Pyser Optics – Server 2012 EoL – Migration to the cloud!
Microsoft Server 2012 EoL
We have been providing our Managed IT Services to our client, Pyser Optics for around 5 years, which included supporting two on-premise servers, one a domain controller and one an ERP server. The domain controller also handled File and Printer sharing as well as Group Policy assignments that offered greater security and control over the users’ laptops and computers. The client was already utilising Microsoft 365 for email, which we had migrated over from an on-premise Exchange server a couple of years ago.
In recent years, the ERP system had become redundant as the client had downsized and moved to a more suitable cloud-based ERP solution. Both servers were also running Windows Server 2012 which Microsoft had announced they were going to stop supporting in October 2023.
One year prior to this date and with the recent improvements Microsoft had been making to its cloud-based Microsoft 365 platform, the client agreed with our proposal to move all services to the cloud. We upgraded the clients existing Microsoft 365 licenses (email only) to Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
The Microsoft 365 Business Premium license offered the following tools that made it perfect for the clients move to the cloud.
Existing On-Premise → Cloud
Active Directory → Azure/Entra AD
Group Policy → Microsoft Intune
File Sharing → SharePoint/OneDrive
Additionally, Microsoft 365 Business Premium also offers greater security features around email and endpoint protection with its Defender solutions.
Migration
A plan was put in place to structure the migration to the cloud and we began migrating files and folders over to SharePoint and OneDrive.
Once complete, it was time to setup Microsoft Intune and replicate the Group Policy objects from the domain controller. Configuration profiles were created that automatically signed the user into OneDrive and setup syncing of not only the user desktop and documents, but the SharePoint sites that they needed access too (depending on permissions granted).
The only remaining task was to switch DNS and DHCP services over to the clients Watchguard Firewall. Once tested we were able to turn off the clients on-premise servers.
Conclusion
Not only has this migration saved the client tens of thousands of pounds in new server hardware costs but it will cut energy costs as they are no longer needing to power servers onsite.
Feedback
The client has found the migration to be hugely beneficial, not only has it saved them money, but they are now able to access company data from anywhere, securely and quickly.