Client overview
A mid-sized manufacturing company based in Michigan, with over 300 employees and multiple locations, was relying on Microsoft Exchange 2013 for their email and communication needs. However, the end of support for Exchange 2013 and growing concerns over security, scalability, and IT management led the company to consider migrating to Microsoft 365.
With Microsoft ending support for Exchange 2013 on April 11, 2023, the manufacturing company faced a serious challenge. Without regular security updates and technical support, their email system became vulnerable to security risks, which could lead to potential data breaches. Continuing to operate on an unsupported platform also raised compliance concerns, particularly as they handled sensitive client and operational information.
Managing on-premises servers required constant attention from their internal IT team, who were spending an increasing amount of time on server maintenance, security patches, and hardware upkeep. The infrastructure was aging, and the company needed to either invest in costly upgrades or transition to a more efficient, scalable solution.
While the company used Exchange 2013 for email, their collaboration tools were limited. Employees across different locations found it difficult to collaborate effectively using standalone applications. The lack of integrated communication and project management tools was slowing down production processes, especially when teams needed to share designs, blueprints, and operational data quickly.
The on-premises setup posed a significant risk in terms of data protection and disaster recovery. In case of a server failure or disaster, restoring data could be a time-consuming process, potentially resulting in costly downtime for the company.
Medha cloud worked closely with the manufacturing company to facilitate a smooth migration from Exchange 2013 to Microsoft 365. The solution was designed to address their specific challenges, focusing on security, cost savings, scalability, and improved collaboration.
Understanding the critical role email plays in their operations, we developed a phased migration plan to ensure no downtime or data loss during the transition. This involved preparing a comprehensive backup of the existing Exchange environment and conducting a pilot migration to test the process with a small group of users before moving forward with the full migration.
Microsoft 365’s built-in security features, such as Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), data encryption, and multi-factor authentication, provided the manufacturing company with the advanced security they needed. This significantly reduced their risk of cyberattacks and ensured compliance with industry standards. The company could now rest assured that their sensitive operational data was protected in the cloud.
Migrating to Microsoft 365 eliminated the need for costly on-premises server maintenance and upgrades. The cloud-based solution provided them with predictable monthly costs and allowed them to easily scale their services up or down based on business needs. With Microsoft managing server updates and patches, the internal IT team could shift their focus to more strategic initiatives, reducing the overall workload on IT infrastructure management.
With the integration of Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive, employees could now collaborate more effectively, regardless of location. Microsoft 365’s real-time co-authoring in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as easy file sharing through OneDrive, enabled teams to work together seamlessly on projects. This improved production timelines, as employees could access and edit critical files in real time, streamlining workflows between departments.
By migrating to the cloud, the company no longer had to worry about hardware failures or data loss. Microsoft 365’s cloud-based disaster recovery services provided automatic backups and high availability, ensuring that their email and data were always accessible, even in the event of a disaster. This significantly reduced the risk of downtime, which is crucial for a manufacturing company where every hour of downtime translates into lost revenue.
As part of the Microsoft 365 subscription, the company gained access to the latest features and improvements, such as advanced search capabilities, enhanced email security, and better integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. This meant that they could continuously benefit from the latest innovations without needing to invest in costly upgrades, which was a limitation with their on-premises Exchange server.
Stronger security and compliance:
After migrating to Microsoft 365, the manufacturing company achieved a significantly stronger security posture. With Advanced Threat Protection and data encryption in place, they were protected from phishing attacks, malware, and other security threats. Additionally, they were able to meet their industry’s compliance standards, safeguarding their business operations and customer trust.
By moving away from on-premises servers, the company reduced their IT infrastructure costs. They no longer had to maintain physical servers or worry about costly hardware upgrades. Microsoft 365’s cloud infrastructure provided them with predictable monthly costs, reducing capital expenditures, while Microsoft handled all server updates and maintenance, freeing up their IT team for more strategic work.
With Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive fully integrated into their workflow, employees were able to collaborate more effectively. Teams from different locations could now work together seamlessly, accessing shared files and real-time communication tools. This resulted in faster project completion times and more efficient operations.
Employees could now access their email, calendar, and files from any device, anywhere, which was particularly beneficial for remote workers and employees traveling between manufacturing locations. The improved availability and disaster recovery capabilities of Microsoft 365 ensured continuous access to critical data, even in the event of hardware failures or natural disasters, reducing downtime and enhancing business continuity.
Migrating from on-premises Exchange 2013 to Microsoft 365 allowed the Michigan manufacturing company to enhance its security, improve collaboration, reduce IT costs, and streamline disaster recovery efforts. Medha Cloud’s tailored migration strategy ensured a smooth transition, minimizing risks and ensuring the company could focus on its core manufacturing operations without interruptions.
If you’re still operating on Exchange 2013 or an outdated on-premises system, it’s time to consider migrating to Microsoft 365. Contact Medha Cloud today to discuss how we can help you secure your data, enhance collaboration, and reduce your IT costs with a seamless migration to the cloud.
