Indian School of Business enjoys teaching continuity, seamless hybrid operations, and robust cybersecurity with Microsoft solutions

Need to ensure teaching-learning continuity

ISB had established systems to offer various management programs. However, the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns put them on a backfoot. Several faculty members and teams preferred in-person meetings and students relied on the physical classroom experience. Despite the deadlock, the school wanted to ensure teaching-learning continuity.

Cybersecurity attacks were also becoming a growing menace as the school was the target of several brute force attacks. The business school began looking for a solution to allow them to continue as usual — digitally and seamlessly — and safeguard them from cyber threats. 

An all-inclusive solution with Microsoft

After exploring various options, ISB decided to go with Microsoft 365 A3 and Microsoft Security solutions — Azure AD and Intune. Sesanka Pemmaraju, Director Enterprise Technology, ISB says, “First and foremost, we were looking for a secure solution. We also wanted to ensure seamless collaboration between the administration faculty and students while integrating well with our existing systems. The Microsoft suite offered a comprehensive solution that perfectly met our needs.”

Superior collaboration and communication

Before February 2020, the adoption rate for Microsoft Teams within ISB was around 12 per cent. When ISB implemented Microsoft 365 A3, which included Microsoft Teams, the adoption rate jumped to 100 per cent.

For ISB, Microsoft Teams proved to be a game changer for its operations. Even though the business school has moved back to in-person meetings and physical classrooms, the usage remains high. The faculty and students appreciate the enhanced communication and collaboration that Microsoft Teams and SharePoint facilitate. They continue using Teams channels and groups for asynchronous learning. They can collaborate easily on files, whether they are working remotely or on-premises. With the Viva Insights app on Teams, ISB  is able to gain insights on critical parameters like student attendance, student performance and more. Team meetings, brainstorming, ideation and decision making are no longer disrupted by the non-availability of physical conference rooms. The teams at ISB are now able to do more as they have the flexibility of working both in physical and virtual workspaces.

Stronger cybersecurity, fewer threats

ISB implemented a robust security framework with Azure AD and Intune. Identity management has been redefined and introduction of Single Sign-on has helped reduce the surface for cyberattacks. Identity is also protected via Multifactor Authentication and other identity protection features of Azure AD. Devices and Apps are managed by Intune through Conditional Access provided by the Zero Trust Foundation. Furthermore, Microsoft 365 Compliance & Security reports have helped them identify vulnerabilities and fix them proactively. 

According to Gunashekhar, Associate Director IT, ISB, “Microsoft solutions protect our organization against breaches with strong multi- factor authentication. This has led to improved security of data and processes and an enhanced user experience.”

Continuing the solid partnership with Microsoft

ISB continues to work closely with Microsoft. After evaluating products for data protection, they zeroed in on Microsoft 365 Data Loss Prevention (DLP). ISB intends to implement it shortly to identify, monitor and protect sensitive data across services such as Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive. ISB is also evaluating an SIEM Solution leveraging Sentinel to monitor and enhance their security posture. 

Working with a dedicated account management team from Microsoft, ISB accomplished uninterrupted operations and enhanced security. In addition to overcoming pandemic-related challenges, the institute now enjoys a tremendous boost in productivity. Satisfied with the solution, Sesanka Pemmaraju says, “Microsoft’s offerings for higher education have been commendable. Implementing these solutions, has empowered us to continue learning, teaching, researching, and working in today’s dynamic and modern campus.”