I'm helping a client who needs an IT environment for their business, which consists of 10 workstations. Instead of investing in physical servers, I was thinking about using Azure with one domain controller and potentially one or two RDS servers. They don't have a lot of data to manage and their workloads are basic. Remote access is required, but they won't need VPNs to access resources since they are mainly using SaaS applications through their web browsers. They do need some file storage, but they don't have an ERP system. I'm curious about what you would recommend for creating an efficient IT environment for 10 employees, and I'd also appreciate your thoughts on my proposed plan. What do you think is the best option here?
4 Answers
If they're going full cloud, consider AAD joining the machines instead of going traditional. Entra and Intune can serve all their management needs without having an on-prem AD, which is pretty amazing for a small workforce. It keeps things neat!
Right! It’s a more modern approach and works better for companies with remote teams.
Stick to the basics with Microsoft Office online licensing for every user. This is typically all a small business needs. It’s practical to avoid Azure VMs for file storage unless absolutely required, as those costs can rise quickly. Just utilize the SaaS offerings instead for a cost-effective solution!
Couldn’t agree more! The last thing your client needs is unexpected hosting costs.
True! Keeping it to SaaS will save a ton in the long run.
I think Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a great fit for your client. It offers everything they might need without the hassle of managing physical servers. With AzureAD and Intune, they can manage users and devices effectively. It's super important to streamline everything instead of reinventing the wheel with traditional setups. Just keep it simple!
100% agree! With everything integrated, you minimize costs and can focus on what really matters.
Absolutely! You can handle user management through AzureAD and keep everything organized with Exchange and SharePoint. Plus, Intune can manage devices conveniently.
You really don't need a domain controller for such a small team. Utilizing Azure AD with something like Intune can cover all their needs without the complexity and expense of traditional on-prem setups. Azure services are set up to handle things smoothly just like what you'd expect from VMs, but at a fraction of the cost!
Exactly! Keeping it all in the cloud can save money and streamline processes. That way, you're not managing unnecessary infrastructure.
Right! Just leverage Azure services, and they'll be in great shape without complicating things.
Great point! Why maintain a domain controller when you can stick to Azure's cloud solutions? That way, everything stays simple. They won't get caught up in potential server issues.