Following a major business split, Verde Resorts required support to separate shared IT systems and rapidly establish a standalone Microsoft 365 environment. Cobweb supported the business through the secure migration of data, users, and devices under a tight timeframe, ensuring continuity across multiple sites.
Cobweb rolled out a new Microsoft 365 environment, aligning devices to Microsoft 365 Business Premium best‑practice configuration to improve security, device management, and productivity. This approach enabled Verde Resorts to keep its internal IT system lean while benefiting from a modern, well‑governed platform.
As a result, Verde Resorts is now achieving improved cost efficiencies, streamlined operations, and enhanced security, while gaining ongoing access to Cobweb’s technical expertise.
Main challenges for Verde Resorts:
Following the sale of part of their UK resorts business, Verde Resorts needed to quickly separate shared IT systems and carve out 8 Business Premium sites into a standalone Microsoft 365 environment, while keeping the business running day to day. The split had to be delivered to a tight timescale, with little room for disruption to users who relied on email, files, and collaboration tools across a mixed Citrix and Microsoft 365 environment, with data spread across multiple locations.
The challenge was heightened by limited internal IT resources, alongside a growing device estate of around 120 users, including devices that needed replacing to support Windows 11. Verde needed to ensure all data was fully and securely separated, remove any shared access, and establish security independence, while also finding a reliable, agile partner with the in‑house expertise to deliver a low‑risk, migration under pressure.
The new environment needed to be secure by default and simple to manage, protecting both internal systems and sensitive external data – particularly important given Verde’s role in the travel and tourism sector – without the need to rebuild an internal IT team.
Cobweb’s Solution:
Cobweb delivered a phased, low‑risk, high impact configuration baseline and migration to Verde’s new Microsoft 365 environment, supported by Prince2‑qualified project management to ensure controlled and well‑governed delivery:
Phase 1: Microsoft 365 Tenant Discovery & Configuration
Cobweb started by taking a close look at how Verde was already using Microsoft 365. Working with the Verde team, our Solutions Architect reviewed the setup, including users, devices, data, and security, to understand what was in place and what needed to change. This helped shape the right migration, transition and testing plan, while keeping to a tight deadline and making sure key stakeholders were kept informed throughout.
Because the project was part of a wider merger and acquisition, compliance was a big focus from day one. Projects like this can carry hidden risks, with security or governance gaps often only showing up after a migration is complete. To avoid that, Cobweb made sure the new environment was built and configured in line with recognised best practice, giving Verde confidence that security, compliance, and audit requirements were being handled properly from the start.
As part of the preparation work, 20 devices that did not meet Windows 11 requirements were added onto a pilot programme to replace and onboard new devices, ensuring all endpoints were compliant, secure, and fully supported within the new environment. This also included any specifications Verde had, any potential troubleshooting needs, and if they were happy with the new hardware. During this process the device asset register was looked at to understand where new hardware would be beneficial due to age and warranty status.
Following successful pilot sign‑off, the remaining devices were fully deployed across the first site. Device and endpoint management was configured using Microsoft Intune, bringing Windows devices under a best‑practice baseline. This included the implementation of security and compliance configuration policies such as Attack Surface Reduction, Windows Firewall, Windows Update management, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, while transitioning devices away from a Citrix‑controlled virtual environment. The Microsoft Defender security suite was deployed to provide consistent endpoint protection and threat detection across the estate. Core Microsoft productivity services (Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Teams) were also configured in line with a Business Premium best practice setup to support a smooth and secure transition to the new tenant.
Phase 2: Device Onboarding
As part of the move to a modern, cloud‑managed setup, any devices still linked to the old Entra environment were removed from use, then joined to the new tenant and re‑enrolled into Microsoft Intune. This gave Verde a single, central way to manage devices, apply settings, and keep everything consistent across all sites.
