The European University Institute boosts productivity and gains 100 times more storage
01 March 2011
In this case study, you can read about how the European University Institute (EUI) overcame limitations in storage space of its previous email system with cloud computing, achieving 100 times more storage and 43% in cost savings.
The European University Institute (EUI) was set up in 1972 by the six founding Member States of the European Communities to provide advanced academic training to doctoral researchers and to promote research at the highest level. It carries out research in a European perspective in Economics, Law, History and Civilization, and the Political and Social Sciences. Its full-time teaching staff, fellows and researchers are recruited from all over Europe and beyond.
It was essential for the student body, professors and faculty to have ample email storage space and easy access to a flexible web interface on campus or at home. The existing on-premises solution wasn’t scalable or cost effective enough to continue to serve the alumni. The university needed to address the obstacles and limitations regarding students needing more storage space and the cost of upgrading and maintaining was too expensive.
The European University Institute has chosen a hosted model and decided to use Microsoft Exchange Online as part of the Microsoft Online Business Productivity Suite. It would thus replace its on-premise email solution with a low-cost monthly subscription to host communication.
“We looked at an archiving solution to double the quota per mailbox, but we would have to invest in storage, licenses, and extra manpower and even then I don’t think we would have been able to satisfy the demand for storage”
Michael Goerkd, IT Systems Manger, EUI
At no additional cost, the Institute customer moved their email system to the cloud and gave users 100 times more space. They gained richer communications functionality, added storage space, enhanced productivity, reduced IT management work, and the ability to easily scale messaging to accommodate student and alumni growth. The Institute no longer pays for third-party anti-virus anti-spam, saving them 10,000 EUR per year and IT management has gained back 25% of their time. Through the Microsoft Exchange Online tool, the European University Institute managed to make a lot of cost reductions.
“It would have cost us €303,000 to upgrade our Exchange Server solution to offer 3,000 users 25 gigabyte mailboxes with anti-virus protection. With Exchange Online, it costs €132,000 a 43% savings.”
Marco Rulent, Director, Computing Service, EUI
“I expect to save 25% of my time, which I can devote to strategic IT projects, and with Microsoft doing maintenance and upgrades, our users will always have the latest messaging technology available—without any effort on my part.”
Michael Goerkd, IT Systems Manger, EUI
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