Customer challenges:

The ever-accelerating speed of HS2 means it is crucial for the company to be able to Work with multiple Suppliers across multiple locations, drive down IT cost and give more flexibility to their IT environment at the same time follow the government advice “Cloud first”. We helped HS2 complete a Cloud migration in a number of Phases:

Phase 1: Lift and shift of their hosted IT services to the Microsoft Azure cloud which provides infrastructure for building, testing, deploying and managing applications / services through a global network of Microsoft-managed data centres.

Phase 2: Run a series of prioritised activities for the optimisation of the Azure platform, part of the Azure Optimisation Programme.

• Aligned to the Cloud Strategy that was an output of phase 1 to deliver further optimisation, focusing on reducing spend and increasing service availability.
• Migrate from North Europe to UK Azure region, Azure Monitor (OMS) Exploitation, Tag a VM’s, Azure Security Centre, Azure Information Protection (PoC), Cloud Application Security (PoC), SQL Optimisation, Exchange Online Archiving, ExpressRoute Metering, Migration legacy Exchange data and Azure Test Environment – Internal and External User Access

Azure provides Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) and supports many different programming languages, tools and frameworks, including both Microsoft-specific and third-party software and systems. 

However, there are significant opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance user experience and reduce costs by exploiting process, automation and tooling capabilities available in Azure.

Solution:

Worked with HS2 to create a new solution blueprint in the Microsoft cloud – resigning old on-site hardware, ensuring fast implementation and achieving full integration with the firm’s existing case management system.

The new cloud environment was designed to deliver greater information security and compliance, improved flexibility and personal productivity, and new tools to enhance internal and external collaboration. HS2 cutting-edge IT services comprise of a virtual server environment within Microsoft Azure and the Office 365 suite of productivity applications including Microsoft Office for all staff. SharePoint Online houses the company intranet and team document storage while OneDrive for Business enables selected files and documents to be shared with customers and partners outside of the business in secure ‘groups’.

With modern laptops machines, powered by Windows 10, enabled the staff to work in any location as seamlessly as they would in the office with access to their files and applications wherever they are.