17 tips for Microsoft Modern Workplace, wherever you are in the journey

For most enterprises, Microsoft Modern Workplace management covers the adoption of cloud-based technologies to enhance efficiencies and improvements across multiple areas.

This approach encompasses:

• Reduction in management and risk of infrastructure
• Increased options for lower hardware costs
• Consistency of delivery
• Enabling user self-service where possible
• Improved collaboration
• Access to automation enhancements
• Quality of service delivery
• Data protection, classification, management, and readiness for AI

In the Microsoft world, this translates to products and compliance centres spanning the following:

• Productivity suites offering cloud-based applications and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Office 365)
• Endpoint management solutions for device configuration and security management across multiple platforms (e.g., with Microsoft Intune and Autopilot, MDA, Windows Update)
• Accessing work from anywhere, facilitated by cloud storage and online office suites (e.g., with Microsoft OneDrive)
• Information protection measures such as data loss prevention and threat protection (e.g., with Microsoft Defender)
• Data compliance tools including sensitivity labels, litigation hold capabilities and AI data readiness (e.g., with Microsoft Compliance Center)

Here are some stats...

55% of our clients

...have fully adopted new Microsoft cloud tooling based on cloud first IT policies

25%

...are underway

20%

...are yet to start.

We’re seeing two distinct approaches

Some clients ‘turn everything on’ and manage issues in real time with the aim of gaining maximum ROI in the shortest period.  This realises the least preparation and implementation time against a higher level of risk, and higher operational support workloads during the onboarding with end users.

Others take a Pareto approach, where new features that will make the most impact are tested, challenged and deployed first.  Although this may push out the eventual ‘end date’ it does cause the least stress on the business and end users and gives a realistic opportunity to measure, check and adjust that the ROI is happening.

There is no right or wrong approach, each business has its own appetite for change management and risk based on commercial and technical confidence.

17 tips to gain efficiencies, whatever stage you’re at

For those yet to start

1. Audit applications and devices and review how they’re being used
2. Rationalise out unused, expensive or duplicate software
3. Identify and start resolving legacy applications
4. Decide with wisdom what should go into the cloud….and what can stay
5. Prioritise new features based on short term gains vs long term savings
6. Create your ROI goals and success criteria
7. Create communication and information plan for end users

For those underway

8. Are you running behind your planned timetable – apply Pareto’s Law to the remaining stages?
9. Are the new features delivering the ROI intended now live?
10. Have any changes in features impacted the potential benefits whilst you are underway?

For those already invested in Microsoft Modern Workplace management

11. Consider an independent verification of your cloud configurations to ensure all features are set optimally
12. Limit application and OS vulnerabilities, update applications and patching within 14 days of a new release with automation
13. Automate the removal of unused, expensive or duplicate software
14. Enforce controls to stop application creep with a structured approval process
15. Implement Center of Excellence processes to stop unstructured data expansion
16. Implement data classification and retention policies
17. Monitor cloud costs against implementation ROI’s