Utilities / Environment
Network security and application upgrades

Our customer is a Canadian company specializing in the development, installation and operation of renewable energy production sites. Spread over two continents (Europe and North America) and four countries (France, United Kingdom, Canada, United States), it had to reinforce its IT infrastructure, while meeting strong environmental requirements.

The hydro and wind power plants are managed by an ultra-secure IT estate and servers on a global scale. Until now, there have been few IT maintenance and support processes in place, hence the need for robust support to transform and secure the IT environment and services.

Two major priorities have emerged :

1. Quick modernization (performance and security) of workstations and servers.
2. A reinforcement of cybersecurity, imposed by current events, by rapidly updating the installed base, ensuring optimum protection.

  Quick implementation and standardization of workstations and servers.

  Increased security of information systems (IS) on two continents.

  Reduced carbon footprint, in line with the core business (green energy).

  Automation and industrialization of IS to simplify maintenance and supervision.

  Flexibility and proven methodology to guarantee long-term solutions.

Consort suggested a tailor-made solution, developed “from scratch”, based on a proven collaborative methodology and a high degree of process automation, essential for securing the customer’s IT environment.

1. Quick remediation of workstations and servers (vulnerability management, critical updates, standardization).
2. Implementation and management of IT infrastructure supervision operations (24/7 monitoring, automated tools, continuous security control).
3. Implementation of appropriate engineering (workstations, network, systems, cybersecurity), relying on Consort’s in-house expertise.
4. Global service desk, currently being extended to cover the entire world by Q1 2025.

An inusual integration phase

The service provided by Consort is an end-to-end, tailor-made solution, including work on tools, methods, monitoring, consulting and follow-up. More than the tools, it was Consort’s support and expertise which made the difference.

The integration phase was transformed into the implementation of workstation remediation processes.

Then, after the integration phase organized with the customer’s teams, a customized ramp-up in 3 batches was co-constructed :

• Operation and supervision of the IT network,
• Engineering: workstations, network, systems, cybersecurity
• Group service desk (Q1 2025)

Collaborative work

Having invested in understanding their customer’s North American culture, the Consort teams organized workshops with the technical teams to redefine and analyze the initial requirements, and to organize the implementation and monitoring of actions over time. It was this close working relationship that enabled the implementation of a project focused above all on providing a quick answer to existing challenges and building a tailor-made solution.

Infrastructure expertise on the move

Consort’s consulting expertise was requested right from the integration phase, in particular to carry out server categorization and identify the automatable processes required to industrialize infrastructures and standardize part of the information system, particularly for workstation applications.

A methodology and processes were also implemented to ensure flawless security. Consort designed and implemented a customized methodology, processes and dedicated documentation to ensure the long-term viability of the approach.

• Users on site, behind their PC
• Technicians working on wind turbines, who have to deal with various issues linked to the cockpit, remote management via smartphones and, more generally, on-board wind turbine systems.

  Increased productivity: internal teams reallocated to their core business.

  Structured and optimized IS: workstations homogenized and servers standardized.

  Enhanced cybersecurity: update rate of over 90% for workstations and servers.

  Established methodology and processes: long-term industrialization of infrastructures.

  Best practices deployed, for a more resilient and eco-responsible IS.

Chronology of a relationship built on trust over more than 2 years

A relationship of trust born in the Lille region

  May 2022: Launch in France (120 projects/sites), with “System and Network Administration” technical assistance provided by the Lille (DOI Nord) teams.

  Gradual expansion: addition of technical management of IT assets and local support by Lyon teams for France.

  May 2023: Global outsourcing, including security updates for workstations and servers throughout the Group.

  December 2023: Takeover of engineering, operation and supervision of systems and networks worldwide, via the shared Castres service center.

  1st quarter 2025: Extension to Service Desk management for all Group PCs, on two continents.