Modernise the endpoint estate
Move users away from Windows 7 and onto a more current, supportable and productive Windows 10 platform.
Case study • Charity IT infrastructure modernisation
Modernised IT infrastructure for the British Red Cross
Helping the British Red Cross move from a largely Windows 7 estate to a more secure, manageable and productive Windows 10 platform across a complex user and device environment.
Charity & NGO
Windows 10
Endpoint modernisation
Security improvement
Overview
Supporting a national charity with a more secure and productive operating platform.
The British Red Cross is a registered charity that responds to conflicts, natural disasters and emergencies in the UK and worldwide. Its technology environment needed to support staff, volunteers and services across a broad operational footprint.
Programme priorities
From ageing operating systems to a modern Windows 10 estate.
The project focused on replacing an outdated operating system baseline, preparing devices for deployment and improving the security, manageability and user experience of the technology estate.
Support a distributed workforce
Plan around laptops, desktops and mobile devices used across multiple sites and operational teams.
Improve security posture
Strengthen the technology baseline with regular Windows 10 updates and improved management control.
Protect user experience
Manage the migration carefully so users could continue working with the right applications and device configurations.
The challenge
Replacing legacy infrastructure across a varied and distributed device estate.
The British Red Cross needed to modernise a technology estate where the majority of devices were still running Windows 7. The migration had to account for different device types, site requirements and software compatibility needs.
Legacy operating system
Windows 7 dependency
Around 90% of the estate was running Windows 7, creating a need for a structured move to a more current operating platform.
Distributed estate
Devices across multiple sites
The environment included more than 200 laptops, 150 desktops and approximately 2,000 company-owned Android devices.
Application readiness
Software compatibility
Incompatible software needed to be identified, reviewed and upgraded as part of the wider Windows 10 readiness work.
Security requirement
Stronger update control
The organisation needed a more secure platform with improved access management and ongoing security update capability.
User experience
Agility and productivity
The project needed to improve the everyday user experience while making the environment easier to manage and support.
Operational continuity
Migration without disruption
The programme had to be planned carefully to reduce disruption for teams delivering critical charity services.
Altiatech's role
Assessing, preparing and enabling a controlled Windows 10 upgrade.
Altiatech proposed and supported a comprehensive Windows 10 upgrade, combining readiness assessment, image preparation, deployment configuration and migration planning to help the British Red Cross modernise safely.
Delivery focus
Windows 10 readinessCreating the technical foundations for a secure, managed endpoint migration.
The programme considered hardware readiness, software compatibility, operating system configuration, application requirements and deployment sequencing so the migration could progress with greater control.
Readiness
Hardware assessment
Altiatech assessed existing hardware to determine Windows 10 readiness across the environment.
Configuration
Tailored Windows 10 image
A tailored image was prepared with the right configuration, applications and drivers for the organisation.
Deployment
Distribution points
Deployment foundations were created to support the Windows 10 rollout across the device estate.
Sequencing
Task configuration
Task sequence configuration helped standardise the deployment process and improve migration control.
Application fit
Software readiness
The assessment considered hardware and software differences across the estate before migration.
Continuity
Disruption reduction
The migration approach was designed to support continuity while enabling a large-scale operating system upgrade.
The approach
A practical migration plan built around readiness, configuration and controlled deployment.
The approach focused on understanding the current estate first, then creating a deployment model that could support a smooth transition to Windows 10 across a varied technology environment.
Review the current estate
Assess the existing operating system baseline, hardware mix, applications and device requirements across the organisation.
Confirm Windows 10 readiness
Evaluate whether existing hardware and software configurations were ready for Windows 10 deployment.
Build the deployment image
Create a tailored Windows 10 image with the required configuration, apps and drivers.
Prepare distribution points
Set up the technical distribution model needed to support rollout across the estate.
Configure task sequences
Standardise deployment steps so migration activity could be managed consistently.
Support controlled migration
Enable the Windows 10 upgrade to progress with reduced disruption to users and operational teams.
Outcomes
A modern Windows 10 estate with stronger security, control and user capability.
The British Red Cross moved to a more up-to-date Windows 10 environment, giving the organisation a modern platform for security, management and productive working.
Modern operating platform
All areas of the organisation began operating from a modern, productive Windows 10 platform.
Improved security
IT security improved through a more current platform, regular security updates and stronger identity and access management.
Greater administrator control
IT administrators gained more control over a more manageable operating system environment.
Future-ready estate
The organisation gained a more up-to-date Windows 10 estate that could support future Microsoft enterprise capabilities.
Operational efficiency
The upgrade helped improve operational efficiency across a broad network of staff, volunteers and sites.
Better user experience
Users gained access to a more modern platform designed to support agility, productivity and day-to-day working.
Result
The Windows 10 migration created a stronger foundation for secure, manageable and productive IT operations.
By partnering with Altiatech, the British Red Cross took a significant step towards modernising its IT infrastructure and improving the control of its endpoint environment.
Connected services
Services connected to this work.
Altiatech helps organisations modernise endpoints, improve productivity, strengthen security and run IT environments with clearer operational control.
Productivity
End User & Productivity
Support Microsoft 365, devices, collaboration, secure working and AI-enabled productivity.
Protect
Managed Cyber Security
Protect, detect, respond and improve with practical security support and evidence-backed controls.
Run
Managed Services
Run and improve IT services with clearer ownership, reporting, monitoring and continual improvement.
One connected model: endpoint modernisation works best when productivity, security, user experience and operational management are planned together.
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Planning an endpoint, productivity or infrastructure modernisation project?
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