Case Study: A Phased Approach to Standardising on Windows 11—Strategic Budget Management and Strong Partnership

Windows 11 Across the Board!

In August 2024, INTEGY completed a crucial IT upgrade for an educational institution, successfully transitioning all campus devices to Windows 11. This milestone marked the culmination of a strategic, phased approach that began in May 2023.


The project was designed not only to meet the immediate technological needs of the institution but also to spread the financial impact over several budget cycles, ensuring cost-effectiveness and careful planning ahead of Windows 10’s end-of-life.


This case study highlights the collaborative efforts, strategic foresight, and strong partnership that drove the project to success.

Project Background


The journey began in May 2023, when INTEGY partnered with the educational institution to modernise its IT infrastructure. The initial focus was on building a robust Microsoft Intune environment with security policies aligned to CIS (Center for Internet Security) benchmarks. This foundational work also included a significant shift from a traditional domain-join approach to an EntraID-only environment, streamlining device management and paving the way for future upgrades.


Given the diverse hardware landscape, with some devices capable of running Windows 11 and others limited to Windows 10, a phased approach was adopted. In 2023, all laptops were rebuilt with Windows 11, while desktops remained on Windows 10. This strategy allowed the institution to defer some costs, spread the budget impact across multiple phases, and align with the financial year planning.


The Final Phase: August 2024


The final phase of the project was executed in August 2024, with a focus on upgrading all remaining devices to Windows 11 and replacing non-compatible hardware. This phase was carefully planned to ensure minimal disruption while maximising the impact of the available budget.


Strategic Hardware Replacement:

  • INTEGY and the institution’s local team worked together to identify and remove all non-Windows 11-capable hardware. This approach ensured that outdated devices were responsibly decommissioned, and resources were allocated to the most critical upgrades.
  • The phased budget allowed the institution to manage the costs associated with purchasing new hardware incrementally, avoiding a large, single expenditure.


Intune-Driven Upgrade Process:

  • Microsoft Intune was configured to automate the upgrade of all remaining devices to Windows 11. This ensured a smooth transition, with minimal manual intervention required. The phased implementation meant that the IT team had ample time to test and validate the upgrades, reducing the risk of issues during the final rollout.
  • Spreading the budget across phases also meant that the institution could invest in a comprehensive testing process, ensuring that the final rollout was as smooth as possible.


Deployment and Onboarding of New Hardware:

  • New Windows 11-compatible hardware was deployed and onboarded using AutoPilot, integrating seamlessly into the existing Intune and EntraID environment. This streamlined the setup process, ensuring that all devices were compliant with security policies from day one.


Strategic Budget Management


One of the key elements of this project was the strategic management of the budget. By spreading the costs across multiple phases, the institution was able to:


  • Optimise Financial Resources: By distributing costs over several budget cycles, the institution avoided the financial strain of a large, single-year expenditure. This approach also allowed for better allocation of funds toward other critical IT projects.
  • Plan Ahead for Windows 10 End-of-Life: With Windows 10 approaching its end-of-life, the phased approach ensured that the institution was fully prepared for the transition, avoiding the need for last-minute upgrades that could disrupt operations.


Collaboration and Partnership


The success of this project was built on a foundation of strong collaboration and partnership between INTEGY and the educational institution. By working closely with the local site team, INTEGY ensured that all aspects of the project were aligned with the institution’s operational needs and financial constraints.


The phased approach also allowed for continuous feedback and adjustments, ensuring that each stage of the project was executed flawlessly. This close collaboration was crucial in navigating the challenges of a diverse hardware environment and in ensuring that the final transition to Windows 11 was seamless.


Outcomes and Benefits


  • Complete Standardisation on Windows 11: The institution now has a standardized IT environment, with all devices running Windows 11, providing a consistent and modern user experience.
  • Enhanced Security and Compliance: The alignment with CIS benchmarks and the move to an EntraID-only environment have significantly enhanced the institution’s security posture.
  • Optimized Budget Utilisation: The phased approach allowed the institution to spread costs, manage resources effectively, and avoid financial strain.
  • Future-Proof IT Infrastructure: With all devices now on Windows 11, the institution is well-positioned for future updates and advancements, ensuring long-term sustainability.