To keep risk low, device onboarding was rolled out in stages. The sites that were deemed as less critical were onboarded first, which allowed policies, configurations, and the overall user experience to be tested before extending the rollout to the rest of the business. This approach helped reduce disruption and meant that any issues were identified and resolved early.
Cobweb on-site engineers travelled the UK to support this process, along with Cobweb’s remote engineers looking at telemetry to ensure devices were successfully onboarded and any issues were resolved quickly. This guaranteed a smooth transition for end users as devices were brought under the new Intune management. Cobweb also provided regular project updates and held stakeholder meetings to clearly show progress, milestones, and the success of each phase of the migration.
Phase 3: The Migration
Once the preparation work in Phases 1 and 2 was complete, the project moved into the cutover migration stage. Cobweb had already worked through Verde Resorts’ data to understand what needed to be moved, covering both active and older content such as mailboxes, DNS, file shares, and on‑premises data.
Cobweb migrated Verde’s main collaboration and document services, including SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Teams. While Verde carried out the email migration themselves, Cobweb supported them with advice, design and guidance, helping to reduce guesswork and ensure the migration was completed correctly. The approach was tailored to different users and teams, such as retaining the right amount of history in shared mailboxes and also access control to ensure employees had the right access to mailboxes, documents and data.
The migration had two parts: moving all of the data, and transitioning users away from the Citrix environment. Users could then access Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Business Central directly from their own laptops or desktops.
After the above was completed, Cobweb monitored and checked the new environment to make sure everything was working as expected. User access, data accuracy, and system stability were validated to ensure their resorts could continue operating normally, with the new Microsoft 365 environment fully up and running.
The Outcomes:
By the end of the project, Verde Resorts had a Microsoft 365 environment that felt far more stable, secure, and fit for purpose. Their tenant was set to Business Premium best practice, and their documents were migrated in a structured way, meaning staff are now working in a modern, well‑organised system rather than relying on a mix of older tools and workarounds.
A big benefit for Verde was having the right technical support around them throughout the process. With Cobweb’s Solution Architect and project management team involved, a lot of the uncertainty and internal pressure was taken away. Decisions were clearer, risks were reduced, and the project stayed on track. Even where Verde were handling parts of the email migration themselves, they had expert guidance to lean on, helping them avoid mistakes and feel confident they were doing things the right way.
Crucially, this meant Verde didn’t need to bring in extra IT staff to get through the transition. They ended up with a cleaner, more secure setup, a smooth migration experience, and confidence that everything had been done properly (without adding to their day‑to‑day workload). Now, Verde has a stronger IT foundation that supports the business and sets them up for the future.
Verde was able to break away from shared IT systems and run independently
Day‑to‑day business operations continued throughout the project
A move to a new Microsoft tenant was put in place quickly and securely (data was not mixed across Citrix and M365)
Devices were modernised and brought under central management with Microsoft Intune
Security was improved without adding complexity or making systems harder to use
Staff had minimum disruption throughout the project and now have a reliable system in place
From the outset, Cobweb demonstrated a clear understanding of our requirements and kept us informed at every stage of the project. Their support in stakeholder meetings gave us real confidence around compliance, permissions, and data protection, allowing us to move forward quickly and with assurance. Despite a tight deadline, their expertise never faltered, and I would readily recommend Cobweb to any organisation undertaking an M&A tenancy split. We look forward to continuing our partnership as we explore further technologies such as ITDR, backup, and SOC.
– Dominic Leeson, IT Director
The Main Project Team:
Oliver Moazzezi Solutions Architect
Charlton Levendale Project Manager
Andrew Sharpe Modern Workplace Consultant
Morgan Wharf Commercial Lead
In need of a data migration?
Migrating to Microsoft 365 doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. At Cobweb, we simplify the process, delivering a smooth, secure, and well‑managed migration from start to finish. Whatever your reason for moving – whether due to M&A, a change in platform, or consolidating an existing Microsoft tenant – our migration specialists are here to take the pressure off your shoulders. If you’d like to discuss how we can support your move, please get in touch with our team.
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