Makwa Global is a Tribal Enterprise that provides a range of services including security, IT and cyber security, professional services, logistics, and construction to government agencies. The company is comprised of small businesses certified under the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) and HUBZone programs.
Case Study: Implementing Microsoft 365 Cloud Environment for Makwa Global
Summary
The goal was to set up and configure a basic Microsoft 365 cloud environment for Makwa Global, including SharePoint Online and Microsoft Teams, to improve operational efficiency and remote collaboration.
Challenge
Makwa Global required a robust and secure cloud environment that would improve operational efficiency, enable compliance, and facilitate remote collaboration. The challenge was particularly pressing given that Makwa Global was a small team of 5 striving to collaborate more efficiently while working remotely. The team faced significant disorganization, with multiple members using different document storage cloud solutions like Box and Dropbox to collaborate on work documents. This fragmented approach led to difficulties in maintaining a cohesive workflow, ensuring data compliance, and securing sensitive information. The task was to create a unified system that could integrate seamlessly and meet the organization’s business needs, including data retention and compliance requirements.
Strategy
The strategy involved key steps for achieving the desired outcomes. First, Microsoft 365 licenses were obtained in order to utilize enhanced capabilities. A SharePoint Online Document Library was established to facilitate file migrations and enforce a uniform content storage approach.
A basic intranet page was customized with a landing page, navigation menu, and links to corporate resources. Lastly, Microsoft Teams was used to establish virtual business meetings and an instant messaging environment, creating a basic team with up to four channels for collaboration.
Results
The implementation of the Microsoft 365 cloud environment for Makwa Global resulted in enhanced data retention and compliance, improved efficiency with a structured content management approach, and a secure, starting point for compliance operationalization. This basic setup of Microsoft 365 served as an excellent initial introduction to its benefits for business operations. By standardizing document storage with SharePoint Online and facilitating remote collaboration through Microsoft Teams, the team could seamlessly integrate their workflows and maintain a cohesive, organized, and secure system. This foundational setup set the stage for Makwa Global to leverage Microsoft 365’s full potential for growth and innovation in their business operations.