How We Helped Ascent Training Solutions

Industry: Training & Education

Location: Brisbane, QLD

Services Provided: Managed IT Services, Microsoft 365 Optimisation, Cyber Security Hardening

The Challenge

Ascent Training Solutions engaged Danovation IT after growing increasingly frustrated with their previous IT provider.

Their key concerns were:

• Slow response times that left staff waiting and productivity suffering

• Ongoing Outlook performance issues, impacting daily communication

• Low confidence in their IT security posture, particularly around email access

• Lack of transparency - no clear visibility of how their IT environment was actually set up

  
  

As a growing training organisation, Ascent needed an IT partner who could move fast, communicate clearly, and provide confidence that their systems were secure and scalable.

What We Found During Onboarding

Once onboarding began, it became clear why day-to-day issues were so common.

Our assessment uncovered several foundational problems:

• No standardised device setup

  • Some computers were joined to Microsoft Entra ID

  • Others were local-only machines

  • Several were still connected to an old, legacy on-premise domain controller

    
    

• Inconsistent identity and access management, creating support complexity and security gaps

  
  

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) was not enforced

  • Mailboxes could be accessed from anywhere in the world

  • No geo-based restrictions or modern security controls were in place

    
    

• Limited documentation and visibility, meaning the business had no real understanding of how their IT environment functioned

  
  

In short: the environment worked just enough to get by, but it wasn’t secure, consistent, or future-ready.

Our Approach

Danovation IT took a stability-first, security-focused approach.

We prioritised:

1. Standardisation - creating a single, repeatable way devices and users are set up

2. Performance - resolving Outlook and Microsoft 365 issues at the root cause

3. Security confidence - locking down access without disrupting staff

4. Transparency - clearly explaining what was changing and why

Every step was communicated in plain English, with zero guesswork for the client.

The Solution

We implemented a structured remediation and improvement plan that included:

• Standardising all workstations under Microsoft Entra ID

• Removing reliance on the legacy on-premise server

• Enforcing Multi-Factor Authentication across all mailboxes

• Restricting email access to trusted locations and devices

• Optimising Microsoft 365 and Outlook configurations

• Establishing clear documentation and ongoing management standards

• Transitioning Ascent to a proactive managed IT model with fast response SLAs

  
  

The Results

The impact was immediate and measurable:

• Faster response times and clearer communication

• Outlook issues resolved, improving staff efficiency

• Significantly stronger security posture with controlled access

• Full visibility and confidence in how their IT environment is set up

• A scalable foundation that supports future growth

  
  

Most importantly, the team at Ascent Training now have peace of mind knowing their IT is secure, supported, and proactively managed.

Why This Matters

This case study highlights a common issue we see with growing businesses IT that has evolved over time without a clear standard or strategy.

Danovation IT specialises in cleaning up, securing, and simplifying these environments, so businesses can focus on what they do best, without IT slowing them down.