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Swan & Maclaren

Swan & Maclaren is a pioneering architectural firm with a legacy spanning over a century. Established in 1892, the firm has played a pivotal role in shaping Singapore’s heritage with iconic landmarks such as the Raffles Hotel, Goodwood Park Hotel, and Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. Today, Swan & Maclaren continues to lead the industry with innovative designs that blend heritage with modernity, delivering world-class architectural solutions across various sectors on a global scale. Their commitment to excellence and forward-thinking approach make them a distinguished name in the architectural world.

 

The Challenge

As Swan & Maclaren continued expanding globally and acquired more companies overseas, the need for a structured IT support system became evident. With operations spanning Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, and beyond, managing IT across multiple locations grew increasingly complex. Ensuring consistency, efficiency, and security across their expanding network became a top priority.

To achieve this, Swan & Maclaren sought to streamline their infrastructure and deliver seamless support across all entities through outsourcing. In search of a trusted partner, they approached Adventus to explore opportunities to optimize their IT environment.

 

The Process

Following an initial inquiry from Swan & Maclaren, the Adventus consulting team adopted a tailored approach to assess their environment.

Step 1: Consultative sessions with Adventus' IT Service Director and the Customer Success team, allowing Swan & Maclaren to share their objectives, technology challenges, and interest in IT support services.

Step 2: Conducted comprehensive end-user PC and infrastructure scans to gain a clear understanding of Swan & Maclaren’s current IT environment.

Step 3: Identified key opportunities to enhance cybersecurity and system efficiency for a more resilient IT environment aligned with best practices.

Step 4: Provided strategic recommendations aligned with Swan & Maclaren’s business goals.

Step 5: Developed a customized service proposal that addressed immediate priorities and laid out a clear, scalable roadmap for long-term technology enablement and ongoing support from Adventus.

 

The Solutions

  • Remote and On-site IT Support
    Adventus implemented a flexible IT Support Service (ITSS) model, combining remote assistance with on-site support (when needed). This solution offered Swan & Maclaren a one-stop service for their global operations, including offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the UK. The model was designed to address a wide range of IT needs, ensuring seamless support across all locations with a round-the-clock team of highly skilled professionals ready to tackle any challenge.

  • Microsoft 365 Ecosystem
    Adventus set up a comprehensive Microsoft 365 ecosystem for Swan & Maclaren, establishing the foundation for their entire IT infrastructure across global offices.

    • Microsoft Intune Integration
      Adventus implemented Microsoft Intune to establish a centralized device management system that could support Swan & Maclaren’s global and mobile workforce. This included secure device enrolment for corporate-issued hardware and the deployment of Bring-Your-Own-Decide (BYOD) policies to manage personal devices used for work.

      A unified framework was set up to define and control access permissions across offices and devices, ensuring consistent enforcement of company policies.

    • Device-Based Conditional Access (DBCA)
      Adventus deployed Device-Based Conditional Access (DBCA) policies for Swan & Maclaren to ensure only Intune‑enrolled devices could access corporate resources, hardening the environment.

    • Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Configuration
      Microsoft Defender for Endpoint was configured across all enrolled devices with security baselines established, attack surface reduction rules enabled, and endpoint detection and response integrated within the Microsoft 365 Security Centre.

    • Cloud Adoption and Platform Optimization
      Adventus supported Swan & Maclaren in adopting a cloud-first approach. This involved migrating file storage from on-premises servers to Microsoft SharePoint, enabling a centralized environment for their internal data. Due to the nature and size of architectural design files, Adventus also facilitated the transition of these assets to the Autodesk Construction Cloud, a specialized platform suited for handling large-format project files.

      In parallel, Single Sign-On (SSO) was integrated across both Microsoft 365 and Autodesk environments to standardize and streamline user access across systems and locations.

 

Results

  • Reliable IT Support Model
    With flexible, 24/7 hybrid IT Support Service (ITSS) available globally from Adventus, Swan & Maclaren experienced faster issue resolution, reduced operational downtime, and improved employee productivity. Teams were able to stay focused on their architectural projects without being disrupted by technical challenges, while the flexible support model adapted seamlessly to the needs of each office — enhancing overall business continuity and confidence in their IT operations.

  • Stronger IT Foundation Across Global Operations
    By implementing the Microsoft 365 ecosystem as the backbone of Swan & Maclaren’s global IT operations, Adventus established a secure and integrated platform built on core services like SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive. This foundation enabled seamless communication and collaboration across all international offices, while ensuring consistent user experiences and centralized management that scales with the business.

  • Streamlined and Secure Device Management
    Through Microsoft Intune, Adventus established a centralized and secure system for Swan & Maclaren to manage all endpoints efficiently. This allowed Swan & Maclaren to streamline device setup, ensure consistent configurations, and reduce onboarding time. Corporate devices were securely enrolled, while well-defined BYOD policies allowed safe access from personal laptops and smartphones — enabling a flexible, mobile workforce without compromising security.

    With unified access policies tailored to roles and office locations, Swan & Maclaren gained greater control over data access and compliance across the organization.

  • Stronger Cybersecurity
    Enforcing Device-Based Conditional Access (DBCA) ensures that only Intune-enrolled and compliant devices can access sensitive corporate resources which reduces the risk of data breaches by blocking unauthorized or potentially vulnerable endpoints. In parallel, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint was configured with industry-standard security baselines, attack surface reduction (ASR) rules, and advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR). These measures created a multi-layered defense system that actively monitors, detects, and responds to threats in real-time — providing Swan & Maclaren with greater peace of mind and continuous protection against evolving cyber risks.

  • Centralized and Scalable Data Storage
    Adventus migrated Swan & Maclaren’s files from legacy on-premises storage systems to Microsoft SharePoint, providing a centralized, cloud-based repository for everyday documents. For large and complex architectural files, Adventus facilitated the move to Autodesk Construction Cloud — a platform purpose-built for handling large-format project data. These changes enabled teams to collaborate on files in real-time from anywhere in the world, while improving data accessibility and reducing hardware dependencies.

We had embarked on the migration of our IT infrastructure from multiple on-prem server networks to a single Microsoft 365 tenant on the cloud. This has indeed brought many operational benefits and cost efficiencies. Adventus has been a dependable partner in this journey and continues to provide responsive IT helpdesk services and cybersecurity monitoring to our global organization.”
says Mr Goh Ghit Hong, Senior Manager, Technology of Swan & Maclaren

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