Successful Modern Workplace Journey with Governance

Rencore Governance helped WKO replace an outdated, manual governance setup with a scalable, automated platform. This transformation supports Austria’s business backbone with a secure and future-ready digital workplace.

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Microsoft 365 Journey

WKO, short for Wirtschaftskammerorganisation, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, initiated its IT transformation in 2019 by establishing a Microsoft 365 Competence Centre. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the rollout of Microsoft Teams, initially managed through a custom-built PowerShell solution. As adoption increased, so did the complexity of governance, prompting WKO to seek a more robust and sustainable approach.

Why Rencore Governance?

WKO Inhouse GmbH, WKO's in-house IT service provider, selected Rencore Governance after evaluating several third-party platforms. The decision was based on the platform’s alignment with internal use cases, responsiveness to feedback, and compliance with European data protection standards. Positive references from existing Rencore customers further supported the choice.

Rencore Governance plays a central role in addressing everyday challenges such as cost optimization, lifecycle management, and audit readiness

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Michael Kristen

Head of Modern Workplace, 

WKO Inhouse GmbH

The Challenge

WKO encountered several governance-related issues:

  • Lifecycle Management: Teams and SharePoint resources lacked clear provisioning and deprovisioning processes.
  • Orphaned Resources: Unmanaged sites without owners created security and compliance risks.
  • Scalability Limitations: The PowerShell solution grew to over 6,000 lines of code, making it difficult to maintain. 
  • Limited Visibility: There was no centralised view of governance posture.
  • Manual Processes: Governance tasks were reactive and time-consuming.

How Rencore Governance Helped

Rencore Governance provided a comprehensive solution tailored to WKO’s needs:

  • Centralized dashboards offered full visibility into governance posture.
  • Custom compliance policies aligned with internal and regulatory standards.
  • License optimization reduced costs and improved resource allocation.
  • Automation workflows streamlined operations, such as converting public Teams to private.
  • Governance policies were applied consistently across Microsoft 365 services, eliminating silos. 

Result

WKO saw immediate improvements after implementation:

  • Operational clarity improved through a unified view of the Microsoft 365 environment.
  • Manual workload decreased, and consistency increased across governance tasks.
  • The platform scaled with WKO’s IT roadmap, supporting long-term strategy.
  • Audit readiness improved, with confidence in compliance and security.
  • Governance evolved into a proactive discipline that supports strategic agility.

Looking Ahead

WKO plans to expand its governance coverage to include Power Platform, Planner, and Intune. The organization is also exploring integrations with AI tools like Copilot and Copilot Studio. Future initiatives include leveraging Azure Secure Score for proactive security insights and ensuring seamless integration with Rencore’s evolving capabilities. 

Conclusion

WKO’s journey with Rencore Governance highlights the value of strategic transformation. By moving from manual processes to automated governance, WKO has strengthened its internal operations and laid the groundwork for long-term success. This progress benefits not only WKO and its regional chambers but also the broader Austrian business community.

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