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Public Transport Operator
Simplifying the journey from Symantec to Microsoft Defender
How a Transportation Business ensured a Secure, Smooth, and Best-Practice Migration
Comprehensive Policy Review Completed
Clear Gap Analysis Delivered
Actionable Recommendation Report Provided
The Customer
Public Transport Operator
Client:
Large - Enterprise
Size:
United Kingdom
Geography:
The Challenge
The customer faced uncertainty in migrating from Symantec Endpoint Protection to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (DfE). While initial migration efforts were supported by Microsoft and a third-party partner, the pilot had revealed functional gaps, inconsistencies, and unclear adherence to best practices.
The organisation lacked confidence in:
The quality and security coverage of their existing DfE implementation.
Alignment with industry and vendor best practices.
Administrative familiarity with related implementations (e.g., Elizabeth Line).
A reliable method to remove Symantec Endpoint Protection at scale without user disruption.
The primary goal was to confidently remove Symantec while ensuring operational stability and security.
Key Activities
Review Existing Endpoint Protection Policies & Features
Review MSDFE Setup & Policies
Conduct Workshop to Define Requirements
Identify Gaps & Provide Migration Recommendation
Suggest Symantec Removal Process Leveraging Intune
Draft & Present High-Level Recommendations Report
Technologies
Microsoft Defender For Endpoint
Microsoft Intune & SCCM
Symantec Endpoint Protection (Legacy)
The Solution
Venture 1 conducted a high-level assessment and delivered a detailed recommendations report to provide the customer with confidence in their Defender deployment and migration strategy.
The solution focused on:
Review & Assessment: Evaluated existing Symantec workstation policies and enabled endpoint features, as well as the current DfE implementation, identifying potential gaps or misconfigurations.
Requirements Workshop: Engaged stakeholders to define the desired endpoint protection environment and ensure alignment with operational and security needs.
Gap Analysis & Recommendations: Highlighted any functional differences between Symantec and DfE, suggested complementary Defender products if needed, and advised on best-practice configuration improvements.
Migration & Removal Guidance: Reviewed the Symantec removal approach, recommended leveraging Intune to remove the legacy product efficiently, reducing trial-license dependency.
Reporting & Presentation: Delivered a concise, actionable report with observations, recommendations, and one revision based on customer feedback to ensure clarity and confidence in decision-making.
The solution ensured the customer could move forward with the migration, removing Symantec safely, standardising endpoint security, and maintaining operational continuity.
Benefits & Results Derived
Confidence in Security & Best Practice: Clear guidance and recommendations ensure the environment aligns with industry standards, improving stability, reliability, and security coverage.
Gap Visibility: Visibility of differences between Symantec and Defender highlights areas needing additional coverage, providing assurance of endpoint protection quality.
Operational Efficiency: Recommended Symantec removal processes using Intune reduce manual work and minimise service disruption.
Aligned Administration: Consistency with sister implementations simplifies administrative operations and supports IT familiarity.
Actionable Roadmap: Concise reports and recommendations guide future migration steps, enabling confident decision-making.
Enhanced Security Posture: Guidance and assessment increase confidence in endpoint protection and readiness for migration.
Reduced Operational Risk: Recommendations support safe removal of legacy systems and reduce reliance on expiring third-party trial licenses.
Sustained Advisory Support: Ongoing guidance ensures optimisation and scaling of the Defender implementation across operations.