Case Study

Cloud Migration for a University 

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Client Name: Confidential 

Project Budget: Confidential 

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Client Background

Our client, a prominent university, aimed to migrate their IT infrastructure to Microsoft Azure to enhance their operational efficiency and security. They required assistance in building foundational landing zones, implementing governance and compliance policies, and establishing robust security guardrails. Additionally, they sought advanced security capabilities, including real-time monitoring and incident management, advanced identity protection, and data loss prevention (DLP) policies.

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The Challenge

The primary challenge was to design and implement a secure, compliant, and scalable Azure environment from scratch. This included creating landing zones, governance frameworks, security policies, and ensuring connectivity with their on-premises infrastructure. Furthermore, the client required advanced security capabilities, such as real-time monitoring, incident management, and advanced identity protection, to safeguard their sensitive academic and administrative data.

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Our Solution

CSP Gurus provided a comprehensive solution that leveraged Azure Synapse Analytics and the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) to build a secure and scalable cloud environment. Our approach included the following key steps:

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• Building the Azure Foundation

  • We started by designing and implementing foundational landing zones in Azure, following the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) to ensure best practices.

  • Governance and compliance policies were established to align with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Robust security guardrails were implemented to protect sensitive academic and administrative data.

• Implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

  • Azure DevOps and Terraform were used to automate the infrastructure setup, ensuring consistency and scalability.

  • Reusable Terraform pipelines were created for building workload landing zones, allowing for efficient deployment of new environments.

  • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) rules were set up to manage permissions and ensure secure access to resources.

• Establishing Connectivity

  • We configured a secure connection between the Azure environment and the university’s on-premises headquarters, enabling seamless data transfer and communication.

  • Virtual networks and ExpressRoute were used to ensure high-speed and reliable connectivity.

• Deploying Advanced Security Capabilities

  • Real-Time Monitoring and Incident Management: Azure Firewall and Azure Sentinel were installed to provide comprehensive security monitoring and incident management. Runbooks were created for incident auto-response, ensuring quick and efficient handling of security events.

  • Advanced Identity Protection: Azure Active Directory (AAD) was configured to provide advanced identity protection, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and conditional access policies.

  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Policies: DLP policies were implemented to safeguard sensitive data and prevent unauthorized sharing of information.

 

Results and Benefits

• Enhanced Security and Compliance: The implementation of robust security guardrails, real-time monitoring, and DLP policies ensured a secure and compliant cloud environment.

• Operational Efficiency: The use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and reusable Terraform pipelines streamlined the deployment process, reducing manual effort and increasing efficiency.

• Seamless Connectivity: The secure connection between the Azure environment and the on-premises headquarters enabled efficient data transfer and communication.

• Scalability and Flexibility: The Azure-based solution provided the scalability needed to handle growing workloads and the flexibility to adapt to future needs.

 

Client Testimonial

"Partnering with CSP Gurus has been instrumental in our cloud migration journey. Their expertise in Azure and their comprehensive approach to governance, security, and compliance have ensured a smooth and secure transition to the cloud. The advanced security capabilities and automated infrastructure setup have significantly improved our operational efficiency." – CIO, Leading University