Transition to the Cloud: A Successful Microsoft Licensing Upgrade and Full Cloud Integration

The First Solution: Transitioning Licensing over to CloudServus

CloudServus not only helped Hayes Locums upgrade to the Microsoft 365 Enterprise SKU but also enabled them to get additional benefits out of their licensing.

For instance, Hayes Locums’ Microsoft Azure subscription was expiring. In the past, they had subscribed directly through Microsoft. Through CloudServus’ Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, however, they were able to not just start a new subscription, but also access Microsoft Premier Support for Partners. “This was huge,” says Bhakta. “Just having access to that is definitely enticing.”

Switching from Microsoft Direct to the Azure Cloud Solution Provider program meant transitioning Azure resources, a process that Bhakta describes as “relatively painless.” He says, “I think we’ve only had to open up one support ticket to date that was for a feature that Microsoft had off by default.”

In addition to advice, CloudServus offered Hayes Locums step-by-step instructions for exporting resources and ran an analysis of what was easily movable.

The Second Solution: Using Microsoft Intune to Enable Workers Without Compromising Security

In part, Hayes Locums’ move to cloud-based device management with Microsoft Intune was driven by the need to support their workers. “We very much want to enable our workforce,” Bhakta says. “I think, due to COVID and the way the IT world has changed overall, hybrid work is at the forefront of employment discussions. It’s how people want to work in this day and age.”

It was also partly due to practical considerations.

A lot of internet companies still do on-premise patching or on-premise servers. To be honest, when your company’s in Florida and there are hurricanes all the time, I don’t want to have to deal with lifting and shifting our infrastructure and services within a week. - Bhavik Bhakta, Director of Information Technology, Hayes Locums

In the transition away from on-premise systems, Hayes Locums had two priorities. “Across every one of our technology pieces, we want it to be fast, available, and secure,” Bhakta explains.

Moving everything to the cloud ensured availability. Today, the company’s servers are located in Iowa and Virginia, while the company is in south Florida. “Having the management of users, the management of security, the management of our servers, and everything else in the cloud, makes our lives easier because we’re so much more flexible. We’re able to react efficiently to changes.”

As for security, the company uses Netskope, CrowdStrike and Microsoft Azure to ensure corporate-level security for workers’ devices. “Leveraging Microsoft Interchain, we took on some other security initiatives to protect these remote workers or people traveling,” Bhakta reports. “They won’t be without the protections that they’re accustomed to in the office.”

The company is also automating the process to the extent possible for their remote workforce. Today, using Microsoft Autopilot, they can mail laptops that are already completely set up for secure working directly to users.

Now that Hayes Locums has transitioned to fully cloud-based systems, workers have the flexibility they need, the company can be more reactive, and security is as rigorous as it was back when everything was on-premise. 

Getting the best licensing and the right customer support has helped the company take these steps, and be ready for whatever comes their way — whether that’s a malware attack on a remote worker’s laptop or a power outage at HQ.