Built entirely remotely. ESCMID receives a cloud IT setup from afar.

Customer profile

ESCMID (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) operates as a non-profit, membership-based organisation. Its administrative headquarters is located in Basel. Its mission is to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infection-related diseases.

The future IT landscape was to be secure, scalable and available from anywhere. A cloud solution was the top priority. In addition, IT operations were to be outsourced so that employees could once again focus fully on their core tasks.

We are delighted that the management chose our solution during the evaluation process, and we sincerely thank everyone involved for their trust.

All-cloud approach with Microsoft 365

With the all-cloud approach based on Microsoft 365 and our Operation Care Managed Service, ESCMID can achieve its goals in the best possible way. Microsoft's comprehensive, secure cloud solution, combined with our expertise and the user-centric Operation Care operating model, tipped the scales in favour of the decision.

Simone Brüderli, COO, sums up the project as follows: "We are delighted to have found a partner in Baggenstos who speaks our language and responds to our requirements. With the cloud solution, we have taken a major step towards simplifying internal and external communication."

Facts and figures

Starting point and objectives

The plan was to take over and renew the IT infrastructure through an external service provider. The new solution should manage without its own server infrastructure and run entirely in the cloud. This is intended to ensure security, scalability and worldwide availability from any device, without large investments.

In addition, IT operations should be outsourced so that ESCMID's employees can focus in every respect on their core tasks.

Solution

The "Modern Workplace" project realised the all-cloud approach with Microsoft 365. This includes:

• Microsoft Teams for data storage, telephony and collaboration
• Exchange Online for easier email management
• OneDrive for Business for convenient sharing and storing of files and work projects
• Managed Service Operation Care from Baggenstos, including
  • Network Maintenance
  • Cloud/Tenant Maintenance
  • Support 1st-3rd level
• Enterprise security for the highest data security thanks to the optimal use of Microsoft security solutions and the certified, field-proven expertise of the Baggenstos security specialists.

Results

By using a cloud-based, modern working environment, ESCMID's members and users can in future work and interact securely, across devices and locations. With the Modern Workplace and the use of innovative Microsoft 365 solutions, users can access all data and resources easily and regardless of location. All resulting processes relating to data storage, data handling, security and collaboration in a regulated environment are thereby significantly simplified.

Conclusion: ESCMID can in future focus even better on its main tasks as a non-profit organisation for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infection-related diseases. The Operation Care Managed Service ensures secure and reliable IT operations.

Challenges

Due to the Corona restrictions, the project, including the assessment and service, was completed entirely online (without any physical contact). However, with Microsoft Teams and video stream, it was nevertheless possible to sense the other person and to convey trust and competence.

The implementation was originally planned for May 2022, or rather after ESCMID's events in August. Due to the global hardware shortage, the project had to be postponed to July / August. During this transition phase, we took over support for the existing IT until the new solution was implemented and the Operation Care Service came into use.

Key figures

Clients
ESCMID relies on Lenovo devices and the Modern Workplace. Each workplace includes a notebook, a headset for collaboration and telephony, and on-site peripherals (dock/display) at the business location in Basel.

Teams telephony with PSTN breakout.

In addition, around 50 further users who hold an ESCMID mailbox for various data-exchange purposes.

All clients are protected with MFA and our security (BAG baseline), as are the Exchange Online accounts.
Security is a top priority at ESCMID and is taken very seriously in operations.

Microsoft 365
- M365 Enterprise E3
- Teams Phone Standard
- Exchange Online accounts with security from the M365 cloud
- Backup for all online accounts

SaaS Services
Creative applications from the Adobe Cloud (Adobe Creative Suite).
In addition, Abacus from the cloud – only the Abaclient resides on the end device.

Operation Care as the basis for future success

With our Operation Care Managed Service, there is more time for innovation. The Operation team takes care of day-to-day operations and provides rapid support in the event of a malfunction. Industry-recognised best practices and clearly defined service levels (SLAs) guarantee high quality. The permanently assigned Baggenstos Service Manager handles any escalations, ensures the ongoing optimisation of support and operating processes, and supports ESCMID in the further development of its IT infrastructure.

On-site network service
Setting up a state-of-the-art network on site for a trusted-network solution. Deployment of a «next-gen» firewall and installation of a secure WLAN.
The network hardware at the location is operated by Baggenstos on a flat-rate basis within Operation Care and kept up to date according to security standards.

On-call service
On certain dates, due to major events, symposia, etc., ESCMID requires an extended support structure, which Baggenstos provides through its 7x24 on-call service.

Many thanks for the good cooperation

We would like to sincerely thank ESCMID and everyone involved for the good and trusting cooperation. We are delighted that operational processes now run more smoothly and that all employees can work more comfortably with the Modern Workplace.