When Alex Oliveira joined as Head of IT at Smythson in early 2020, he aimed to replace old hardware (both servers and laptops) and upgrade everything to the latest version of Windows, implementing a standard set up for everyone. The aim was to provide a more structured and organised solution in order to better manage the IT environment. However, within two months of joining the company, the global Covid pandemic started. The team needed to be able to work from home, but without VPN access this initially proved very difficult. Alex needed to react quickly in order to keep business operations running smoothly.
After a discussion with Microsoft, Smythson decided to work with one of the recommended Microsoft Gold Partners, Compete366. As Alex explains “We were impressed with Compete366 from the outset. Before we even kicked off the project they helped us with licensing advice to get the right solution for our business. We knew they would be the right partner for us as they showed they were keen to help and guide us.”
Smythson decided to move to M365 Business Premium which would allow them to upgrade to Windows 10 and implement Microsoft InTune as part of the package.
Microsoft Intune is a cloud based Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) solution. In conjunction with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Intune can be used to manage all devices and applications, including Windows laptops, IoS devices, Macbooks and Android devices too.
The Mobile Application Management (MAM) in Intune protects an organisation’s data at the application level, including custom apps and store apps. App management can be used on organisation-owned devices, and personal devices.
Initially Compete366 helped with a step-by-step approach, as Smythson wanted to ensure that they had the right set up for every department. They built a standard desktop installation, which was initially piloted with IT and then tested with different departments, in order to check they had correct access to all of the business applications they needed.
The Covid Pandemic changed working patterns at Smythson, meaning that the Head Office team is now homeworking for the majority of the time, and the Head Office building has been reconfigured to allow for hot desking and meetings. This flexible way of working has been made so much easier using InTune which has standardised connections to the Wireless network via VPN.
InTune has saved time in IT, whilst also providing a better experience for employees, enabling them to work from wherever they are, and in collaboration with other team members. The team makes full use of the Microsoft capabilities such as Teams and OneDrive.
As Alex explains “Using InTune, we have been able to make access to our systems a more self-service experience, and reduce our users reliance on IT support. This allows us to focus on IT projects of strategic importance to the business.”
Compete366 also helped with the set-up of Autopilot – which automates the process of installing everything on the device. This means that individual users don’t need to run through the whole Windows10 setup process as this is automated to the standard set up that has been pre-defined by Smythson’s IT team.
All the user has to do is login with their Microsoft password and the rest of the device configuration, including access to the correct business applications, is done automatically. The solution has meant that as the company onboards new employees, they have been replacing old hardware with the new standard configuration. Even if the new team member is working from home, they can be sent their new PC and all the IT team needs to do is to provide them their user name and password, they login and it’s all done!
Now that this project is nearing completion, there are several new projects in the pipeline. As the business implements new business applications such as changing its ERP system, providing access to these can now all be managed centrally, and users will receive access to any new client software, rolled out through the standard user configuration in InTune.
And as Alex explains, “Using Microsoft InTune, we are able to keep all of our devices up to date and secure as we have automated the application of Microsoft patches.”
Alex explains “In a relatively small IT team it is important that we focus our efforts on the important things for the company. Compete366 never put any pressure on us, they worked to our timescales, understood the pressures of the Covid situation and repeated lockdowns on our business. Throughout they were a real partner for us and an integral part of building the solution.”
Read our blog post about Microsoft Intune.
If you’d like to find out how our InTune experts can help you set up your IT infrastructure in the most effective way then do get in touch. We’ll be pleased to help.
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