Carillion Communications

A cloud-first, security-led IT environment to support productivity, resilience and future growth

Carillion Communications Ltd is a technology-led audio-visual business with around 70 employees. As the business continued to grow and bid for larger commercial and government tenders, it needed an IT environment that was more reliable, more secure and better aligned to the way its people worked day to day.

Equity helped Carillion move away from ageing infrastructure and reactive support, modernise its Microsoft cloud environment, strengthen cyber resilience and create a more manageable, supportable IT platform for future operations.

The Challenge

Carillion needed to move beyond a reactive IT support model and build a more strategic, secure and resilient technology environment. Its previous provider had offered limited proactive guidance, leaving the business without the clear advice it needed to modernise infrastructure, improve the user experience and plan future IT investment with confidence.

The company also relied heavily on ageing on-premises servers, legacy remote desktop systems and infrastructure that was becoming harder to support. Slow response times, downtime and outdated systems were affecting productivity and creating unnecessary friction for users across the business.

Security and accreditation were also important drivers. As Carillion bids for government and larger tenders, the business needed to demonstrate stronger cyber security practices, improve control across users and devices, and support Cyber Essentials Plus requirements. The challenge was to modernise quickly while maintaining day-to-day continuity for around 70 users.

What Equity provided

Equity supported Carillion through a broad IT transformation programme, combining managed IT support, managed security services, cloud migration, device management, infrastructure improvement and strategic consultancy. Rather than delivering a single isolated project, Equity helped Carillion move through a wider modernisation journey across its IT estate and security posture.

The project included onboarding Carillion to Equity’s support and managed security services, implementing Microsoft 365 licensing, deploying Intune, Entra ID and mobile device management, and migrating the business from physical on-site servers to a cloud-based operating model.

Equity also supported Carillion with Cyber Essentials Plus requirements, a Windows 10 device refresh programme, firewall upgrades and installation, disaster recovery testing and reporting, Ethernet connectivity for head office, and an early Microsoft Copilot deployment supported by a data governance strategy.

The transformation was delivered over approximately 10 months, reflecting a rapid and significant investment by Carillion in its IT infrastructure, cyber security and future ways of working. Equity provided the technical delivery, practical support and strategic guidance needed to move the business from legacy systems to a more modern and secure technology platform.

The Outcome

Carillion now has a stronger, more modern and more resilient IT environment. The business has reduced its reliance on ageing on-premises servers and legacy remote desktop systems, and now operates with a more cloud-first infrastructure model that is easier to manage, support and scale.

Cyber security has also been significantly strengthened. Improved controls across identities, devices, network access and infrastructure, combined with Cyber Essentials Plus support, upgraded firewalls, managed detection and response, and modern device management through Intune and Entra ID, have helped improve visibility, control and resilience across the business.

The project has also supported productivity and future working practices. Around 70 users were migrated to the cloud, while the early deployment of Microsoft Copilot, supported by data governance work, has helped Carillion begin preparing for more effective and secure use of AI across the business.

Most importantly, Carillion now has a more engaged IT partner that can provide both responsive day-to-day support and proactive strategic advice. This gives the business greater confidence that its IT environment can support operational performance, tender requirements, cyber resilience and future growth.