Gilmac

After 20 years as an Epic IT client, Gilmac’s on-premise server infrastructure was reaching end of life, and the unique demands of rural connectivity, multi-site operations, and seasonal workforce scaling meant a standard lift-and-shift migration wasn’t an option.

The organisation needed a cloud strategy that would work reliably across regional WA locations with variable internet connectivity, while enabling real-time collaboration between field teams and head office staff.

Drawing on nearly two decades of knowledge of Gilmac’s environment, Epic IT designed a hybrid cloud migration that addressed the specific challenges of agricultural IT operations:

1. Microsoft 365 deployment: Rolled out Microsoft 365 across 100+ users for email, document management, and identity services

2. Microsoft Azure migration: Migrated critical server workloads to Azure, eliminating on-premise hardware dependencies while maintaining performance for line-of-business applications

3. Microsoft Teams collaboration: Deployed Teams to connect farm operations with head office in real time, replacing fragmented communication methods

4. Rural connectivity optimisation: Designed network configurations to maintain reliable cloud access from regional farm sites with limited bandwidth

5. Scalable infrastructure: Built an Azure environment that can scale with seasonal workforce fluctuations without hardware investment

Gilmac now operates on a modern cloud platform that connects their entire operation, from paddock to port, on a single, secure Microsoft ecosystem. The 19-year partnership with Epic IT meant minimal disruption during the transition, with the team’s deep understanding of Gilmac’s workflows ensuring every business process was preserved or improved in the new environment.