W2 Global Data

A Modern Desktop Solution

CLIENT SUCCESS

THE CLIENT

W2

YEAR

2021

W2 Global Data is a leading provider of data and compliance software; delivering a wide range of screening tools and services, they help organisations achieve and maintain regulatory compliance though their award-winning API solution.

The Need.

Establishing our partnership with W2 almost 5 years ago, we were initially brought in to support their Office 365 environment.

However, after experiencing organic growth and an increase in remote working, they needed additional support to unite their devices and cloud systems. After utilising a variety of solutions, such as Rackspace for virtual datacentre services and GitHub as their preferred code storage system, they needed to streamline and unite their infrastructure.

Identifying that W2 were already using a selection of Microsoft services, for example, some users had started to adopt OneDrive for cloud storage, we recommended Azure AD and Intune, to provide them with the modern workplace solution they required.

The Solution.

Microsoft Cloud Migration

Utilising Microsoft technology, we migrated their entire infrastructure to the cloud. We helped to design a scalable cloud infrastructure, incorporating their corporate, development and production environments, making it easy for W2 to deploy and maintain all devices within their organisation moving forward.

Crucially, we combined this with virtual, cloud servers in Azure, alongside Fortinet best-of-breed firewalls, in doing this we helped W2 build the foundations of a zero-trust framework, enabling a wholly secure, cloud-based IT infrastructure, across multiple sites.

The two major benefits of this project were W2’s ability to now completely manage their devices remotely and deploy robust security policies and processes, throughout the entire cloud estate.

modern desktop - Device Management

A key requirement for W2 was the ability to manage mobile devices effectively across multiple locations, so we implemented Microsoft Intune.

Why Intune?

Essentially, Intune bridges the gap between user productivity and safeguarding data on all types of device, both on and offsite. As part of Microsoft 365 E5 offering, Intune has been integrated to conserve the separation between business and personal data. For example, Intune allows their team to securely access business data, like work emails, from their personal mobile, whilst protecting this data through specific access controls and mobile configurations.

Vitally, Intune also facilitates remote security, providing administrators with the power to wipe company devices, to ensure that valuable data is never put at risk of loss.

modern desktop - Security Management

It was important to take a security first mindset throughout the project; that’s also why we implemented Microsoft’s complete Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS) suite.

With EMS, W2 are now able to improve their protection, detection, and response capabilities throughout their remote workforce.

It’s also worth noting that EMS increases the security features of Windows 10 and Microsoft 365, with further capabilities extending into W2’s entire infrastructure. The essential benefits of EMS include:

Identity and access management – W2 can now ensure secure connections between people, devices, apps, and data.

Microsoft Cloud App Security – This cloud access security broker provides W2 with discovery insights, behavioural analytics, risk assessments and data protection.

Information protection – With Microsoft’s integrated information protection solution, W2 can now protect sensitive business data everywhere, even in transit and when shared.

Threat protection – A crucial part of the EMS suite. With adaptive, built-in intelligence, we can help W2 detect and investigate advanced threats, compromised identities, and malicious actions, across their complete cloud environment.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint – Microsoft Defender helps W2 with endpoint protection, detection and response (EDR), vulnerability management, and mobile threat defence.

In providing W2 with a truly modern Microsoft 365 solution, we’ve been able to facilitate a secure, cloud-first workplace for their entire organisation.

Stripe OLT’s support has had a huge effect on our business – people are able to work faster and more efficiently, and we can collaborate effectively and securely, no matter where in the world we find ourselves. Working with Stripe OLT made the whole process seamless without any downtime, and has removed much of the headache from managing our IT.”

Alex Loane - Head of Operations, W2 Global Data