Windows IntunePartner Solution Case Study

IT Firm Forecasts 15 Percent Annual Growth with Cloud-Based PC Management Solution

OverviewCountry or Region: United StatesIndustry: Professional services—IT services

Partner ProfileSeattle, Washington–based Vorsite specializes in building cloud-based, on-premises, and hybrid IT solutions for small, midsize, and enterprise businesses across the United States.

Business SituationVorsite wanted to simplify IT administration, improve asset tracking, strengthen information security, improve support to mobile workers, and expand revenue opportunities.

SolutionVorsite adopted Windows Intune to deliver PC management, enhanced IT security, and asset management services from a single web console.

Benefits Increased revenue growth Faster, easier asset management Enhanced security

“We’re using Windows Intune to create new recurring revenue opportunities…. I believe Windows Intune will help us increase our business by 15 percent a year.”

Diane Gallagher, Chief Technology Officer and Cofounder, Vorsite

Vorsite is committed to helping customers replace multiple tools and server-based infrastructure with simple, cost-effective, web-based solutions. The company specializes in deploying the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Standard Suite, but Vorsite wanted to add an offering to its portfolio that also delivered IT administration, enhanced security, and updates through the web. The company was excited to discover Windows Intune, an all-in-one cloud-based solution that includes PC management, malicious software protection, remote assistance for mobile users, and inventory tracking and management features. By using Windows Intune, Vorsite expects to increase the variety of solutions and services available to new and existing customers, and anticipates that revenue will increase at a rate of 15 percent a year.

Situation Seattle, Washington–based Vorsite, a member of the Microsoft Partner Network, delivers cloud-based strategies and solutions to companies across the United States. Vorsite specializes in Microsoft Online Services—including the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Standard Suite, a set of messaging and collaboration tools—and provides Internet-based computing solutions, web-based tools and applications, and a variety of delivery models for IT services.

“Our customers —small and midsize businesses—seek simplicity,” says Diane Gallagher, Chief Technology Officer and Cofounder of Vorsite. “They want better protected, better performing computers, but they don’t want to work with multiple vendors or manage multiple systems because this can be costly and cumbersome.”

As more businesses opt for cost-effective Internet-based solutions to simplify IT administration, support security, and boost PC performance, Vorsite realized that it needed to add a cloud-based offering to its portfolio that would provide IT administration and malicious software (malware) protection.

Vorsite also wanted to offer a leading-edge technology solution that would help customers gain greater insight into hardware and software inventories. “One of the biggest challenges our customers face is a lack of visibility into what assets they have—what computers, software programs, and applications they’re running,” Gallagher says. “This lack of insight makes it nearly impossible for them to accurately gauge

their IT needs and plan for future investments.”

Vorsite decided that offering cloud-based PC management and security services could address all of these challenges, as well as generate additional revenue opportunities.

SolutionIn 2010, Vorsite discovered Windows Intune, a comprehensive cloud-based solution that includes PC management, malicious software protection, remote assistance, and inventory tracking.

Vorsite now uses Windows Intune to manage customers’ PCs—regardless of where the users are located. As long as a computer is connected to a Microsoft Silverlight– enabled browser, the IT team can perform routine management tasks, such as sending out updates, as well as providing remote assistance.

“By using Windows Intune, we can access our customers’ PCs as if we were sitting right next to them,” Gallagher says. “They don’t need to be connected to a corporate network. In fact, they can be working from anywhere—and we can provide the same level of service regardless of their location.”

Gallagher also notes that IT professionals at Vorsite can use the remote assistance capabilities of Windows Intune to quickly diagnose and troubleshoot issues so that customers remain productive and experience less downtime. “By using the remote assistance capabilities of Windows Intune, we can rapidly respond to requests for help,” says Gallagher. “And we can typically resolve issues on the spot, so

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“[By using Windows Intune] we’re able to offer industry-leading productivity and PC management tools in a cost-effective, all-in-one solution.”

Diane Gallagher, CTO and Cofounder, Vorsite

there’s no need for customers to shut down their PCs while we work.”

In addition, because Windows Intune includes malicious software protection built on the same Microsoft Malware Protection Engine used by the Microsoft Forefront Protection Suite, IT professionals at Vorsite now receive alerts and infection reports in a timely manner—and they can address each concern immediately.

Vorsite is also excited about the asset reporting feature included with Windows Intune. The company’s IT professionals can now use a simple web browser to identify installed software and hardware applications, and can easily filter licenses by group, publisher, or category to assess current needs for the organization and forecast future IT spending.

BenefitsBy using Windows Intune, Vorsite expects to gain the following benefits:

Increased Revenue GrowthVorsite is excited about the potential for significant revenue growth. “By using Windows Intune together with productivity tools such as the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Standard Suite, we’ve become a one-stop shop for cloud services,” Gallagher explains. “We’re able to offer industry-leading productivity and PC management tools in a cost-effective, all-in-one solution. Not only does this make our customers happy because they experience less downtime and more productivity, but we’re also using Windows Intune to create new recurring revenue opportunities by offering more solutions to both new and existing customers. I believe

Windows Intune will help us increase our business by 15 percent a year.”

Faster, Easier Asset ManagementBy using Windows Intune, Vorsite can quickly and easily see the assets in each customer’s IT environment through a web-based console. “With Windows Intune, we can access a comprehensive list of hardware and software assets in seconds rather than hours,” says Gallagher. “That’s a huge benefit because it means our customers can spend less time dealing with IT issues and more time adding value to their businesses.”

Enhanced Security—Delivered from the CloudBefore Windows Intune, many Vorsite customers—particularly mobile workers—did not have adequate security. “Using Windows Intune, we receive alerts right away and can send out software and security updates before customers are even aware of a problem,” Gallagher explains. “Our customers appreciate that we have the ability to address and eliminate potential security issues before their productivity is affected.”

Gallagher notes that Windows Intune is an ideal solution for any business looking to better track assets and licensing, reduce PC maintenance and repair, and support security. “I would absolutely recommend Windows Intune to any business looking for a simple, cost-effective way to manage PCs,” Gallagher concludes. “The solution is easy to set up, easy to use, and provides better support for today’s mobile workforce.”

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“I would absolutely recommend Windows Intune to any business looking for a simple, cost-effective way to manage PCs. The solution is easy to set up, easy to use, and provides better support for today’s mobile workforce.”

Diane Gallagher, CTO and Cofounder, Vorsite

Windows IntuneWindows Intune simplifies how businesses manage and secure PCs using Microsoft cloud services and Windows 7, so your computers and users can operate at peak performance from almost anywhere. You can provide a better experience for your workforce that's easier to manage by standardizing your PCs on Windows 7 Enterprise or on an earlier version of Windows—it’s your choice. Windows Intune fits your business by providing a comprehensive desktop solution that gives you big tech results with a small tech investment.

For more information about Windows Intune, go to:www.windowsintune.com

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For More InformationFor more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568-2495. Customers in the United States and Canada who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to:www.microsoft.com

For more information about Vorsite products and services, call 206-781-1797 or visit the website at:www.vorsite.com

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Document published February 2011

Software and Services Windows Intune