In 2018 Eterna Plc undertook a major upgrade of its financial and business management system from Sage Evolution (on-premises) to Sage X3 (cloud-enabled ERP) to support multi-branch operations, improve reporting accuracy, and scale business workflows.
As the Cloud Infrastructure Lead, I was responsible for the planning, provisioning, and configuration of the Microsoft Azure environment where Sage X3 would be hosted. I collaborated closely with the finance, ERP implementation team in South Africa, and Sage support partners to ensure a secure, high-performing, and cost-optimized deployment.
Azure Infrastructure Provisioning
Cloud Platform: Microsoft Azure
Virtual Machines: Provisioned Windows Server VMs (Standard B-series for staging, D-series for production)
SQL Database Hosting: Installed and configured SQL Server for Sage X3 backend
Network Configuration:
Setup Virtual Network (VNet) with subnets and NSGs
Enabled RDP access via bastion/jump box for secured admin access
Configured static public IPs, DNS names, and Azure Firewall
Security Configuration:
Configured NSGs (Network Security Groups) for port management
Enabled Azure Backup for system and database recovery
Applied role-based access control (RBAC) for user/admin segregation
Integrated with Azure Active Directory for authentication
Testing & Performance Tuning:
Conducted resource stress testing
Adjusted disk IOPS and vCPU allocation for optimal performance
Enabled monitoring via Azure Monitor and Log Analytics
ERP Deployment Support (Sage X3)
Coordinated with Sage implementation partner for deployment readiness
Oversaw installation of Sage X3 application server, print server, and database instance
Validated connectivity between branch offices and cloud-hosted Sage X3
Supported UAT with Finance and Operations teams
Configured user profiles, access rights, and audit logging in collaboration with ERP consultants
My Contributions
Designed and deployed the complete Azure infrastructure for Sage X3
Installed required server roles and SQL configurations
Managed security hardening and access control
Served as the technical liaison between Sage vendor and internal stakeholders
Documented infrastructure and created handover manuals for internal IT staff
Impact & Outcomes
Successfully transitioned from Sage Evolution to cloud-hosted Sage X3 ERP
Enabled real-time, multi-branch collaboration across finance, inventory, and operations
Reduced downtime and improved ERP performance and scalability
Lowered maintenance burden on local servers and improved DR capabilities
Enhanced financial reporting, inventory control, and multi-location synchronization