Overview
Arinco partnered with a global mining company to integrate two IT systems after a major acquisition. The goal was to make it easier for thousands of employees across both businesses to collaborate without disruption. By consolidating Microsoft cloud environments, migrating key applications and securing sensitive data, Arinco delivered a platform that not only unified operations but also positioned the company for future growth.
Customer context
In late 2022, a global mining services leader expanded its footprint by acquiring another mining services company. The acquired business continued operating under its own brand, while the parent organisation turned its attention to IT integration. The aim was to simplify systems, reduce duplication and create a stronger foundation for collaboration and performance across both businesses.
Business challenge
The biggest challenge came from the IT differences between the two organisations. Each business operated its own Microsoft 365 and Entra ID tenant, creating duplication and complexity. Employees often had to juggle multiple systems, making collaboration slow and frustrating.
The company needed to bring these environments together quickly, but without interrupting critical mining operations. Downtime wasn’t an option, as safety and production depended on systems staying online. At the same time, leaders had to meet strict industry security standards while building a platform flexible enough to support future acquisitions.
The scale of the task was significant, with thousands of accounts, vast amounts of data and teams spread across multiple geographies, all while ensuring everyone had access to the right tools and information at the right time. Success also required clear communication to keep employees confident throughout the change.
Our approach
Arinco’s implemented a cloud transformation strategy that consolidated the two companies’ IT environments. Over the course of a seven-month project, Arinco designed a solution that optimised collaboration, streamlined data management and ensured a secure and scalable environment for future growth.
Environment assessment
Arinco collaborated with ICT and application teams from both organisations to assess the complexities of integrating two distinct environments. The team identified potential risks, such as data integrity, security, compliance and user impact, and created a structured migration strategy. Each application and dataset was evaluated on its suitability for a lift-and-shift approach, ensuring only what was necessary was migrated.
Consolidation of systems
Over seven months, Arinco successfully transitioned the two organisations to a single, modern, secure Microsoft cloud environment. This involved migrating Entra ID accounts, mailboxes, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive data into one tenant, amounting to over 27 million files in total. Key migrations included:
- 1,400 user and shared mailboxes
- Over 450 Microsoft Teams accounts
- Over 1,000 SharePoint accounts with over 5,700GB of data
- Over 1,300 OneDrive accounts with over 9,500GB of data
The migration was executed in a single cutover, with 1,100 users migrated as part of a deliberate risk mitigation strategy that safeguarded uninterrupted service for the wider 9,600-strong workforce. This was also backed by a strong security framework with encryption and compliance measures to protect sensitive data. Post-migration, users accessed tools and data more easily, enabling faster collaboration across the combined workforce, while Arinco provided ongoing support to both organisation’s IT teams to manage irregularities.
Communication and collaboration
To ensure smooth delivery, Arinco embedded regular communication into the project. Daily stand-ups and tri-weekly project meetings with both companies kept stakeholders informed, aligned and able to resolve issues quickly. Close collaboration with the program managers and technical leaders on both sides ensured the migration remained transparent and well-coordinated.
Outcomes
The partnership between Arinco and the mining organisation resulted in several key outcomes:
- Consolidated Microsoft 365 services into a single tenant, allowing more than 9,600 employees to collaborate seamlessly across both companies.
- All key business applications were migrated without service interruptions, ensuring operational safety and business continuity.
- Licensing costs and administrative overhead were reduced by eliminating duplicate environments, delivering significant cost savings.
- Sensitive operational and business data remained protected through strong encryption and compliance measures.
- The user experience was improved by removing the need for multiple logins and accounts across different tenants.
- IT teams gained a streamlined management model by integrating System Center Configuration Manager into Entra ID and administering environments through a unified Intune portal.
Future outlook
This consolidation has become the blueprint for future acquisitions. The mining company is now applying the same approach to new integrations, using Arinco’s reusable designs and documentation to accelerate transitions. With Arinco as a trusted partner, the organisation has built not just a unified IT environment but a repeatable model for growth.
