Case Study - Enabling Secure Remote Work for Alo Yoga/Bella+Canvas with Azure Virtual Desktop

Alo Yoga, a well-known yoga apparel brand, and Bella+Canvas, a leading fashion and wholesale clothing manufacturer, faced a unique challenge as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. Both organizations had experienced substantial growth, and their workforce was primarily based on-site. The sudden onset of the pandemic necessitated an urgent shift to remote work, which posed several logistical and security challenges. Furthermore, the pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions had led to a shortage of laptops, making it impractical for the remote workforce to use company-provided devices.

The emergence of COVID-19 compelled Alo Yoga and Bella+Canvas to adapt to remote work conditions rapidly. The organizations were faced with several intertwined problems:

Remote Work Urgency: The need to transition to remote work due to the pandemic was sudden, requiring immediate solutions to facilitate a productive remote work environment.

Personal Device Usage: Due to the laptop shortage, employees were using their personal devices for work, which posed security risks and data privacy concerns.

Security Policy Absence: The organizations lacked established security policies and infrastructure to secure personal device usage, creating vulnerabilities and potential data breaches.

Alo Yoga and Bella+Canvas partnered closely with the Akins IT team to devise a solution to address their remote work and security challenges:

Azure Virtual Desktop Implementation: Akins IT rapidly deployed Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop, creating a secure virtual workspace for remote users, allowing them to access essential applications from their personal devices.

Security Policy Establishment: The Akins IT team, in collaboration with the client's IT department, developed and implemented comprehensive security policies encompassing data protection, access control, authentication, and encryption to ensure the security of sensitive business information.

User Training and Support: To facilitate a seamless transition, the IT teams provided training to employees on Azure Virtual Desktop usage and offered ongoing technical support to ensure uninterrupted remote work operations.

The implementation of Azure Virtual Desktop and comprehensive security measures had a transformative impact on Alo Yoga and Bella+Canvas:

Rapid Remote Work Enablement: In a matter of days, remote users could securely access essential applications from their personal devices, enabling them to work from home during the pandemic and ensuring business continuity.

Cost Savings: The solution mitigated the need for additional laptops and associated costs, providing valuable cost savings and agility during challenging times.

Enhanced Security: The newly established security policies and Azure Virtual Desktop usage significantly improved data security, protecting sensitive business information and mitigating risks associated with personal device usage.

Productive Remote Workforce: Employees could maintain their productivity, despite the abrupt transition to remote work.

In conclusion, Alo Yoga and Bella+Canvas, in collaboration with the Akins IT team, successfully addressed the challenges posed by the pandemic by enabling secure remote work. The rapid deployment of Azure Virtual Desktop, paired with robust security measures, empowered the organizations to adapt efficiently to remote work, saving costs, and safeguarding their sensitive business information. This case demonstrates the adaptability and resilience of both companies when confronted with unexpected disruptions.