Global consistency
Support a more consistent user experience across departments, regions, members, students and hybrid working environments.
Case study • Global education IT transformation
Global IT transformation for a professional education body
Helping the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants modernise its technology ecosystem with secure, scalable and more proactive IT services for a global user base.
Professional body
Global education
Managed services
Microsoft 365
Overview
Modernising the technology ecosystem for global education and professional development.
CIMA needed a technology partner able to support a digitally connected institution serving members, students, certification programmes and hybrid teams across a global operating model.
Programme priorities
From fragmented infrastructure to a secure, scalable operating platform.
The work needed to reduce operational risk, standardise collaboration, strengthen governance and create a more proactive IT service model for a global professional body.
Secure collaboration
Bring collaboration platforms, Microsoft 365 services, access controls and security tooling into a more connected model.
Proactive service delivery
Move from reactive support towards 24/7 monitoring, escalation, patching, asset oversight and strategic guidance.
Resilient infrastructure
Modernise backup, continuity and audiovisual infrastructure to support digital delivery and hybrid working requirements.
The challenge
Reducing operational risk across a globally distributed technology estate.
CIMA's legacy infrastructure was no longer aligned with the demands of a global professional institution. The organisation needed to modernise collaboration, endpoint management, support and resilience without disrupting core services.
Collaboration
Disconnected platforms
Multiple collaboration tools were creating operational silos and making it harder to provide a consistent digital experience.
Endpoint control
Inconsistent device management
Endpoint management varied across global locations, creating complexity around support, security and operational visibility.
Support model
Reactive service delivery
The organisation needed more proactive monitoring, patching, escalation and strategic guidance rather than reactive support.
Continuity
Ageing backup infrastructure
Backup and resilience foundations required modernisation to improve recoverability and reduce operational risk.
Hybrid working
Audiovisual limitations
Boardrooms and training environments needed better audiovisual capability to support hybrid working and global learning delivery.
Change delivery
Scalable project governance
CIMA needed clearer frameworks for global project delivery, change management, training and ad hoc consultancy support.
Altiatech's role
Delivering a connected transformation programme across service, cloud, security and resilience.
Altiatech acted as a strategic technology partner, combining managed service delivery with Microsoft cloud modernisation, endpoint protection, business continuity and flexible consultancy through the altiaPoints framework.
Delivery focus
Global platformCreating a modern service model that could support global operations.
The programme connected day-to-day IT operations with strategic improvement, helping CIMA improve service quality, security, resilience and collaboration while creating a platform for future innovation.
Managed services
24/7 monitoring and support
Altiatech implemented monitoring, third-line escalation, proactive patching, asset lifecycle oversight and strategic guidance.
Cloud licensing
Microsoft 365 cost management
CIMA moved to a modern CSP billing model with licence optimisation and clearer Microsoft 365 cost management.
Security
Defender and BitDefender
Endpoint protection was strengthened with Microsoft Defender, BitDefender GravityZone, Entra ID and conditional access policies.
Continuity
Backup and UPS modernisation
Backup infrastructure was modernised using Veeam technology alongside UPS upgrades for stronger resilience.
Collaboration
SharePoint and Teams
SharePoint and Teams environments were restructured to improve global collaboration and migration from legacy systems.
Consultancy
altiaPoints framework
The altiaPoints model enabled flexible project delivery, training, endpoint support and infrastructure assessments.
The approach
A practical transformation approach across service, security, collaboration and continuity.
The approach brought multiple workstreams together so CIMA could modernise without treating managed services, security, collaboration, licensing and resilience as separate projects.
Establish managed service foundations
Monitoring, patching, escalation, asset lifecycle oversight and technology guidance created a stronger operating model.
Optimise Microsoft 365 and licensing
The move to a modern CSP billing model supported licence optimisation and clearer cost management.
Strengthen security and identity
Endpoint protection, Entra ID and conditional access policies improved control across the global user base.
Modernise backup and resilience
Veeam-based backup modernisation and UPS upgrades supported better business continuity and recovery confidence.
Restructure collaboration platforms
SharePoint and Teams environments were reorganised to support global collaboration and migration from legacy systems.
Enable hybrid working and projects
Audiovisual upgrades and altiaPoints consultancy supported boardrooms, training, connectivity and ongoing change delivery.
Outcomes
A more unified, secure and future-ready technology platform.
The transformation reduced operational overhead, improved service response, strengthened endpoint protection and created clearer governance for projects and future innovation.
Unified Microsoft 365 tenant
CIMA established a secure Microsoft 365 tenant spanning departments and regions.
Reduced operational overhead
A more consistent service model helped reduce day-to-day IT overhead and improve operational clarity.
Improved response and resolution
Managed service improvements supported better response and resolution times across support needs.
Consistent endpoint protection
Security tooling and policies created stronger protection across the global user and device estate.
Robust backup infrastructure
Business continuity foundations were strengthened through backup and UPS modernisation.
Clearer project governance
The altiaPoints framework gave CIMA more transparent project governance and budget control.
Strategic partnership
CIMA gained a technology platform and advisory relationship designed to support continued innovation.
Altiatech continues to support planning around Azure, Entra ID, compliance alignment and artificial intelligence integration as CIMA develops its future-ready technology environment.
Connected services
Services connected to this work.
Altiatech helps organisations modernise IT services, strengthen cloud foundations, improve security and support global productivity with clearer service ownership.
Run
Managed Services
Run and improve IT services with clearer ownership, reporting, monitoring and continual improvement.
Enable
Cloud & AI Enablement
Assess, design and enable cloud and AI foundations with the right architecture and controls.
Secure
Managed Cyber Security
Protect, detect, respond and improve with practical security support and evidence-backed controls.
One connected model: global IT transformation works best when service ownership, cloud foundations, security, collaboration and resilience are planned together.
View all services →Next step
Planning a global IT modernisation or managed service improvement programme?
Talk to our team about managed services, Microsoft 365, cloud readiness, cyber security, endpoint protection and resilience for your organisation.
Email: innovate@altiatech.com
Phone: 0330 332 5842