Shirley Finnerty

Building trust with rock-solid security at Crowleys DFK

By completing the first phase of its journey to ISO 27001 certification with a Microsoft Intune implementation, leading Irish firm of chartered accountants and tax advisors, Crowleys DFK can reassure its clients of exceptional data security practices. As ISO 27001 certification is the gold standard internationally for information security management and GDPR compliance, it takes […]

Fingal County Council providing critical services to almost 300,000 residents through Microsoft Teams Calling

Fingal County Council, like most public service organisations, was forced to find new solutions to maintain connection between its team of hundreds of employees, its community network, and the general public when the Covid-19 emergency shut down its offices in March 2020. Fingal County Council is the third largest local authority in Ireland and serves […]

Microsoft Teams: Lots and Lots of New Features

As we reflect on the radical transformations that took place last year and how the world of work as we knew it dramatically changed, I wanted to take a moment to share with you some of the recent key milestones that occurred for Microsoft Teams to help you and your organisation make the most out […]

Learning in lockdown: one year on

It’s both an understatement and a cliché to say that things have changed in the last year. But while the one-year anniversary of the first lockdown isn’t something anyone will celebrate, the impact it has had on the way we work and learn is undeniable. We spoke to four higher education professionals from different institutions […]

Why leading Irish retailer Musgrave is ready for anything with cloud technology

“When assessing the potential effects of major digital transformation projects on our business, we always think about three key constituents: colleagues, retailers, and consumers.” So says Paul Baguley, IT PMO for Musgrave Retail – Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale and food service company. Together with its retail partners, who operate under leading brands including SuperValu […]

Adapting to the “Never Normal” and Innovating in Challenging Times  

Adapting to the “Never Normal” and Innovating in Challenging Times   Overnight, how and where we work has been transformed. The pandemic has presented major challenges for businesses and the wider society, forcing a rethink of everything from how we do business, to how we socialise and how we communicate.   We are living in a rapidly–changing world where the need to learn and adapt has never been greater. We hosted the first–ever “Microsoft Talk” this week, a live Microsoft […]

Reimagining education: From remote to hybrid learning

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a torrent of individual and small-group responses as to how education could be transformed. We have found a groundswell of interest in the question, “How best to take advantage of the new opportunities arising from the disruption?” What people desperately need are opportunities to team up and find pathways of […]

Make remote learning work better for everyone. Find out how.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak first hit China, our education customers in the country have done amazing things to keep students engaged while they transition to remote learning. From eLearning innovations, to keeping students’ spirits high with photo and cooking challenges – teachers and students have shown extraordinary resilience during this difficult time. Now, as the […]

Mayo County Council: holding a community together with technology

“The ongoing health emergency has led to new ways of working for organisations all over the world,” says Frank O’Donnell, Public Sector Lead at Microsoft Ireland. In responding to COVID-19, workers across all industries have been forced to adapt their daily routines. But when the services your organisation offers are vital to people’s health and […]

Virtual meetings – a waste of time?

Virtual meetings – a waste of time?   Lately, we’ve all had to adjust to working from home. But arriving as it did so suddenly, has raised more than a few questions we haven’t had to consider before:  How can I set appropriate boundaries between work and home life?  What can I do to stay productive in this new working environment?  What pair of pyjama bottoms should I wear for today’s conference call?  […]

How to enhance traditional teaching methods with Microsoft Teams

COVID-19 has had a huge effect on the daily routines of millions of educators and students across the world. The Microsoft Education team has remained committed to helping everyone stay connected and engaged through remote learning. And now, as countries begin to emerge from the crisis, Microsoft is helping schools shift to ‘blended learning’ – […]