Bennett Design Associates Inc.

Microsoft partner 360 Visibility Inc. provided Bennett Design with state-of-the-art productivity and communication tools available in the Microsoft Cloud, including: Office 365; Azure Active Directory; and Azure Backup.

Project at a glance

Bennett Design Associates, one of Toronto's premier interior design firms, faced significant challenges with outdated IT infrastructure that hindered their ability to deliver innovative workplace designs.

To overcome these obstacles, they partnered with 360 Visibility, a trusted Microsoft Cloud Solutions provider, to modernize their IT environment. By implementing Office 365, Azure Active Directory, and Azure Backup, 360 Visibility enabled Bennett Design to significantly enhance their productivity, security, and data management.

This strategic migration to the Microsoft Cloud resulted in a 40% increase in project delivery speed, a 50% improvement in IT security, and a 60% reduction in data recovery times. As a result, Bennett Design can now focus on creating exceptional design solutions with the confidence that their IT systems are reliable, secure, and future-proofed.

40%

With the implementation of Office 365, Bennett Design experienced a 40% increase in project delivery speed. The enhanced collaboration and access to the latest productivity tools allowed the team to work more efficiently, meeting tight deadlines and exceeding client expectations.

50%

The deployment of Azure Active Directory strengthened Bennett Design’s IT security by 50%. This improvement in security posture has significantly reduced the risk of data breaches, protecting the firm’s sensitive client information and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

The Tools

Products and services implemented

Service

Cloud Infrastructure Advisory

Implementation

Microsoft 365

Implementation

Azure Active Directory

Implementation

Azure Backup

The Challenge

Struggling with outdated IT infrastructure, impacting their ability to deliver innovative design solutions

Bennett Design Associates Inc., one of Toronto's largest independent interior design firms, faced significant challenges with their outdated IT solutions as they aimed to maintain their reputation for delivering innovative workplace designs. Founded in 1997 by Sue Bennett, the company had evolved from a small startup into a leading design firm with a commitment to people, the environment, and culture. However, as the company grew, their IT infrastructure lagged behind, struggling to support the high-resolution vector-based programs crucial to their design work.

The firm’s design production teams were constantly hindered by slow processing speeds, inefficient program delivery, and hardware malfunctions. Moreover, their existing file synchronization software frequently caused files to go missing or be overwritten, leading to lost creative work in an industry where deadlines are critical. Bennett Design needed a technology solution that would provide reliability, mobility, and security to support their expanding operations and align with their vision for the Future of Work.

"For the first time in 10 years, I am confident that our IT is reliable, protected, and is supporting our business."

Sue Bennett
Owner - Bennett Design
The Solution

Modernized IT environment with enhanced productivity tools, robust security, and reliable data management

To address the pressing challenges Bennett Design Associates faced, they turned to 360 Visibility, a trusted Microsoft partner, to revamp their IT infrastructure with modern cloud-based solutions. 360 Visibility began by implementing Office 365, a comprehensive suite of productivity tools that allowed Bennett Design’s teams to work more efficiently and collaboratively. With Office 365, the firm’s employees gained access to the latest versions of essential applications like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, ensuring that they always had the most up-to-date tools at their disposal. The cloud-based nature of Office 365 also provided the added benefit of seamless access to business services, including email and video conferencing, which were critical for maintaining effective communication both within the team and with clients.

In addition to enhancing productivity, 360 Visibility implemented Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to bolster the firm’s IT security. Azure AD provided a robust identity and access management solution, which significantly strengthened the security of Bennett Design’s IT environment. By basing security on user identity, Azure AD helped protect the firm against advanced threats, ensuring that sensitive client information and design data were secure. Furthermore, Azure AD allowed Bennett Design to integrate their security practices with partners and customers, enhancing collaboration while maintaining the highest security standards.

To ensure that Bennett Design’s data was reliably managed and protected, 360 Visibility also deployed Azure Backup. This cloud-based backup solution replaced the company’s outdated on-premises and off-site backup systems, offering a more reliable, secure, and cost-effective method for data protection. With Azure Backup, Bennett Design could rest easy knowing that their data was securely backed up and could be quickly restored in the event of a system failure or data loss. This peace of mind was crucial for the firm, enabling them to focus on their core business of delivering innovative design solutions without the constant worry of IT issues.

The Results

Enhanced IT capabilities enabling Bennett Design to focus on delivering innovative design solutions

1

Enhanced Productivity

With Office 365, Bennett Design's staff now enjoys the latest productivity tools and seamless collaboration, resulting in a 40% increase in project delivery speed. The ability to access files from anywhere has empowered the team to work flexibly, aligning with the company’s commitment to a mobile and adaptable work environment.


2

Improved IT Security

The implementation of Azure Active Directory has strengthened the firm's IT security by 50%, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access. This has been critical in protecting sensitive client information and maintaining the firm’s reputation for excellence.


3

Reliable Data Management

Azure Backup has provided Bennett Design with a reliable and secure backup solution, reducing data recovery times by 60%. This ensures that even in the event of a system failure, the company can quickly restore operations without compromising on project deadlines.


4

Reduced IT Overhead

By transitioning to cloud-based solutions, Bennett Design has reduced their IT management overhead by 30%. The streamlined cloud infrastructure requires less day-to-day maintenance, allowing the firm to reallocate resources to focus on creative and strategic initiatives that drive business growth.

 

"Our goal with Bennett Design was to deliver a technology solution that matched their innovative approach to workplace design. By migrating their IT environment to the Microsoft Cloud, we not only increased their productivity by 40% but also enhanced their IT security and data management capabilities, ensuring they have the tools they need to continue leading in their industry."

Jason Meilleur
Cloud Solutions Director - 360 Visibility

 

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