Microsoft 365 and Azure Migration for Commercial Roofing Company

Azure Virtual Desktop, Sage 300 CRE Hosting, and Identity Consolidation After Business Acquisition

The Challenge: Legacy Infrastructure and Complex Post-Acquisition IT Consolidation

Following a business acquisition, this commercial roofing company needed to fully integrate a newly acquired organization into its existing Microsoft 365 and Azure environment while eliminating aging on-premises infrastructure and reducing operational complexity.

The acquired organization relied on legacy multifunction servers that had accumulated years of technical debt. One server simultaneously functioned as a domain controller, file server, SQL host, and Remote Desktop Services (RDS) profile server, creating operational risk and increasing the complexity of migration and decommissioning efforts. Additional complications stemmed from the organization’s Sage 300 CRE deployment, which relied heavily on fixed UNC file paths, registry settings, DLL dependencies, and tightly integrated backend storage systems.

The environment also contained significant identity and device sprawl, including dozens of stale Active Directory objects and inactive systems that increased security risk and licensing inefficiencies. At the same time, limited internet upload bandwidth created challenges for migrating approximately 2 TB of file share data into Azure and Microsoft 365 within the desired project timeline.

To support a successful transition while minimizing disruption, the roofing company required a carefully staged Microsoft 365 and Azure migration strategy capable of modernizing infrastructure, consolidating identities, migrating communications systems, and supporting critical business applications in Azure.

The Solution: Microsoft 365 and Azure Migration with Sage 300 CRE Hosting and Identity Consolidation

Data Networks delivered a comprehensive Microsoft 365 and Azure migration solution designed to fully integrate the acquired organization into the parent company’s Microsoft cloud environment while retiring legacy infrastructure and improving long-term manageability.

The project included the migration of approximately 23 active users from Google Workspace and a legacy Active Directory domain into the organization’s Microsoft 365 tenant and Azure infrastructure. Data Networks migrated Gmail mailboxes into Exchange Online while preserving the roofing company’s existing email domain to maintain continuity for users and external communications.

As part of the migration, approximately 2 TB of file share and Google Drive data was transitioned into Microsoft OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online environments based on departmental collaboration requirements and user ownership. Data Networks conducted both pre- and post-migration validation to ensure data integrity and confirm successful user access after cutover.

The engagement also focused heavily on identity consolidation and modernization. Data Networks evaluated and cleaned up stale Active Directory accounts and devices before transitioning user identities from the legacy local domain into Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD). Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) policies were implemented to strengthen security and align identity management with the parent organization’s Microsoft security standards.

To support the company’s critical Sage 300 CRE application, Data Networks provisioned a secure Azure virtual machine environment configured for Remote Desktop Services access for up to 10 users. The Azure VM was built according to performance and compatibility requirements and prepared for application deployment by the company’s Sage vendor. This allowed the organization to modernize infrastructure without requiring complex Azure File Share or legacy UNC path preservation strategies.

The project also included the decommissioning of legacy infrastructure components, including aging on-premises servers and the retirement of the legacy local Active Directory domain following successful migration validation.

Throughout the engagement, Data Networks coordinated closely with the client’s previous MSP team, Sage application provider, and organizational stakeholders to ensure smooth project execution and minimize disruption during cutover activities.

Continued Value: Centralized Cloud Management and Reduced Operational Complexity

Through this Microsoft 365 and Azure migration, the organization now benefits from a modernized and centrally managed cloud infrastructure fully integrated into the parent company’s Microsoft ecosystem.

Migrating users, identities, email, and file services into Microsoft 365 significantly improved collaboration, security, and manageability while eliminating reliance on aging on-premises servers. Hosting Sage 300 CRE within Azure also provides a more scalable and supportable platform for critical business operations while enabling secure remote access for authorized users.

The consolidation of identities into Microsoft Entra ID, combined with MFA and modern security controls, strengthens the organization’s overall security posture and reduces administrative overhead. Decommissioning legacy infrastructure and stale Active Directory objects further simplified operations and reduced long-term support costs.

As a result, the organization now operates on a streamlined, cloud-first infrastructure capable of supporting future growth, hybrid work requirements, and long-term operational efficiency. The environment is now proactively managed, monitored, and supported by Data Networks through a Managed IT Services agreement, ensuring ongoing performance optimization, security oversight, and long-term operational stability.

Tags: commercial, cloud services