Imagine an entire team pushed to the brink of not only upgrading but completely re-envisioning their digital workplace. This was the exact scenario faced by National Gas. The UK-based company—responsible for much of Great Britain’s national gas transmission network—had to unshackle itself from its previous operational environment under National Grid. With tight deadlines and diverse requirements, the stage was set for a transformative technological overhaul. Enter Capgemini and Microsoft Azure.
This is less a story about updating infrastructure but more about blazing a trail into a wholly new territory: utilizing Azure Virtual Desktops (AVD) and automation to redefine what’s possible in cloud environments. Let’s dig into this modern transformation journey, shedding light on the tech behind the scenes.
Traditional laptops? Old news. To complicate matters, conventional approaches weren’t feasible for their wide-ranging user base. Developers, data scientists, and geographically dispersed teams needed secure but flexible tools to build their applications and analyze big data. It’s one thing to juggle tools in one office; now try that across multiple locations in a distributed environment.
So, with operational complexity rising like mercury on a hot summer day, Capgemini and Microsoft Azure came armed with Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
| Key Tech Feature | Functionality | Impact |
|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Azure Virtual Desktop | Secure, centralized workspace accessible remotely. | Simplified remote workflows for developers. |
| Terraform IaC | Automated cloud infrastructure deployment. | Reduced manual work for onboarding/configuration. |
| Intune (Modern Mgmt) | Automated setup for OS and application updates. | Lower operational effort/greater time efficiency. |
| MFA & Conditional Access | fortress-level login restrictions based on location, behavior, or context. | Improved overall security stance. |
In simple terms, they built an assembly line for virtual workspaces—with sophistication inherited from auto-manufacturing lines. It was no longer just a cloud setup—it was a “cloud factory.”
Instead, National Gas focused on single-session desktops that not only optimized customization but also reduced conflicts that arise when multiple projects compete for the same resources.
Imagine custom-tailored suits for every single user. That’s what this single-session system brought—a fit so perfect that it allowed the company to stick to rapid timelines and achieve "better than expected" results.
Everything functioned like clockwork:
Applications like OneDrive Help Sync not only acted as a bridge but also addressed storage concerns by avoiding bloated, local-heavy data storage.
This success sets the stage for future models of cloud migration for other industries.
So the next time you think “cloud,” think beyond mere data storage. Think about the beauty of an automated delivery system—one that not only simplifies daily needs but stretches possibilities for tomorrow. And if you’re wondering why Microsoft Azure remains one of the top players in cloud innovation, well, perhaps National Gas can serve as your Exhibit A.
Source: Capgemini Transforming National Gas’ in-house development capabilities with a scalable, flexible Microsoft Azure cloud environment
This is less a story about updating infrastructure but more about blazing a trail into a wholly new territory: utilizing Azure Virtual Desktops (AVD) and automation to redefine what’s possible in cloud environments. Let’s dig into this modern transformation journey, shedding light on the tech behind the scenes.
The Setting: A ‘Greenfield’ Overhaul in Zombie Mode
"Greenfield" is IT speak for creating something entirely from scratch—a scenario as daunting as it sounds. National Gas needed to establish its own identity quickly after separating from National Grid. They had to design a future-ready cloud ecosystem that wasn’t only operationally efficient but also nimble. This was critical because their timeline was more of a sprint than a marathon. Fast decisions, zero downtime, and a nimble solution were non-negotiable.Traditional laptops? Old news. To complicate matters, conventional approaches weren’t feasible for their wide-ranging user base. Developers, data scientists, and geographically dispersed teams needed secure but flexible tools to build their applications and analyze big data. It’s one thing to juggle tools in one office; now try that across multiple locations in a distributed environment.
So, with operational complexity rising like mercury on a hot summer day, Capgemini and Microsoft Azure came armed with Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
The Technology: Why Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop?
Now, here’s why this is smart tech rather than just yet another cloud migration story. Azure Virtual Desktop brought a myriad of powerful features to the table that made it the superhero of this endeavor:- Centralized Security: AVD enabled a dedicated, tenant-based cloud environment, ensuring airtight security. Think geographically aware tools, multi-factor authentication (MFA), conditional access, and Privileged Identity Management (PIM)—the tech equivalent of Fort Knox.
- Single-Session Introspection: Going against the common grain of multi-session desktops, they embraced the simplicity of single-session desktops. Why? To allow hyper-efficient scalability without sacrificing user experience.
