud

Choosing between migration and transformation is rarely straightforward. Backed by Oracle-to-GCP expertise, industry experience, and proprietary accelerators, Virtusa helps organizations make the right choice, minimize risk, and achieve measurable outcomes. Example: For a leading U.S. healthcare company, Virtusa migrated 120+ Oracle databases and 591 applications (7,000 VMs) to GCP. The result:

• 80% reduction in downtime caused by hardware/environmental issues
• 4x faster release cycles, enabling quicker innovation 

Choosing the right path for your business

Modernizing Oracle isn't a question of if, but how fast. With the combined strength of Oracle, Google Cloud, and Virtusa, enterprises gain a secure, cost-effective, and innovation-ready foundation.

The question for IT leaders now is simple: Are you optimizing for efficiency today, or building for future growth?