Victorinox – Transforming IT security with the Microsoft 365 E5 suite

Famous around the globe for its iconic Swiss Army Knives, watches and travel gear, Victorinox combines traditional skilled craftsmanship with a forward-looking spirit of innovation. A profound commitment to quality and precision has underpinned its success for generations. In today’s digital age, however, excellence is no longer defined by top-class products alone: A modern and secure IT infrastructure has become equally important. And here, Victorinox needed to take action: While the existing IT landscape did provide basic security, the use of a varied range of tools from different suppliers made this complex and expensive. Training costs added a further burden, because specific knowledge was needed for each tool. Moreover, given the growing demand for robust cyber-security, strategic reorientation had become unavoidable. The aim was to consolidate the security architecture and cut costs, but also to rise to the challenge of new demands.

Since the company was already using Microsoft 365, including Microsoft Teams as its central platform for collaboration and communication, switching to Defender XDR as part of the extended Microsoft 365 E5 suite seemed the obvious thing to do. The latter suite complements the existing applications, adding integrated and automated security to deliver enhanced identity and threat protection – for example with Microsoft Defender for Endpoints & Servers and its seamless integration in Microsoft Sentinel.

Ultimately, a visit to the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond clinched the decision for Victorinox. Here, the IT chiefs were able to see the very latest security solutions for themselves. And they were quickly convinced: “Visiting the Microsoft HQ showed us how versatile and powerful modern security solutions can be,” explains Roger Betschart, Head of IT Architecture, Security & Operations at Victorinox. “We were particularly impressed by the way different security features are integrated in a single central platform – what is called the ‘single pane of glass’. This transparency and simplicity was exactly what we were looking for.” The decision was thus made to migrate from the existing E3 license to the enhanced E5 suite.

Towards a consolidated security landscape with Microsoft partner baseVISION

Implementing a project on this scale required very extensive expertise, so Victorinox got in touch with Microsoft FastTrack Ready partner baseVISION. The assignment was clear: Third-party licenses that were due to expire were to be replaced by the new Microsoft solutions without disrupting regular operations. The transformation was also supported by a Microsoft Deployment Voucher program that enabled Victorinox to migrate seamlessly from third-party solutions to Microsoft Defender XDR.

Security workshops at which baseVISION used the Microsoft 365 E5 suite to demonstrate the functionality of Defender XDR and then work with Victorinox to define priorities got the project up and running. On this basis, a tailor-made concept was drawn up and precisely aligned with the company’s goals. Implementation then followed a clearly structured multi-phase plan: To begin with, pilot groups were formed within the IT team to test the new solution in the live, productive environment but without hindering the users’ work processes. This made it possible to try out the functionality at an early stage and identify and remedy specific potential challenges. After this phase, the solution was gradually rolled out across the whole company. Controlled rollout guaranteed secure and seamless integration in existing business processes.

Change management was a key success factor: Right from the word go, the IT systems engineers at Victorinox were actively involved in the transformation process. Their expertise was instrumental in guaranteeing the success of the project. At the same time, transparent communication and selective training courses were the ideal way to prepare staff for the changes ahead and ensure a smooth migration. “For us, baseVISION is much more than just a technical service provider,” notes Tobias Hauser, Head of Information Security at Victorinox. “The company is a strategic partner whose knowledge and experience played a major role in enabling this project.”

Even now, with the implementation phase completed, baseVISION remains a reliable partner. Thanks to a flexible delivery model, Victorinox is able to work independently but can, if the need arises, call in expert support. This assistance provides stability and lays the foundation for dealing with future challenges in the digital transformation.

IT security from a single source – The new security architecture at Victorinox

Migrating to Microsoft Defender XDR/Microsoft 365 E5 not only brought the Victorinox security architecture into line with the state of the art: It also made the company’s IT setup significantly more efficient. Having all security solutions integrated in the central ‘single pane of glass’ platform made administration much simpler across the entire IT landscape. At the same time, staff benefit from a harmonized environment that renders a number of tools surplus to requirements. Automated workflows and playbooks ease the burden on the IT teams by relieving them of routine tasks, which frees up more capacity for strategic projects. Another advantage is that the solutions are scalable: Subsidiary companies can independently integrate additional devices and servers, all of which makes global rollout even more efficient.

Vulnerability management quickly identifies any security loopholes and makes precise recommendations for remedial action. This too is an important element of the new infrastructure. Moreover, Defender for Identity brings transparency even to areas – such as local directory services – that have hitherto not been monitored. Add-on functions such as Safe Links and Safe Attachments sharpen staff’s awareness of potential threats by actively warning against suspicious content. Also, Microsoft Sentinel continuously monitors the global IT landscape, leading to fast recognition and resolution of security incidents. “Thanks to Microsoft Sentinel,” Hauser says, “we now have seamless 24/7 monitoring, based on which we can guarantee the security of all our subsidiaries around the globe. The combination of central control and local flexibility gives us a standard of security that exceeds even what we used to have.”

Advanced security models and AI – The pathway to the digital future

Migrating to Microsoft 365 E5 has enabled Victorinox to significantly reduce the complexity of its security landscape, while also bringing lasting improvements in both efficiency and security. The company plans to continue systematically improving its IT security architecture in order to effectively counter future threats as well. A strong focus has been placed on designing a flexible and scalable IT infrastructure that can find optimal responses to new and emerging demands across both the global organization and local subsidiaries.

The principle of zero trust is central to Victorinox’s security strategy. In keeping with the motto “trust no one, verify everything”, every access – from any location and any device – is subject to strict controls. This guarantees compliance with the highest standards of security while maintaining maximum flexibility in cloud-based administration. Victorinox is also committed to optimizing its existing processes: In Microsoft Sentinel, it continues to refine and improve playbooks. And it systematically enhances functions such as document classification and data loss prevention to make its security strategy even more robust. “Our vision is to establish a secure, efficient, cloud-based IT landscape that meets the strictest security standards, but that also leaves us flexible enough to respond to future challenges,” Betschart explains. “Microsoft and baseVISION are the reliable partners that help us stay true to this vision and get our IT in shape for the future.”

That said, Victorinox also trusts Microsoft technologies above and beyond its IT security needs – especially in artificial intelligence. Initial tests with Microsoft 365 Copilot show how AI-based tools can automate work processes and increase productivity. With the aid of a pilot group that evaluates each function and provides feedback, the company is pursuing a clear roadmap to implement these technologies step by step – still more impressive evidence of how Victorinox is actively driving and shaping the digital transformation.