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Azure Days 2026 in Prague – cloud, AI and our experience with migrating to Azure

Azure Days 2026 in Prague was an event that will stay with us for a long time. The conference, organized by Microsoft, UNIQA and Raiffeisen Bank International, brought together cloud experts, architects, IT leaders and practitioners who work daily with the Microsoft Azure platform, artificial intelligence and security in large organizations. For Raiffeisen Tech Poland, it was a special moment – not only did we take part in the event, but we also took the stage to share our experience of migrating to the cloud.

  • After hours

RBI PL Branch Cloud Transformation: Our Migration to Microsoft Azure

Our presentation titled “RBI PL Branch Cloud Transformation: Our Migration to Microsoft Azure” was also part of Azure Days 2026. It was delivered by Anna Rybka-Krysiak, Project Manager, Cloud Transformation, and Marcin Piaskowski, AKS Technical Lead. We shared insights from a year-long Data Center migration to Azure at the RBI PL Branch, presenting both the business and platform perspectives. From the very beginning, we wanted to clearly emphasize one key message: migrating to the cloud is прежде wszystkim a business transformation, not just a technical project.

One of the key elements of our approach was moving away from the “big bang” concept. The migration was planned and executed in waves, allowing for better risk management, gradual capability building, and more informed decision-making. The foundation of the entire process was a 100% application assessment, which enabled a realistic evaluation of the environment’s readiness for migration and the selection of the most appropriate strategy for each system.

Another important topic of the presentation was the role of AKS as a core platform ensuring scalability, standardization, and environmental consistency. Equally important as the technology itself was a strong focus on developing internal team competencies, which meant that the migration was not a one-off project but a long-term investment in the organization. Particular interest was drawn by the fact that this was one of the few banking migrations carried out without using AWS, as well as by our experiences related to shutting down our own Data Center.

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In our presentation, we aimed to show that cloud migration in banking is, above all, a conscious business transformation rather than a one-time technological initiative. Moving away from a “big bang” approach and assessing 100% of applications allowed us to base decisions on real data and gradually build team capabilities. AKS became the foundation for scalability and standardization, but investing in people was just as important. As a result, the migration to Azure did not end with the closure of the Data Center, but became the starting point for long-term change within the organization.

Marcin Piaskowski – AKS Technical Lead

So what are the key takeaways from our presentation?

  • The cloud is a business transformation, not just an IT project

  • The migration is carried out in phases, without a “big bang” approach

  • 100% of applications are assessed as the basis for decision-making

  • AKS as the foundation for scalability and standardization

  • A strong focus on developing internal team capabilities

Other presentations and conference topics – what caught the participants’ attention?

The conference also featured highly engaging presentations by Microsoft focused on new AI tools and the development of Azure as a cohesive ecosystem for applications, data, and security. The keynotes presented the cloud not only as a place to host applications, but as a long-term platform for organizational growth, supporting innovation, automation, and security.

I was particularly impressed by UNIQA’s presentation on the use of AI in claims processing between customers and clinics. The discussions around the ethics of such solutions and data sharing highlighted how complex the challenges facing organizations are today. I was also struck by the R-IT team’s presentation on IT security, with a strong conclusion that the scale of cyberattacks is so significant that without proper protective solutions – such as Cloudflare – a bank’s operation could be seriously at risk.

Krystian Dziubek – Project Manager

Trends: AI, Security, and Costs

Three keywords dominated the conference: AI, AI, and once again AI… along with security. Artificial intelligence was present almost everywhere — in the context of automation, AI agents, data analytics, and support for business processes. Alongside AI, security clearly stood out, as did the growing importance of FinOps and cost governance in cloud environments. The increasing role of automation and AI agents in cloud platforms was also clearly visible.

Azure is increasingly evolving into a cohesive platform for applications, data, and security, which is crucial for large, regulated organizations such as banks.

Anna Rybka-Krysiak – Project Manager, Cloud Transformation

Key Takeaways for the Future

The conference brought together around 100 participants. The modern venue, strong organization, and openness of the attendees created an excellent environment for discussions, experience sharing, and networking. Azure Days is not only about presentations, but above all about confronting one’s own experiences with real market practices. Azure Days in Prague clearly showed one thing: without developing competencies in cloud and AI, there is no future today. Sharing our own experiences — especially those related to migration to Azure — is a value not only for the market, but also for ourselves.

Participating in Azure Days 2026 confirmed that the technological direction we have chosen is the right one and provided an opportunity to showcase the competencies of Raiffeisen Tech Poland on the international stage. Events like this leave you with new energy, fresh ideas, and even greater motivation to continue developing in the areas of cloud, AI, and security.

  • Anna Rybka – Krysiak

    Project Manager, Cloud Transformation, Raiffeisen Tech Poland

  • Marcin Piaskowski

    AKS Technical Lead, Raiffeisen Tech Poland

  • Krystian Dziubek

    Project Manager, Raiffeisen Tech Poland

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