Unifying How Data is Shared with Microsoft Azure
Rural Ontario’s County of Bruce was spending limited resources maintaining legacy communication systems for 800 staff members spread over 42 locations.
The Technology Information Services (TIS) team leads envisioned “BruceWorx,” a Microsoft Azure cloud-based data-sharing solution built on Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint Online and Skype for Business. NTT DATA provided support by:
- Leveraging Microsoft’s Customer Immersion Experience (CIE) to expose Bruce County leadership to O365’s collaborative capabilities using real scenarios, and navigating strategic planning and deployment of key technologies to leverage SharePoint and Office 365 to the fullest,
- Moving the mobile experience to Microsoft Intune, bolting the existing solutions for the safe sharing of data with an array of users,
- Introducing Skype for Business for telepresence across the county.
Business Needs
On the edge of the Ontario peninsula, the County of Bruce’s staff of 800 provides critical municipal services, such as roads, water and tourism support, for the 67,000 residents dispersed across nearly 4,000 sq. km.
BruceWorx was the ambitious plan by Bruce County, Ontario's five-person IT team to digitise a 1,500 square mile workplace in nine months. Built on Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint Online and Skype for Business, this cloud-based digital transformation showcased how small governments can achieve cost-effective delivery of the right information at the right time.
NTT DATA supported Bruce County's IT investment as BruceWorks grew into a solution that local staff and other regional governments clamored for; BruceWorx's acceptance and evolution would guide it to win the MISA Ontario (Municipal Information Systems Association) 2019 Excellence in Municipal Systems Award.
Outcomes
- SharePoint's governance, combined with InTune’s smart data-sharing, balanced flexibility with security and data-sharing policies
- Roles and member access help ensure data and files are secure
- Simplifies triage and scheduling of maintenance tickets
- Access to data, email, files and chat is open to all staff, even short-term hires
Solution
Digital workplace
The simplicity of BruceWorx's SharePoint team sites let local administrators create workflows and data-sharing policies without engaging IT. SharePoint's governance, combined with InTune’s smart data-sharing, balanced flexibility with security and data-sharing policies.
- Roles and member access help ensure data and files are secure
- Solving geographic challenges, BruceWorx lets staff work from any location
Digital employees
New staff can start working immediately on their own phone or devices with Office 365 and InTune. Video chat and screensharing enhances support for IT, instructions or sharing practical physical events, such as snow levels or physical infrastructure.
- Access to data, email, files and chat is open to all staff, even short-term hires
- Roles and member access help ensure data and files are secure
Setting the stage for long-term success
In 2019, BruceWorx won the Municipal Information Systems Association of Ontario’s Excellence in Municipal Systems award for Modern Workplace Transformation and is now a showcase for implementing O365 for Canadian counties.
*This case study was originally written by Sierra Systems Group Inc., which has become NTT DATA Services as of 17th December 2018.
About County of Bruce, Ontario
Bruce County updated their digital infrastructure, digitising a 1,500 square mile workplace in nine months, creating a platform for simplified data-sharing policies and reduced overhead