The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley, California, faced several IT challenges, including an outdated in-house Exchange system and an aging network infrastructure. 

Situation

With a small IT team, Danny Wilson, the Director of IT, needed external support to handle these crucial upgrades. GTU engaged Ferrilli to provide back-end network and service support, migrate their email system to Microsoft 365, and later undertake a significant network upgrade.

Ferrilli is an excellent resource for support in the sense of getting your staff the additional expertise that you couldn’t have in a smaller environment. I can rely on them to do things in an efficient and economical way and that has served us for many years now.

Solution

Ferrilli’s team worked closely with GTU to migrate their email from an outdated in-house Exchange server to Microsoft 365. This transition was timely, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the institution into remote operations. The 365 migration provided GTU with a more stable and accessible system, enabling staff and students to work remotely without the limitations of their previous setup, which relied heavily on VPN access.

Additionally, Ferrilli spearheaded a network upgrade to improve overall performance and stability. Their proactive approach ensured that issues were addressed before they became problems. With a wealth of experience and expertise in the tools GTU used, Ferrilli provided support beyond basic troubleshooting, identifying and suggesting solutions without prompting.

Results

The Microsoft 365 migration proved to be a lifesaver for GTU during the pandemic, allowing for smooth remote work without the complications of their old infrastructure. The upgraded network has significantly improved stability and user experience. Ferrilli’s proactive and reliable support has provided GTU with an extension of their internal IT team, delivering efficient, economical solutions tailored to their needs. Danny Wilson notes that Ferrilli’s depth of knowledge and proactive stance makes them an invaluable resource for a small institution like GTU.