Business transformation, Microsoft

Microsoft 365 Copilot

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How to prepare your organization
for Microsoft 365 Copilot

copilot appdate

Until mid-2023 Modern Work was about Mobility, Security and Productivity. Enabling your employees to work hard, efficient and any time at any place was the ambition of CIO and CEO. Most organization took this opportunity to redesign their office environments, to rewrite the labor agreements and in some cases to train their workforce for this new reality. But there are limits to human mobility and employee productivity. In order to further optimize the output of the current worker AI will be your companion.

AI and more specifically Microsoft's new Copilot line up is a very powerful tool to leverage the capabilities and talents that are available in your organization. The single and seamless AI experience through the familiar Office 365 apps, the Image Creator from Designer and the ability to build your own Copilot GPT. All superchargers to boost your creativity and innovation, but important to remember that this magic only happens when you combine the power of large language models (LLMs) with your data. Microsoft offers you this powerful reasoning engine, but is your data governance ready?

Prepare your organization for copilot

License prerequisites.

Office 365 or Microsoft 365

Business prerequisites

Define an internal and external AI-powered strategy

Copilot for everybody?

  • Define a test group based on profiles
  • Check whether these profiles are secure
  • Who has access to which data
  • Train the pilot team on the new tools
  • Monitor the behavior of this group

Data assessment

  • Migrate your data to the cloud for access
  • Secure your data and protect access
  • Visualize your data model for governance
  • Clean data sources and qualify privacy and control standard
  • Rethink your storage strategy and cost

Governance measurement

  • Build a governance framework prior to the AI introduction
  • Invest in a monitoring engine that identifies all relevant KPIs in terms of users, devices, apps and data. Learn what Microsoft Graph is
    exposing
  • Let you Governance Center report, assess and
    remediate by design

Integration planning

  • Evaluate your infra architecture to understand how Copilot can be integrated and what Copilot will access, who it will touch and where it will create new data
  • Re-engineer your workflows with AI benefits
  • Minimize IT Ops failure by a well-thought integration plan

Copilot is not an autopilot, take the lead to review your zero trust model with us for what is coming.

Our governance program allows organizations to introduce in a confident way Copilot in their Modern Workplace

A powerful portal and our adequate advisory service guide you to the next destination

With ready-to-use reporting, built-in workflows, and playbooks for automated governance we assist your journey

Business transformation

The new NIS 2 Directive

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How to prepare your organization for the new NIS 2 Directive?

If (cyber)security was not the first topic on the agenda of the Board of your organization since 2016 (NIS 1), then it will be now. The NIS 2 (Network & Information Security 2) directive of the EU not only expands the scope of the legislation, but also the industries who need to take adequate measures to protect the European economy and society.

Where GDPR focuses on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, NIS targets operators of essential services and digital service providers across 18 sectors such as energy, finance, healthcare, and transportation. These sectors are required to invest in cybersecurity measurements, incident reporting, and supply chain security.

For the IT staff, article 21.1 of this regulation matters most. It states that your IT strategy will be based on an all-hazards approach that aims to protect network and information systems and the physical environment of those systems from incidents. For this reason, all specialists recommend organizations to build a governance framework with remediation mechanisms to comply with this objective and with their own ambitions to protect and secure.

Prepare your organization for NIS 2

Focus Area

Practices

Appdate

Organization of Information Security

  • Security Ownership
  • Security Roles and Responsibilities.
  • Risk Management Program

Asset Management

  • Asset Inventory
  • Asset Handling
Human Resources Security
  • Security Training

Physical and Environmental Security

  • Physical Access to Facilities
  • Physical Access to Components
  • Protection from Disruptions
  • Component Disposal
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Communications and Operations Management

  •  Operational Policy
  • Data Recovery Procedures
  • Malicious Software
  • Data Beyond Boundaries
  • Event Logging

Access Control

  • Access Policy
  • Access Authorization Least
  • Privilege Integrity and Confidentiality
  • Authentication

Information Security Incident Management

  • Incident Response Process
  • Service Monitoring

Business Continuity Management

  • Emergency and contingency plans
  • Redundant storage and its procedures for recovering data

The GDPR requires all organizations, whether within the EU or not, to protect the personal data of EU citizens.

The NIS 2 directive requires sectors providing services of high criticality or critical services related to EU infrastructure, to implement appropriate measures to minimize potential incidents, encompassing all aspects of security.

Customer case

Customer case: Aluminum Duffel

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Customer story for microsoft support by Appdate

About Aluminum Duffel

Aluminum Duffel is a company specializing in the production of aluminum semi-finished products for the automotive and industrial sectors. While their products are used in various applications, their main focus lies in the automotive industry, with major clients such as Audi and Tesla. With approximately one thousand employees, it operates primarily from their headquarters in Duffel, Belgium, with a few remote side offices in locations like Milan and Germany.

CHALLENGES

The collaboration between Appdate and Aluminium Duffel began when they encountered challenges with their Microsoft licenses and sought assistance from another company. Appdate played a crucial role in resolving the licensing issues. Since then, they have become their go-to contact for anything related to Microsoft.

With a dedicated IT team of 20 people, Aluminium Duffel relies on their expertise to navigate the complexities of Microsoft solutions and ensure they have the right tools and licenses for their needs.

COLLABORATION WITH APPDATE

Initially, the collaboration focused on licensing discussions and finding the most suitable Microsoft applications for Aluminium Duffel. However, Rember, the CEO of Appdate, introduced them to their program Appsafe, to help optimize license usage and provide valuable insights into security and reporting allowing them to identify unused licenses and potential areas for improvement, enhancing both efficiency and security within their Microsoft environment.