Conclusion


INTEGY’s strategic approach to this project, emphasising phased implementation and close collaboration, ensured that the educational institution could modernise its IT infrastructure without overwhelming its budget. This case study highlights the importance of planning, partnership, and strategic resource management in successfully navigating large-scale IT upgrades.

Call us today on 01392 796525 or Email us at ask@integy.co.uk

December 16, 2024
At INTEGY, we’re passionate about enabling organisations to embrace the future of work, especially when innovation and agility are at the heart of their mission. Recently, we had the privilege of supporting a client whose business serves as a launchpad for startups, providing the technology and equipment needed to kickstart their journey.  The Challenge: Outdated IT for a Growing Organisation Our client’s IT infrastructure was a traditional setup, with user accounts and devices tightly bound to Active Directory. This configuration required devices to maintain network connectivity to on-premises servers, creating operational limitations. With the facility expanding to three separate locations, this approach no longer supported their need for flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. Startups thrive on speed and adaptability, and their IT systems needed to reflect those principles. The reliance on traditional IT was slowing them down, creating unnecessary overhead, and limiting their ability to provide the seamless experience their customers expected. The Solution: A Cloud-Native Transformation We transformed their IT environment into a modern, cloud-native setup: Entra ID for Identity Management Every device is now joined to Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), shifting identity management to the cloud. This eliminates the need for on-premises servers, offering secure access from anywhere. Intune for Device Management Devices are now managed through Microsoft Intune, enabling streamlined policy enforcement, application deployment, and security updates, all delivered from the cloud. Enhanced Security with Zero Trust Principles We implemented a Zero Trust security model, ensuring that devices and users are authenticated and compliant before accessing resources. Defender for Endpoint provides enhanced threat protection and visibility across their environment. Simplified User Experience By decoupling devices from on-premises dependencies, we empowered their users to work from any location with a secure, seamless experience. Scalability and Agility With their new cloud-native IT framework, our client is no longer constrained by physical infrastructure. They can now scale operations effortlessly as they open new locations and onboard new startups. The Results: Flexibility, Efficiency, and Growth The move to a cloud-native configuration has been a game-changer for our client. They’ve gained: Operational Efficiency : IT management is simpler and faster, reducing administrative overhead. Improved User Experience : Users now enjoy consistent and reliable access to systems, regardless of location. Scalability : Expansion to new sites no longer requires complex IT overhauls. Security : Advanced cloud security tools ensure their data and devices remain protected. By embracing modern IT, our client is better positioned to serve their customers and focus on what matters most: empowering innovation for startups. Helping You Move Forward If your organisation is grappling with the limitations of traditional IT and looking to make the leap to a cloud-native future, we’re here to help. Let’s transform your IT and unlock your potential.
September 19, 2024
From Horizon to Azure Virtual Desktop, INTEGY help deliver a successful migration
iboss managed service
August 22, 2024
this case study describes how INTEGY have created an iboss managed service to help organisations have leading web and security protection.
Unifi Network
August 22, 2024
This case study covers how we transformed a schools wired and wireless network provision.
Intune Packaging
August 22, 2024
Application Packaging activities completed or local authority via GCloud contract
IT Support for Braunton Academy
May 8, 2024
Integy provide IT support for Braunton Academy, delivering IT Support and Migration from Google to Microsoft
Intune for Education
March 12, 2024
Integy deliver Intune Accelerator for Windows to manage all devices, security and applications
Third Party Patching Solution for Public Sector
March 11, 2024
Third Party Patching Solution for Public Sector organisations looking to align with NCSC guidance.
Windows Accelerator for Intune
March 6, 2024
Windows Accelerator for Intune ensures organisations are best prepared to manage their IT estate.
By Ryan Jewell November 2, 2023
Azure Virtual Desktop, AVD, Citrix, VMWare Horizon - what is the right choice, this business case describes why AVD is the smart choice
More Posts
Share by: