When our team was onboarded to a project for a large, highly secured government entity last March, we found ourselves diving into a complex digital transformation. As the newly arrived “migration team,” we were welcomed into a project that had already been underway for 16 months. The client was eager for our expertise, and we were excited to dive in.

The task at hand was nothing short of monumental. We were looking at moving 15,000 employees, splitting sites, migrating to new cloud environments, changing user identities, and transitioning from Skype to Microsoft Teams. And we had just six months to move 90% of all Exchange/Skype data into the cloud.

As we absorbed the magnitude of the project in that first meeting, we were impressed by the client’s openness and willingness to collaborate. This wasn’t just another job; it was an opportunity to showcase our skills and make a real difference.

Peeling Back the Layers

Our first order of business was to dive deep into the existing infrastructure. We found ourselves working in a this complex, highly segmented zero-trust environment. Adding to the complexity, another team was simultaneously migrating the federated authentication system. It was an intricate dance of moving parts, but one we were eager to choreograph.

We quickly realized that many critical prerequisites were missing. Change requests had been rejected or mistakenly labeled as low priority. But rather than seeing this as a setback, we viewed it as an opportunity to demonstrate our expertise and add value from day one.

Building Bridges and Filling Gaps

We didn’t just write documentation; we crafted comprehensive guides that became the bible for this transformation. Our User Enablement guide wasn’t just a manual; it was a roadmap to becoming a Teams expert. The Operations Support guide? A treasure trove of workflows, potential issues, and architectural insights. Moreover, we drafted all communications and suggested a plan for communications timing, ensuring smooth information flow throughout the project.

But here’s where it got really interesting. As we reviewed these documents with the internal team, we uncovered a Pandora’s box of missing settings and policies. As seasoned security consultants, policy advisors, and change management experts, we were well-equipped to address these challenges. We lent our expertise to help implement the required changes, which included drafting justifications for change, documenting in detail different overlapping features to reassure leadership that their mandated security posture would remain intact, and guiding them to lock down the cloud environment. We also assisted in validating that the actual function matched the system design documents, ensuring a seamless and secure transition.

Adapting on the Fly

Remember those carefully crafted scripts we had planned? Well, throw that plan out the window. As timelines shifted and waves collapsed, we found ourselves rewriting processes on the fly. Our initial four scripts ballooned into 22 distinct tools, each addressing a unique challenge we encountered.

One of our proudest achievements was a custom troubleshooting script. Imagine a digital Swiss Army knife that could diagnose common issues, suggest fixes, and even provide the exact PowerShell commands needed. It was like leaving a piece of ourselves behind to continue helping long after we were gone.

The Human Element

Amidst all the technical challenges, we never lost sight of the human aspect. We handled hundreds of escalations from a support team 500 strong, each interaction an opportunity to educate and empower. We went beyond our scope, lending our expertise on everything from Data Loss Prevention to Azure Sentinel, because we understood that our success was intrinsically tied to the overall project’s success.

Against All Odds

As the project progressed, something remarkable happened. Despite the complexities, despite the constantly shifting goalposts, we found our rhythm. We crossed the 90% threshold for Teams migration a full 2.5 months ahead of schedule. The entire data movement? Completed 1.5 months early.

The result? A chorus of accolades echoing through the executive suite. But here’s the kicker – while the client was ecstatic, for us, this was just another day at the office.

The Moral of the Story

Yes, this project was complex. Yes, the timeline was tight. And yes, the technical and political barriers were numerous. But this is who we are. We’re not just tech experts; we’re problem solvers, adaptable thinkers, and relentless in our pursuit of excellence.

The reality is, while this project might sound extraordinary, it’s simply how we roll. We’re seasoned professionals who bring this level of dedication, expertise, and results to every project we undertake.

So, the next time you’re facing a digital transformation that seems impossible, remember this: With the right team – a team like ours – the impossible becomes not just possible, but business as usual.