Security best practices: Axians
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Using integrated security tools to develop partner opportunities
As cybersecurity evolves, leaders in organizations of all types and sizes realize that they need new approaches to secure their data, manage users, ensure compliance, and guard against ever-changing threats. The challenge is to wade through an expanding universe of security solutions, identify tools that are the right fit for their specific circumstances, and deploy them with IT staff that is often consumed by day-to-day responsibilities.
For Axians, a long-time Microsoft partner with offices in 18 countries in Europe, Africa, and North America, today’s cybersecurity landscape presents a growing opportunity. Most of their solutions revolve around Microsoft 365 Enterprise tools offered with Windows 10, Office 365 and Enterprise Mobility + Security.
“The Microsoft ecosystem is quite broad, so within our organization we have a number of groups dedicated to Microsoft technology.” said Joerg-Oliver Todamm, Cloud Architect at Axians. “Other products are available, but we primarily rely on Microsoft technologies for integrated solutions that our customers can grow into.”
One of the key benefits that Axians stresses to their clients is that Microsoft 365 Enterprise delivers a cohesive set of tools that can be deployed as needed, helping to reduce the burden on a lean IT department. “Whether it’s helping to secure data, guarding against email threats or managing identities, customers want a bunch of functionality that will improve security for their organization, but they don’t want to deal with a bunch of vendors,” said Todamm. “They really want to focus on enabling users, and let Microsoft take care of the technology.”
Windows 10 is the starting point for many customers
Axians believes that today’s customers are well aware of the cybersecurity challenges that threaten their organizations. Todamm explained that workforce mobility is often a driving factor. “Companies realize that having people working from home, working on the go, and using their own devices presents a security challenge,” he said, “so they’re looking for an operating system that can meet the challenge. Security is just an expectation for every customer.”
According to Todamm, Windows 10 delivers the agility that Axians customers demand. “Agility is a huge driver, and customers understand that Microsoft adapts continuously,” he explained. “With Windows 10, along with the entire Microsoft 365 Enterprise suite, we can deliver security solutions that help to streamline IT processes we had in the past, and we can explain how it helps to protect customers.”
Todamm stressed that Axians customers simply expect security. Today, when a customer asks Axians to explain how their organizations will be protected, the conversation often begins with features of Windows 10 and then moves on to tools available in Office 365 and Enterprise Mobility + Security.
Amplifying the capabilities of lean IT teams
To illustrate how Axians leverages Microsoft 365 Enterprise integrated security tools and services, Todamm relates a current deployment involving a large European holding company. With a number of well-known brands under their umbrella, the customer organization has widespread operations, but they maintain a small IT footprint. Recent changes in the business structure raised new regulatory requirements that drove the company to take a look at their entire cybersecurity posture. Their technology tools dated back to Windows 7 and Office 2010, so they were primed for an upgrade.
“They have a very small and lean IT organization. Plus, they now have new requirements for data retention policies, financial data, and people working outside the corporate network, so you cannot use the same old tools and methods to protect their essential information,” explained Todamm.
The project has required an entire overhaul of the customer’s technology and security platform. The objective is to deliver a complete range of security solutions that protect data in storage and in transit. With Microsoft 365 Enterprise, Axians is deploying a wide range of specific solutions, including encryption, data governance policies, threat detection, and protection and identity management.
To complicate things, the deployment had to be accomplished quickly to satisfy the new regulatory needs associated with the changing business structure. Without the support of Axians and the integrated security solutions offered in Microsoft 365 Enterprise, “There’s no way such a small IT team could have accomplished these goals in such a short time,” said Todamm.