Energizer Battery UK Platform Modernization

Outcomes

• Full Compliance Certification Achieved Within One Year
  Centralized identity, patching, and policy control reduced enterprise security risk
• Consolidated Dozens of Unmanaged Applications
  Unified platform with standardized images and automated management
• Established Repeatable Cloud Migration Model

Early Adopter of Office 365 beta, which directly influenced Microsoft product design

Distributed applications create security and compliance risks

Energizer Battery UK maintained a distributed network of offices, plants, and field operations that relied on dozens of unmanaged client-side applications. For a manufacturing organization operating across diverse locations, this fragmented IT environment presented significant challenges.

The environment posed critical challenges for security, compliance, and maintenance, as applications were decentralized and ran on a mix of legacy desktop platforms. Each location maintained its own configurations, patch levels, and security policies—creating a complex web of technical debt and compliance exposure.

As Microsoft began piloting its Managed Services offering – a precursor to what would later become Office 365 – Energizer was selected as one of the early enterprise adopters. This presented both an opportunity and a challenge: the organization could modernize its IT infrastructure, but only if it first consolidated and standardized its fragmented application landscape.

“We needed to consolidate desktop management, centralize identity and policy control, and migrate workloads to a secure, cloud-connected environment,” explains an Energizer IT leader.

“The initiative wasn’t just about technology – it was about fundamentally improving our security posture and preparing for the future of enterprise collaboration.”

A joint initiative driving enterprise transformation

Cohort partnered with Energizer IT and Microsoft Managed Services in a joint initiative, with Cohort leadership (then part of Microsoft) driving execution. The program took a comprehensive approach to modernization, addressing application consolidation, platform standardization, identity management, and cloud readiness simultaneously.

The transformation centered on four key pillars:

• Application Consolidation – Cataloged desktop apps across business units, removing redundancies and migrating key workloads to managed or early cloud platforms. This consolidation reduced complexity and improved supportability.
• Platform Standardization – Deployed standardized images with built-in security, automated updates, and centralized management – reducing local admin rights and improving compliance. Established consistent configurations across all locations.
• Identity and Compliance – Enabled centralized authentication via Active Directory and unified policy enforcement. Added encryption, automated patching, and compliance reporting to strengthen security posture.
• Cloud Readiness – Moved messaging and collaboration into Microsoft Managed Services – an early Office 365 – establishing a secure, cloud-connected foundation for future productivity services.

According to the Energizer team,

“Cohort’s leadership was essential to the initiative’s success. They understood both the technical challenges and the organizational change required, and they guided us through a transformation that touched every part of our IT environment.”

From fragmented risk to centralized control

The modernization program delivered comprehensive improvements across security, compliance, operational efficiency, and strategic positioning. Most critically, the initiative reduced enterprise security risk through centralized identity, patching, and policy control – transforming Energizer’s security posture from reactive to proactive.

The organization achieved full compliance certification for managed desktops within one year, a remarkable accomplishment given the distributed environment and the scope of required changes. This certification provided both risk mitigation and a competitive advantage when engaging with enterprise customers and partners.

The program consolidated dozens of unmanaged applications into a secure, standardized platform, dramatically reducing complexity and improving supportability. IT teams could now manage the environment centrally rather than maintaining dozens of unique configurations across locations.

Operational benefits extended beyond security and compliance. The initiative improved productivity and lowered IT overhead through automated management and unified support, freeing IT resources to focus on strategic initiatives rather than firefighting configuration issues.

Perhaps most significantly, the program established a repeatable model for Microsoft Managed Services deployments that informed the design of Office 365 itself. As an early adopter, Energizer gained valuable experience with cloud-based collaboration, positioning the organization for future workplace transformations.

“The transformation exceeded our expectations,” the Energizer IT leader reflects. “We didn’t just improve security and compliance – we fundamentally modernized how we deliver IT services. The cloud-ready foundation we built continues to serve us well as technology evolves.”

A foundation for continuous modernization

With the platform modernization complete, Energizer Battery UK operates with centralized management, unified security policies, and cloud-connected collaboration tools that securely and efficiently support distributed operations. The organization has established governance frameworks and standardized platforms that enable ongoing innovation without compromising security or compliance.

For distributed enterprises facing similar challenges with fragmented IT environments, the lesson is clear: platform modernization requires more than technology changes alone. Success comes from combining application consolidation, security standardization, identity management, and cloud migration into an integrated program that delivers measurable risk reduction and operational improvements.

“Don’t underestimate the value of early adoption when the right opportunity presents itself,” advises the Energizer leader. “Our participation in the Microsoft Managed Services program not only solved our immediate challenges but positioned us as leaders in enterprise cloud adoption. That early experience continues to pay dividends.”

The Impact

• Enterprise Security Enhancement
  Centralized identity, automated patching, and unified policy control reduced security risk across distributed operations
• Compliance Certification
  Achieved full compliance certification for managed desktops within one year, strengthening governance and competitive position
• Application Consolidation
  Unified dozens of unmanaged applications into a standardized platform, reducing complexity and improving supportability
• Operational Efficiency
  Automated management and unified support improved productivity and lowered IT overhead across business units
• Strategic Cloud Foundation
  Early adoption of Microsoft Managed Services established a repeatable model that informed future Office 365 transformations.

 

Ready to modernize your enterprise platform?

Contact us at contact@cohortcg.com to schedule a free platform assessment and security modernization strategy briefing.

Learn more at www.cohortcg.com

About Energizer Battery UK

Energizer Battery UK operates a distributed network of offices, plants, and field operations, delivering manufacturing and business services across multiple locations throughout the United Kingdom.

About Cohort Consulting Group

Cohort Consulting Group specializes in enterprise platform modernization and cloud transformation, helping organizations consolidate applications, strengthen security and compliance, and establish cloud-ready foundations for future workplace innovation.