Client story Insight Ensures Standardised Cloud Journey for BDO
By Insight Editor / 14 Nov 2022 / Topics: Cloud Azure
By Insight Editor / 14 Nov 2022 / Topics: Cloud Azure
BDO* firms operate in local markets under the BDO brand. With responsibility for their P&L and budgets, they have autonomy over strategic choices and directions.
BDO Global Office coordinated efforts to help some of the BDO firms move to the cloud, selecting Insight to design and implement bespoke migration paths using Microsoft Azure landing zones.
BDO firms had a wide spread of technical maturity and capability. The lack of standardisation could have had a negative impact and put compliance, security and cost control at risk.
A standardised cloud solution would enable BDO Global Office to bring all BDO firms onto the same platform and ensure a standard approach to achieve exceptional client service and increased operational excellence.
As BDO Global Office has a ‘Microsoft-first’ strategy some BDO firms were already using Azure. Adopting an Azure framework would provide flexibility and align with BDO and Microsoft best practice for security and governance.
" Cloud technology is constantly evolving and Insight’s experts were able to condense best practice guidance from Insight and Microsoft, helping us create a standardised yet flexible cloud model to securely support every BDO firm’s journey to the cloud. Our engagement with Insight was a highly beneficial and positive experience."
Martijn Verbrugge,
Senior Manager Infrastructure and Architecture, BDO Global Office.
BDO Global Office engaged Insight to develop a number of landing zone definitions that aligned with the varying needs of BDO firms and with BDO Global Office.
Landing zones are a feature of a multi-subscription Azure environment. They provide the structure for secure, compliant and scalable cloud computing and enable entities to modernise and migrate applications at enterprise-scale without enterprise-level investment, or specialist technical skills. This was especially important for several smaller BDO firms in the BDO network.
Working closely with BDO Global Office’s infrastructure and architecture team, Insight delivered workshops with representatives from BDO’s leading member firms to design the Azure platform and landing zones. The workshops ensured that people around the world gained a consistent platform that addressed key areas such as security, monitoring, user management and cost management.
This approach ensured buy-in from BDO firms. It proves that the platform is appropriate for BDO’s business and is adaptable to meet local circumstances and regulations. The landing zone definitions and documentation are available on BDO Global Office’s intranet. BDO firms have the autonomy to create their own cloud presence using the landing zones, while retaining their independence.
Cloud technology changes rapidly, Insight’s subject matter experts keep pace with the changes and interpret Microsoft’s best practice guidance to meet the needs of BDO firms.
Insight had worked with BDO Global Office previously, understands BDO’s structure and the importance of BDO firms’ independence. BDO Global Office trusted Insight experts to design the best Azure framework to take BDO firms to the cloud.
As a global company, Insight is able to act as a technology partner for hardware, software and licensing, as well as a solution integrator for BDO firms.
*The BDO network (referred to as the ‘BDO network’) is an international network of public accounting, tax and advisory firms which are members of BDO International Limited and perform professional services under the name and style of BDO (hereafter: ‘BDO firms’). BDO International Limited is a UK company limited by guarantee. It is the governing entity of the BDO network. Service provision within the BDO network is coordinated by Brussels Worldwide Services BV, a limited liability company incorporated in Belgium (referred to as the ‘BDO Global Office’). Each of BDO International Limited, Brussels Worldwide Services BV and the BDO member firms is a separate legal entity and has no liability for another entity’s acts or omissions. Neither BDO International Limited nor any other central entities of the BDO network provide services to clients. BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO member firms.
The BDO Global Office coordinates services for the fast-growing firms that provide professional services under the BDO name in 164 countries and territories.
BDO firms needed a route to the Azure cloud that could be tailored to meet their specific needs, resources, and starting points.
