The Record - Issue 18: Autumn 2020

72 www. t e c h n o l o g y r e c o r d . c om T he Covid-19 pandemic has forced organi- sations to digitally transform at an unprec- edented pace to drive efficiency, enable collaboration, secure their data, and retain (or increase) their profitability. Nowhere has this digital transformation been more apparent than in the non-profit sector. At Synergy Technical, we work with several national and global non-profits. These organisations serve various populations – including individuals with developmental or physical disabilities – and some augment or replace critical educational services for local school districts. Many were faced with a clear choice; quickly develop and implement strategic plans to continue to provide their critical services to these populations, or risk potential disruption to both these services and possible bankruptcy. As a Microsoft partner that specialises in mod- ern workplace solutions like Microsoft Teams and Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD), we were well-prepared to help. Our core focus is enabling organisations to securely and productively work from anywhere. Our expertise spans across the USA and over 70 countries. We understand the complexities involved in quickly and efficiently enabling a secure, productive workforce. One customer, a regional non-profit that provides employment opportunities for indi- viduals with disabilities, has digitised most of its paper-based processes using a combination of Microsoft Forms, PowerApps and Power Automate. This increased operational efficiency by allowing staff to remotely manage critical pro- cesses. The organisation is also enabling WVD to allow employees to access legacy line of business applications remotely. Security remains a priority for organisations during their digital transformation journey. The non-profit organisations we work with process highly sensitive data, and in some cases, their employees are now using personal devices to access files that were traditionally unavailable outside of corporate network servers. Using Microsoft Azure Information Protection, Azure MFA, Conditional Access and WVD, we’ve been able to ensure that only those with appropriate credentials can access sensitive information. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that digi- tal transformation is no longer an option – it is a necessity. Using Microsoft technology, we’ve enabled organisations to continue to provide necessary services to their customers and, in many cases, substantially improve their security and operational efficiency as a result. Rohana Meade is president and CEO of Synergy Technical Are you ready for the digital future? The Covid-19 pandemic has proven that technology plays a vital role in supporting people and organisations today and in the long-term future ROHANA ME ADE : S YNE RGY T E CHN I CA L V I EWPO I NT