The partnership involves regular monthly meetings, during which they are presented with a detailed report. These reports highlight key performance indicators (KPIs) and provide valuable recommendations for improvement. Additionally, they discuss upcoming goals and initiatives, ensuring a proactive approach to their Microsoft environment.

Appdate's assistance has been instrumental during significant transitions, such as the carve-out when Aluminium Duffel was acquired by another company. In this process, they needed to rebuild their Microsoft infrastructure from scratch. Appdate's extensive network enabled them to connect Aluminium Duffel with the right partners who could facilitate this rapid transition, ensuring a smooth and successful outcome. The trust and confidence in Appdate's ability to understand their specific needs have made them an integral part of Aluminium Duffel's IT strategy.

While their involvement is primarily focused on Microsoft solutions, they also provide guidance and recommendations beyond specific requests such us keeping a close eye on Microsoft's latest offerings and proactively suggesting tools or applications that could benefit the company, acting as trusted advisors in their technological journey.

FUTURE PLANS

Looking ahead, Aluminum Duffel plans to continue their collaboration with Appdate. As they navigate the vast world of Microsoft solutions, they find great value in having a partner like Appdate to guide them and maintain a comprehensive overview of their Microsoft environment.

 

OUTCOME AND WORDS OF APPRECIATION

The IT solutions engineer and first/second-line coordinator at Aluminium Duffel shares that their collaboration with Appdate has been outstanding. From managing licenses to facilitating rapid transitions and providing guidance, Appdate has consistently demonstrated professionalism and expertise. The IT director fully supports the collaboration and recognizes the value it brings to their company.

"Rember is someone who makes you feel good and is very sincere. I really see Rember more as an extension of us, helping where we need him. The trust is really there."

"Once you go down that Microsoft road, that's such a big world. It's very helpful for us to be able to work with a company like Appdate to keep an overview. We are definitely going to continue working with Rember and his team in the future."

As Aluminum Duffel continues to rely on Microsoft technologies, they appreciate the personal and trustworthy approach of Appdate. With Rember's involvement, they have confidence in their Microsoft solutions and can focus on maintaining a smooth and efficient IT environment, thanks to the ongoing collaboration with Appdate.

 

 

Customer case

Customer case: Brutex

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About Bru Textiles

Bru Textiles is a leading company in the textile converter industry that serves
international clients and partners around the world.

Challenges

As a B2B company, Bru relies on Microsoft solutions to enhance their internal operations and communication. Bru also manages IT services for several global partners. Their software philosophy is "Microsoft first" leveraging the capabilities of Microsoft offerings and partnering with Appdate to explore the full potential of these solutions.

Their IT team embraces the Microsoft ecosystem, utilizing various applications and security features provided by Microsoft. They have obtained the ISO 27001 certification for security, a testament to their commitment to data protection. Working closely with Appdate, they ensure that their Microsoft environment aligns with their security goals.

Collaboration with Appdate

The collaboration between Bru and Appdate has been built on trust and
understanding, with Appdate providing valuable insights and recommendations
tailored to Brutex's requirements:

  • Optimize license usage and in-depth insights into license utilization.
    By analyzing license usage patterns, Bru can allocate them more efficiently, downgrade or upgrade as needed.
  • Support through monthly meetings where they discuss the reports generated.
  • These meetings serve as an opportunity for Appdate to provide guidance and recommendations based on the insights gathered.

This proactive approach ensures continuous improvement and allows Brutex to focus on their long-term goals.

Conventional business relationship and outcome

The collaboration between Brutex and Appdate goes beyond a conventional business relationship. The transparency and open communication between the two companies have fostered a deep sense of trust, considering Appdate an invaluable asset to their organization.
Looking ahead, Bru Textiles is focused on adopting Microsoft's zero-trust model, and Appdate expertise and advice play a crucial role in this process. The upcoming workshops aim to align everyone's vision and address key action points. These workshops will cover various aspects, including security and the applications within Office 365, allowing Brutex to leverage the full potential of their Microsoft ecosystem.

Words of appreciation

Brutex highly recommends Appdate to other businesses, highlighting the
personalized approach and commitment to long-term growth. Appdate's expertise and ability to understand each company's unique requirements set them apart from traditional consulting firms. They focus on empowering their clients, ensuring they make informed decisions and offering ongoing support to enhance their businesses. 

 

"Appdate is not just a consulting company; they aim to make us stronger and improve our company in the long run. Appdate truly becomes part of our company and provides valuable insights."

"We have confidence in Appdate's advice and look forward to the workshops to implement the zero trust model and optimize our Microsoft organization."

 

 

Bru is confident that their partnership with Appdate will continue to bring value in the long run. They appreciate Rember´s constant effort to identify growth opportunities and solutions for their organization. With Appdate´s ongoing support and guidance, Bru is well-positioned to achieve their goals and drive innovation in the textile industry.

Microsoft

Microsoft Research on the Modern Workplace

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A concrete way to measure IT's impact on an employee's at-work experience

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There's been a lot written about how Microsoft's huge turnaround under Satya Nadella is the result of a culture change. When we analyze the things that drive culture and look for ways we can support other organizations who are making changes of their own, we consistently find that IT has an outsized number of opportunities to positively impact employee sentiment and loyalty-both of which are critical parts of any organization's cultural transformation.

Improving employee sentiment and employee loyalty is also a critical way for an organization to attract winning talent. When workers have a modern workplace experience that is connected, flexible, and empowering, it sends a clear signal that they're valued and they work for a forward-leaning organisation.

Cultivating and positively reinforcing these attributes within your workforce is obviously valuable, but to make these changes replicable and actionable among our customers worldwide, we needed to study and quantify how this happens. We worked closely with leading experience management company, Qualtrics, as they've exhaustively studied how to do this.

Here's what we learned: Research: A concrete way to measure IT's impact on an employee's at-work experience (microsoft.com)