CNS partners with renewable energy business to deliver ongoing secure IT infrastructure

The Challenge

Aula Energy was looking for a trusted technology partner to support and maintain secure, compliant systems to support the business operations while catering to rapid business growth.

With limited internal IT resources, Aula Energy needed a partner who could provide comprehensive technology oversight, implementation and support. They required a physical technical setup across multiple locations, a complete Microsoft 365 environment, robust security controls and ongoing support services.

"Smaller in-house technology teams can't house all the skills of an entire IT team," explains Nicola Cooper, Aula's Technology Manager. "We needed a trusted technology partner to deliver the full suite of IT capabilities."

Beyond standard IT setup and support, Aula Energy invested in specialised cybersecurity expertise to ensure strong protections for its business data. As a company expanding across multiple locations, they insisted on systems that could scale efficiently while maintaining the highest security standards.

"Safe and secure Microsoft 365 environment was a technology priority for us to ensure our corporate information is safeguarded," noted Nicola.

The Solution

CNS implemented a comprehensive technology solution for Aula Energy, delivering a complete Microsoft environment.

The solution comprised three main components:

1. Physical infrastructure and setup

• Setting up offices across Sydney and Melbourne, with later expansion to Brisbane
• Implementing firewalls, switches, access points, and cameras
• Configuring workstations, screens, docks, and keyboards

2. Microsoft 365 Environment

• Complete collaboration suite including mail, SharePoint, and Teams
• Advanced identity and conditional access management
• Microsoft Defender for comprehensive security
• Microsoft Purview implementation for data flow management and monitoring, ensuring sensitive corporate data is not improperly shared or uploaded to the internet
• Microsoft Copilot deployment to enhance productivity and automate routine tasks, providing significant value despite its limited acceptance in the Australian market

3. Ongoing Support Services

• End-user support through a responsive ticketing system
• License and renewal management
• Device management through Intune
• Cybersecurity monitoring and alerting
• Proactive technology recommendations
• Change management support to facilitate staff transition and manage expectations

"The rules and requirements were set up very well. CNS does everything in accordance with industry best practices but also pairs that with our specific business needs. They understand the business and can set up cybersecurity infrastructure accordingly. Trust is what matters when it comes to delivering tech. CNS had my trust very quickly—the relationship is key, and technical skills are kind of a given. They deliver fast at a good price and provide streamlined and consistent outcomes."

Nicola Cooper, Technology Manager, Aula Energy

The Results

The partnership between CNS and Aula Energy has delivered significant benefits, enabling the renewable energy company to operate securely and efficiently from day one.

Key outcomes include:

• Rapid implementation: Complete environment setup in just 26 days
• Enhanced security: High Microsoft security scores with additional protection through Purview
• Improved compliance: Meeting industry best practices while tailoring to business requirements
• Proactive support: Proactive support services, improved communications and quicker ticket resolution
• Effective security monitoring: Identification and review of potential security incidents before they become problems
• Business scalability: Support for expansion from two to three locations
• Improved efficiency: Microsoft Copilot automation has led to measurable time savings and improved work processes
• Smooth transition: Successful change management ensuring buy-in from both existing and new staff

Nicola emphasises the relationship's value:

"The CNS team are always available when we need them and highly skilled at what they do. They’re also very good at communicating technical concepts in an easy to understand way for our entire team."

The technical team at CNS takes particular pride in this customer relationship:

"Our team is super proud of this customer and locking down their tech. It’s set up properly, and they have a lot of trust in the CNS team. Being able to deliver a highly compliant and functional environment in just 26 days is a significant achievement in our industry."

The partnership has been particularly valuable for cybersecurity, with Nicola noting:

"We’re flagging minor security incidents because now we actually have a process to monitor them. I would rather have 10 alerts in a day than zero in a month, and wonder what’s going on out there. That’s much safer than operating without visibility. The Microsoft Purview implementation has been crucial for our data management strategy. It gives us confidence that our sensitive information is properly protected and monitored. The reality is the organisation wouldn’t run the way it does without CNS’ technology support. There’s a proactivity that is so seamless it almost goes unseen in our partnership."

Nicola Cooper, Technology Manager, Aula Energy

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