The Challenge.
Old technology slows down impact. Charities need modern IT to deliver their mission. But in a sector that can’t afford to overspend, every penny matters.
Working with dated infrastructure, this client needed a clear, strategic, and cost-effective to modernise it. It was dependent on legacy technologies, including:
- Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS)
- System Centre Configuration Manager (SCCM)
- Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
- Traditional file, print, and identity services
This setup was limiting agility, creating technical debt, and hindering progress on broader digital initiatives. The charity hoped to embrace a modern, cloud-native endpoint management model – built on Microsoft Intune, Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), and Windows 11, in line with Zero Trust principles.
But to get there, it needed a clear, expert-led plan to assess the current state, identify key blockers, and develop a phased roadmap for short-term improvements and long-term transformation – all while keeping costs down.
The Solution.
Collaborating closely with internal technical, security, and operational teams, the 848 Group delivered a comprehensive discovery and design engagement. Key assessment areas included:
- Group Policy Review: Mapping legacy GPOs to modern equivalents within Intune
- Application Landscape: Evaluating software deployment via SCCM and Intune for cloud readiness
- Security & Identity: Reviewing Conditional Access, hybrid identity, and certificate services against Zero Trust best practices
- Device Estate Readiness: Assessing over 5,000 devices for compatibility with Autopilot and Windows 11
- Network & Print Infrastructure: Identifying opportunities to reduce VPN reliance and implement Universal Print
The findings were compiled into a detailed High-Level Design (HLD) and a strategic Modern Management Roadmap. This included four clear phases to transition from legacy systems to a fully cloud-native management model.
848 also facilitated a senior leadership presentation to ensure buy-in across IT, security, and business stakeholders.
The Result.
The engagement concluded with a fully approved design and roadmap for modern endpoint management – providing the client with clarity, structure, and the confidence that it could move forward without overspending.
Key Outcomes.
- A strategic plan to phase out legacy infrastructure and transition to cloud-based endpoint provisioning.
- Immediate opportunities for improvement, including rollout of Windows Hello, Intune-managed apps, and Universal Print.
- Strong alignment across technical and business stakeholders, enabling a smooth transition into implementation.
- A trusted partnership between the charity and 848, positioning the 848 Group as a long-term advisor for future transformation initiatives.
Why It Matters.
This project laid the foundation for a secure, flexible, and future-ready IT environment with a clear consideration for cost – helping this leading charity to focus more of its energy on its mission to save lives through vital research.