- Terraform Automation: The magic of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) comes alive here. Using Terraform and DevOps pipelines, the project allowed for a "zero-touch" deployment model. Standards like this are gold dust for busy IT departments—machines could be spun up almost instantly, outfitted with the right apps and security layers.
- Self-Update Ecosystem: AVD’s integration with tools like Microsoft Intune and the Microsoft Store brought automated deployments and maintenance. No patch-management headaches, no “Who updated the app yesterday?” melodramas. Just seamless functionality.
| Key Tech Feature | Functionality | Impact |
|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Azure Virtual Desktop | Secure, centralized workspace accessible remotely. | Simplified remote workflows for developers. |
| Terraform IaC | Automated cloud infrastructure deployment. | Reduced manual work for onboarding/configuration. |
| Intune (Modern Mgmt) | Automated setup for OS and application updates. | Lower operational effort/greater time efficiency. |
| MFA & Conditional Access | fortress-level login restrictions based on location, behavior, or context. | Improved overall security stance. |
In simple terms, they built an assembly line for virtual workspaces—with sophistication inherited from auto-manufacturing lines. It was no longer just a cloud setup—it was a “cloud factory.”
Efficiency Meets Innovation: How National Gas Benefited
This wasn’t just executing technology for its own sake. Let’s talk bottom-line gains.1. Scalability for Every Crossroad
National Gas’ journey through its own digital ecosystem was designed to allow scaling at will—whether to accommodate new projects or expand geographically. That’s the beauty of AVD and Azure. Today’s 4,000 users could effortlessly grow to 10,000 users tomorrow.2. Expense Management Through User Profiling
Developing in-house applications while using user-specific profiles brought serious economic advantages. For example, local profiles via OneDrive eliminated the need for high-cost storage options, while tools like Winget helped handle app installations and deployments.3. Simplified Deployment = Quicker Innovation
By rolling out pre-canned "tools catalogs" for users, National Gas created a quick-build system. Want rapid deployment for new development tools? Done. Faster data onboarding, debugging, or application setup? Also done. This minimized human intervention, clearing up time for teams to innovate.Why Single-Session Machines?
Ah, the elephant in the room: why steer away from typically multi-session AVDs? The answer lies in simplicity. Multi-session systems can fail to address stress points like individual workload demands or security-level granularity.Instead, National Gas focused on single-session desktops that not only optimized customization but also reduced conflicts that arise when multiple projects compete for the same resources.
Imagine custom-tailored suits for every single user. That’s what this single-session system brought—a fit so perfect that it allowed the company to stick to rapid timelines and achieve "better than expected" results.
Automation to the Rescue: No Third-Party Band-Aids
Here’s another genius move. The deployment avoided the traditional use of third-party dashboard tools for application delivery. Instead, every variable—from app profiles to patching security layers—was wrapped directly in Microsoft Azure's default ecosystem.Everything functioned like clockwork:
- Machines auto-power up the second a user logs in.
- They "deallocate" (fancy way of saying they go to sleep) when users log off.
The Human Factor: Reduced Errors and Future-Readiness
Patching, updating, and even the dreaded task of "image management" became irrelevant. (For reference, image management is the process of creating OS images for various hardware.) Thanks to automation, future-proofing became part of the DNA. Be it rolling out Microsoft updates or scaling workstations, human error was now a problem of the past.Applications like OneDrive Help Sync not only acted as a bridge but also addressed storage concerns by avoiding bloated, local-heavy data storage.
Why Does This Matter to the Wider Industry?
Transitioning applications to AVD without requiring custom user profiling for every scenario is a big leap forward that more companies—beyond just energy companies—should consider. Industries that need layers of cybersecurity, remote accessibility, and seamless functions (thinking wholesale traders, airlines, healthcare ops during emergencies) can see immediate benefits from this model.Final Thoughts: Reinventing the Gas (and Cloud) Pipeline
Through the brilliance of automation, a measured but fast approach to scalability, and the intelligent use of Microsoft Azure’s integrated services, National Gas transformed more than a cloud environment—it redefined its operational ethos. Capgemini’s leadership here highlights how tight deadlines are not technological barriers when you align sheer innovation with best-in-class tools.This success sets the stage for future models of cloud migration for other industries.
So the next time you think “cloud,” think beyond mere data storage. Think about the beauty of an automated delivery system—one that not only simplifies daily needs but stretches possibilities for tomorrow. And if you’re wondering why Microsoft Azure remains one of the top players in cloud innovation, well, perhaps National Gas can serve as your Exhibit A.
Source: Capgemini Transforming National Gas’ in-house development capabilities with a scalable, flexible Microsoft Azure cloud environment
