How We Helped This Customer Upgrade to a More Efficient, Cloud-Powered Future

Alright, picture this: a customer [a digital/magazine publisher] juggling several aging servers, all running a local Active Directory Domain (AD). Not only were these servers getting old and tired, but they were also eating up energy, cranking out heat like a sauna, and giving the customer serious backup nightmares. It’s no wonder they decided it was time to upgrade. They wanted more flexibility for their team, especially for remote working, and to make it easier to collaborate with folks outside the office. The end goal? To ditch those servers for something sleeker, faster, and a lot less hassle. Enter the new world of Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory).

On top of this, the office’s WiFi was stuck in the past with a WiFi 4 setup. That’s right—WiFi 4. In 2023. The team was feeling the pinch with slow speeds, so we brought in a shiny new UniFi WiFi 6 network to make sure their internet could keep up with today’s demands. Here’s how we made it happen!

Planning the Big Move: Survey Time!

First thing’s first: we had to understand the current setup and what needed to change. We took a trip to the office and did a full site survey. As we walked around, we checked out the office layout, the network equipment, and how things were running. One thing that stood out was that the existing CAT5E structured cabling was still hanging in there. This was great news! With 1Gbps speeds being the current requirement, the cabling could handle it just fine for now. However, we knew that as their bandwidth demands grow, this might need an upgrade, but for now, it was good enough.

Next, we took a deep dive into their existing systems—folders, data, everything. We wanted to know how their tech worked, what they were using, and where the pain points were. Once we had all this info, we put together a solid transition plan to ensure a smooth migration.

The Big Switch: What We Did

Now, onto the fun part: the transition. Our goal was to move the company to a cloud-based, modern solution while keeping some of their critical data stored onsite. First, we set up a Synology NAS (Network Attached Storage) for local storage. But we didn’t just stop there. We wanted this NAS to play nice with Entra ID, so we crafted a custom solution that allowed for Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication. This meant that users could log in seamlessly with their Entra ID credentials, and everything—groups, access, permissions—could be managed from one place.

Next up: Office 365. We set up a brand-new Office 365 Tenant, making sure the right permissions were in place and apps were ready to roll. But we didn’t just stop at creating accounts and uploading data. Oh no, we wanted to make sure the whole process was seamless, so we worked around the clock (literally) to transfer all their data and email. SharePoint, Exchange Online, or the Synology NAS—everything had to find its new home.

Now, here’s where things got a bit tricky. Some users were still storing data locally on their desktops. Despite our requests for them to move everything onto shared drives, we couldn’t guarantee that they had followed through. So, we took the precaution of performing full backups of every single desktop. You know, just in case!

Now, the big step in our migration process was switching from an onsite domain to Entra ID. We don’t take that lightly! Our belief? If you’re going to do it right, you should reinstall all desktops. So, we did just that. Some users were still running Windows 10, and others were lucky enough to make the jump to Windows 11 (lucky them!). This was a big part of making sure everything was aligned—same operating system, same policy rules, and an equally smooth experience for every user. We also put Censornet Web Security in place, along with Microsoft Defender to protect against Cyber Security incidents.

The Weekend Warriors: Transition Weekend

With the plan in place, it was time for the big move! We scheduled everything to take place over a weekend, so there was minimal downtime for the team. Our mission? To get everything up and running with as little disruption as possible. By Monday morning, employees could log in, access their files, and get to work, all without any major hiccups.

We didn’t just set everything up and disappear. Oh no, we made sure to stick around for the first day of the new setup. We were there to handle any questions, smooth out any bumps, and make sure everyone was comfortable with the transition. And we have to say—it went pretty darn smoothly.

Ongoing Support and Future Plans

Even though the migration was a success, our work didn’t stop there. We’re continuing to work closely with the customer to ensure their tech keeps up with their needs. We’re their ongoing support partner, helping with everything from cloud migrations to system upgrades.

One major project we’ve tackled together is their move from Sage to Xero. As a Xero Partner, we’ve got the expertise to make these kinds of transitions painless. This move not only saved them money but also helped streamline their operations. Efficiency? Check!

We also had some chats with them about the end of support for Windows 10 (cue the panic!). Since not all their machines could handle Windows 11, we put together a roadmap for replacing those old desktops. And since we’re big fans of automation, we introduced them to Autopilot, a cool tool that lets us ship new hardware directly from the manufacturer to the client. No need for an expensive on-site visit—we just pop the new device in the mail, and the client gets it up and running in no time.

Wrapping It Up: A Modern, Cloud-Ready Future

So, what’s the verdict? Well, we’re pretty pleased with how things turned out. The client now has a future-proof, cloud-powered solution that’s not only more efficient but also a heck of a lot more secure. Their data is more accessible, their employees can work from anywhere, and the new system can scale as the business grows. And let’s not forget—this all happened without breaking the bank.

Whether it’s upgrading hardware, migrating to the cloud, or providing ongoing support, we’re all in. Our customer is now in a much stronger position to handle whatever tech challenges come their way. And the best part? We’re here for the long haul, ready to help them navigate the future of business technology.

Key Takeaways:

• Smooth migration to Entra ID (formerly Azure AD): We moved them from an old, on-site Active Directory to a modern cloud-based solution.
• Synology NAS integration: Providing a hybrid cloud/local storage solution for the customer with offsite backup.
• WiFi 6 upgrade: Replacing outdated WiFi 4 with fast, reliable UniFi WiFi 6 for the entire office.
• Ongoing support: We didn’t just set them up and disappear; we’re there to help them as they continue to grow and evolve.
• Cloud migration for accounting: Helping them move from Sage to Xero, improving efficiency and saving costs.
• Cyber Security: Microsoft Defender alongside Censornet Web Filtering to protect against Cyber Security Threats.

At the end of the day, the client is now set for success. They’ve got the tools, the systems, and the support they need to stay ahead of the game in today’s fast-paced business world. And we’re just getting started!