3 min read
Hybrid enterprise environments create challenges that every IT leader recognizes: inconsistent security controls, unclear licensing usage, and a fragmented view of global infrastructure. Kadant, a multinational industrial equipment manufacturer operating in more than 20 countries, faced exactly that scenario.
With a distributed workforce and teams relying heavily on Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Defender, their technology leaders needed clearer insight into their security posture and licensing footprint. They knew the tools were in place — but they lacked the visibility to understand how well those tools were configured, adopted, and utilized across dozens of locations.
To move forward with confidence, they turned to CloudServus for a comprehensive Microsoft Cloud Security & Licensing Assessment.
You can view the full case study here.
The Challenge: Strong Tools, Limited Visibility
Kadant’s global IT environment had grown organically over time, creating several operational challenges:
- Unclear security posture across Microsoft 365 and Defender
While they had invested in Microsoft’s security stack, the team lacked confidence in how effectively configurations were implemented across sites. - No single source of truth for licensing usage
With users spread across more than 25 countries and multiple business units, Kadant needed a reliable way to understand active licenses, unused accounts, and opportunities to eliminate waste. - Disparate operational practices internationally
Some facilities followed centralized IT processes; others managed configurations independently. This inconsistency made it difficult to establish global standards.
Kadant wasn’t facing crises — they simply needed clarity to ensure security, governance, and licensing decisions were rooted in accurate data.
CloudServus’ Approach: A Deep, Collaborative Assessment
CloudServus worked directly with Kadant’s IT leadership team to deliver a two-part engagement: a Microsoft Cloud Security Assessment and a Licensing Optimization Review.
This included:
Security Posture Review
- Analysis of Microsoft 365 and Defender deployment
- Benchmarking against Microsoft best practices
- Identification of configuration gaps
- Recommendations to strengthen threat protection and endpoint security
License Utilization & Cost Optimization
- Organization-wide mapping of active vs. inactive users
- Identification of unused or misaligned licenses
- Consolidation opportunities across workloads
- Recommendations to align license tiers with actual usage
Governance & Operational Consistency
- Review of global IT processes
- Recommendations to streamline identity, access, and device management
- Guidance on establishing shared standards across all 25+ facilities
CloudServus applied the same methodology we use for global enterprises regardless of size: ask the right questions, validate assumptions with data, and deliver clear, actionable insights.
The Outcome: Clarity, Efficiency, and a Roadmap for the Future
By the end of the engagement, Kadant had a much stronger understanding of their Microsoft footprint — both from a security and licensing perspective.
Key outcomes included:
- A Clearly Defined Security Posture
Kadant gained visibility into their Microsoft 365 and Defender configurations and understood exactly where to focus improvements. This included steps to standardize device management, strengthen identities, and reduce risk exposure across their international sites. - Licensing Cost Savings
The CloudServus review uncovered unused licenses, reporting gaps, and redundant assignments. By reallocating and right-sizing licenses, Kadant was able to cut unnecessary spend and improve license governance. - A Unified Global Baseline
With clear recommendations and a detailed roadmap, Kadant’s IT leaders now had the alignment they needed to standardize processes across their sites — improving manageability, compliance, and operational efficiency. - Confidence in Future Decision-Making
Perhaps the biggest win: Kadant’s team gained clarity. They now understand their Microsoft environment end-to-end and can plan upgrades, expansions, and strategic initiatives with data-backed certainty.
Why This Matters for IT Leaders
Kadant’s story reflects a challenge faced by many global organizations: you can only secure and optimize what you can see.
Even companies already using Microsoft 365 E5 or Microsoft Defender often lack visibility across:
- Actual deployment consistency
- Configuration drift across locations
- Gaps between licensing purchased vs. licensing used
- Opportunities to consolidate workloads and reduce spend
- Overlapping security tools that Microsoft can replace
A structured assessment ensures IT leaders aren’t planning based on assumptions — they’re planning based on truth.
How CloudServus Helps Organizations Like Yours
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner and Azure Expert MSP, CloudServus specializes in helping enterprises strengthen security, reduce licensing costs, and gain full visibility across their Microsoft environments.
Our combined Cloud Security Assessment and Licensing Optimization Workshop provides:
- Clear insight into your current security posture
- A detailed map of license usage and overspend
- Recommendations aligned to Microsoft best practices
- A roadmap tailored to your organization’s operational reality
If your team is managing multiple locations, hybrid environments, or complex licensing structures, our experts can help you gain the clarity needed to move forward with confidence. Talk to one of our CloudServus experts today.
