Company Overview

New Hope Community Services (NHCS), a prominent social service agency in Singapore, is dedicated to supporting vulnerable communities, including homeless male ex-offenders. Established in 2003 by Pastor Andrew Khoo (Founder & CEO), NHCS operates as a member of the National Council of Social Services (NCSS). Initially founded to address the pressing need for shelter for men in crisis, NHCS has since expanded its services to meet the evolving needs of the community.

The Challenges Faced

• Limited Access to Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): NHCS encountered difficulties in securely accessing and collaborating within their Microsoft 365 tenant due to the absence of a robust VDI solution. This limitation hindered efficient workflow and collaboration among staff members.
• Security Concerns: With an increasing reliance on digital platforms for essential tasks such as communication, file sharing, and collaboration, NHCS faced heightened security risks. Ensuring data confidentiality and integrity became paramount, especially considering the sensitive nature of the information handled by the organization.
• Scalability and Cost-effectiveness: The organization struggled with scalability and cost-effectiveness in maintaining on-premise infrastructure for desktop services. The need for a solution that could accommodate future growth while remaining cost-effective became imperative.

​Solution Proposed

Partnering with Total eBiz Solutions (TeBS), NHCS adopted a comprehensive approach to address these challenges:

• Microsoft Azure Cloud-based Virtual Desktop Infrastructure: NHCS opted for a cloud-first approach by leveraging Microsoft Azure Cloud to design and implement its VDI solution. This choice ensured scalability, flexibility, and enhanced security features provided by Azure’s infrastructure.
• Secure M365 Access: The solution included configuring access to Microsoft 365 services such as Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint exclusively within the Azure Virtual Desktop Environment. This approach bolstered data security by centralizing access control and monitoring.
• Integration with Azure Active Directory Domain Services: NHCS integrated Azure Active Directory Domain Services to centralize management of user accounts and virtual desktops. This integration facilitated streamlined user authentication and enhanced security protocols.

Benefit

• Enhanced Operational Efficiency: The implementation of Azure-based VDI significantly reduced manual efforts and streamlined operations, leading to enhanced efficiency and productivity among NHCS staff.
• Improved Data Security: By confining Microsoft 365 access within the Azure Virtual Desktop Environment, NHCS bolstered data security and compliance, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.
• Scalability and Cost-effectiveness: Azure’s scalable infrastructure and pay-as-you-go model enabled NHCS to scale its desktop services according to demand while optimizing costs, ensuring long-term sustainability.
• Faster Deployment and Scalability: The creation of standard operating environment blueprints and infrastructure security guidelines facilitated faster deployments and ensured scalability, allowing NHCS to adapt to evolving needs efficiently.
• Empowering Collaboration: The seamless integration of Microsoft 365 services within the virtual desktop environment empowered NHCS staff to collaborate effectively, fostering innovation and teamwork across the organization.

This comprehensive solution not only addressed NHCS’s immediate needs for virtual desktop infrastructure but also positioned the organization for future growth and digital transformation in the social service sector.