Microsoft 365 Migration and Network
Overhaul for a Private School
An ageing on-premise Exchange server and a campus network that couldn't support modern learning
A private school with 400 students and 60 staff was running email and file storage on a 9-year-old on-premise Exchange server approaching end of support. Simultaneously, the campus Wi-Fi infrastructure — mostly consumer-grade access points installed years earlier — couldn't reliably support the school's move to device-based learning. Teachers reported daily connectivity failures in classrooms.
- Exchange Server 2013 approaching end of extended support — no security patches forthcoming
- No cloud collaboration tools — staff sharing files via USB and personal email
- Campus Wi-Fi dropping connections in 60% of classrooms during peak hours
- No MDM for student or staff devices — no visibility or policy enforcement
- Hard deadline: everything operational before first day of new academic year
The school had a fixed budget and a non-negotiable deadline — the first day of term. Any delay would affect 460 students and staff on day one of the academic year.
Parallel workstreams: M365 migration and campus network rebuild simultaneously
Exchange to Microsoft 365 migration
Full mailbox migration for all 460 users using staged cutover. Historical email preserved, calendar and contacts migrated. Hybrid configuration maintained during transition to ensure zero mail loss.
SharePoint and Teams rollout
On-premise file shares migrated to SharePoint Online. Teams deployed as the primary collaboration platform with department-level structure built out and staff trained before term started.
Campus Wi-Fi rebuild
Consumer APs replaced with UniFi enterprise access points across 24 classrooms and common areas. UniFi controller deployed for centralised management, separate SSIDs for staff, students, and guests with bandwidth policies.
Intune MDM deployment
Microsoft Intune enrolled for all staff devices. Student device policies configured to block non-educational content during school hours. Remote wipe capability enabled for lost or stolen devices.
Staff training and documentation
Half-day training sessions delivered for all teaching staff before term. Quick-reference guides produced for Teams, SharePoint, and the new Wi-Fi system. IT runbooks handed to the school's part-time IT coordinator.
Stack
(Name withheld at client request)
Outcomes at start of term and 3 months post-migration
Planning an M365 migration or network upgrade?
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