When your mission is helping children and families through adoption, orphan care, foster care, and pregnancy services, the last thing you need is technology slowing you down. For Hope’s Promise, a nonprofit dedicated to making every child’s story matter, that’s exactly what was happening.
Staff were juggling paperwork, client calls, and the care of children and families every day. Even small technology hiccups added friction to already demanding work.
“Our staff just want their computers to work. They don’t need to know the technical details,” said Kaye Ferguson, Director of Operations for Hope’s Promise.
Aging on-premise servers and scattered files made it especially difficult for international staff to access the information they needed. Hope’s Promise turned to long-time partner Anchor Network Solutions to find a more secure, reliable way to connect its global team.
Finding the Right Solution
Anchor Network Solutions recommended Microsoft Azure to provide secure, scalable access tailored to Hope’s Promise’s needs and budget. The migration consolidated core applications like OneAccess, set up Azure AD, and streamlined workflows, all while keeping staff desktops familiar.
In fact, the full transition to Azure took 4+ weeks, much of it dedicated to behind-the-scenes preparation most staff never saw.
“Anchor had to prepare things in the background to make sure the move went smoothly,” Kaye Ferguson explained.
The Work Behind the Scenes
A significant portion of the project involved careful file preparation to ensure compatibility with Azure. The Anchor team used scripts to identify files exceeding 200 characters, reviewed inventories with the client, and renamed files to prevent migration issues.
In total, Anchor cleaned up 7,000+ files for OneDrive compatibility, with no loss to productivity along the way.
Andy Harper, Anchor Network Solution’s Manager of Technology Alignment, discussed the thinking behind this approach: “IT can make systems work, but non-technical users can’t be expected to do what we do. That’s why we focused on migrating them to Azure AD while keeping everything familiar. Too much change at once can overwhelm users, so maintaining a consistent desktop experience was key to adoption.”
Opening Access for a Global Team
With all files securely in the cloud, international teams could finally access shared folders without delays.
“We were excited that international staff could finally access folders for sending reports, which previously had to go through U.S. staff,” Kaye Ferguson added.
Anchor ensured OneDrive integrated seamlessly with existing workflows, and with Pax8 support on call, it resolved any Azure or Office 365 issues quickly, helping staff keep working efficiently throughout the migration.
The Results
Today, Hope’s Promise staff have reliable access from anywhere, eliminating the need for VPNs and simplifying backups. Consolidating systems also reduced costs tied to servers, battery backups, and static IPs, while improving security.
The migration delivered approximately $5k in savings, reducing hardware, backup, and server overhead to maximize the organization’s budget impact.
“Being in the cloud has opened up opportunities and efficiencies for our IT budget,” said Kaye Ferguson.
Hope’s Promise staff now feel confident that essential apps and files work as needed, enabling easier collaboration across international teams. The move to a centralized cloud environment has significantly improved how the organization operates, allowing nonprofits like Hope’s Promise to focus on their mission rather than troubleshooting technology.
“I love their mission. Their mission is amazing,” said Anchor’s Andy Harper. “Helping them streamline and gain control over their technology is something I’m proud to be part of.”
Technology That Supports the Mission
With Anchor Network Solutions and Pax8’s combined support, Hope’s Promise now has a compliant, centralized environment that supports growth and lets staff focus on making a greater impact.
If your organization is struggling with outdated infrastructure, scattered files, or limited access for remote and international teams, Anchor Network Solutions can help design a cloud solution tailored to your mission and your budget.
Contact Anchor Network Solutions to learn how The IT Advantage™ can support your organization’s future.
