How North West engineering firm TBE modernised its IT Infrastructure with a Hybrid Cloud Solution

Trevor Bolton Engineering Services Limited (TBE), a trusted precision sheet metal company in Blackburn, initially approached us with the goal of improving their Cyber Security, as their current IT support provider didn’t have the capacity to address their growing needs in this area. During our initial assessment, we discovered that their IT infrastructure, which had expanded alongside their business growth, had become outdated and struggled to meet modern demands for performance and security. Recognising the need for a comprehensive upgrade, TBE sought our expertise to implement a hybrid-cloud solution that would modernise their operations.

TBE operated with a legacy IT infrastructure, over the years as the company has grown, their IT infrastructure no longer met their needs, the existing on-premise setup was starting to show its limitations in terms of performance, security and overall operating efficiency. TBE’s primary goal was to modernise their system to create a more secure and stable environment, but the limitations of their current setup posed significant challenges.

We worked closely with TBE’s internal IT team, not only providing technical support but also helping to upskill their team. Our objective was to provide them with the tools and knowledge they needed to modernise their infrastructure, while also being on-hand as third-line support as necessary throughout the transition.

The first step in TBE’s transformation was migrating their operations to Microsoft 365. We transitioned them from their legacy on-premise infrastructure to SharePoint and the Microsoft 365 cloud, ensuring the migration was secure and seamless.

Additionally, we implemented Azure joining to modernise their server infrastructure and made significant improvements to boost both performance and security. A major challenge was the migration of their CAD/CAM system, which is notoriously difficult to manage in cloud environments. To overcome this, we set up a cluster of servers, creating a single logical server that enhanced system performance. The integration with Azure Active Directory addressed previous performance issues and allowed for smoother operations.

We used a set of automated migration tools to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption. We deployed these tools onto TBEs servers and replicated the data to the cloud ahead of the final migration day. This “seeding” process meant that when the changeover occurred, the company experienced very little downtime.

We worked closely with their internal IT department to ensure all Azure joining on each device was simple. We made sure that all the data was copied over to OneDrive or SharePoint, and that users were fully migrated into the modern workplace system using Entra ID. The physical servers were migrated alongside the virtual machines to ensure everything was in sync.

TBE is now fully hybrid cloud-based, with core users operating on a modern workplace system which is integrated with Microsoft 365. The improved infrastructure has delivered high performance, more efficient working processes and improved collaboration tools.

TBE has also successfully achieved Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus Certifications, positioning them to take on additional work with increased security standards in place. They are now ready to explore further innovations in their IT landscape, including new possibilities with Microsoft’s suite of tools.

TBE is keen to explore new technologies and take advantage of all the opportunities that a modern IT infrastructure can offer. With their foundation now in place, we will continue to work with them on future projects and updates, ensuring that their systems stay at the forefront of the industry.