Khansaheb Civil Engineering enhances fieldwork efficiency and digital security with Microsoft 365 E3

Khansaheb Civil Engineering has played a pivotal role in the development of the United Arab Emirates for the past 89 years. As the company grew, it accrued inefficiencies, such as data spread across 300 on-premises servers, conflicting domain policies, and outdated systems that complicated remote access and collaboration. To streamline its technology infrastructure, Khansaheb Civil Engineering adopted Microsoft 365 E3. The shift improved online security through advanced threat protection and identity management, used SharePoint to store data, and Teams to enhance remote collaboration. The result—streamlined operations, reduced costs, and improved cybersecurity. Employees can now work seamlessly on-site with fewer safety risks and operational costs, and higher overall productivity.

Khansaheb Civil Engineering, founded in 1935, has played a pivotal role in the development of the infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Notable projects include the Mall of the Emirates, the Raffles Hotel, and the refurbishment of Bab Al Shams Hotel. "We built part of the very first road between Abu Dhabi and Dubai," shares Matt Curson, Group IT Manager at Khansaheb Civil Engineering.

The company currently employs over 5,000 people across divisions like construction, roads and infrastructure, interiors, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), and facilities management.

As its business expanded, Khansaheb Civil Engineering struggled with scattered data, outdated systems, and data security. “Six years ago, we had 300 on-premises servers spread across various offices, conflicting domain policies, and a lacking identity management procedure,” recalls Rizwan Assad, Lead Cloud Engineer at Khansaheb Civil Engineering. “We were hacked and phished daily without any Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). We needed a completely fresh approach."

Khansaheb Civil Engineering decided to modernize its technology infrastructure, starting with SharePoint in 2018 and moving on to Microsoft 365 E3 and its suite of productivity apps like Microsoft Teams. “We decided to fully move to the cloud, realizing that there was no real logic in data residing on a server in some office and complicating remote access,” Curson explains. “Our strategy? All you should need is a person, a computer, and a mobile phone.”

Enhancing business resilience

As soon as Khansaheb Civil Engineering adopted Microsoft 365 E3, it faced an unexpected test: the COVID-19 pandemic. Reshma Hanzel, Application Development Manager at Khansaheb Civil Engineering, recalls, "We had only two weeks to finish the implementation before everybody had to work remotely due to movement restrictions, but we were able to carry on as normal." Microsoft Teams facilitated remote meetings and real-time collaboration, ensuring business continuity.” This successful proof-of-concept convinced our executive team of the importance of investing in IT, wisely and appropriately, for our business and industry,” adds Duncan Payne, Group Support Services Manager at Khansaheb Civil Engineering.

This flexibility proved crucial during other disruptions as well. In May 2024, a severe storm in Dubai caused widespread flooding, yet Khansaheb Civil Engineering employees could work safely from home.

For Ishita Joshi, Group Marketing Manager at Khansaheb Civil Engineering, Microsoft 365 E3 brought more flexibility to daily workflows, making her 30% more efficient. “I deal with a lot of visual content, constantly sharing large files, and having calls. This has all been much smoother since we moved to Microsoft 365 E3,” she highlights. “As a new mother, I appreciate being able to work seamlessly from home or the office.”

Bolstering cybersecurity

Khansaheb Civil Engineering’s shift to Microsoft 365 E3 brought comprehensive security features, including Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for advanced threat protection and remediation, and Microsoft Intune for enhanced identity and endpoint management. “We used to have hundreds of attempted and some successful hacks every day, and now that number has dropped close to zero, thanks to Microsoft 365 E3.” says Curson. “Our security score is 99.8%. We’re proud of our security posture. For our business and industry, we’re ahead of many of our peers.”

“Our security score is 99.8%. We’re proud of our security posture. For our business and industry, we’re ahead of many of our peers.”

Matt Curson, Group IT Manager, Khansaheb Civil Engineering

Initially, some employees were resistant to change, like regularly updating passwords, but Khansaheb Civil Engineering conducted extensive training sessions to help them understand the importance of cybersecurity measures. “Over time, our employees started to appreciate the importance of our security measures. Most users now know how to spot phishing attempts and are more security conscious,” says Sabrina Fahad, IT Trainer at Khansaheb Civil Engineering.

Maintaining a competitive edge

Khansaheb Civil Engineering’s digitalization efforts have also enabled more environmentally sustainable practices, bringing a competitive edge. On its job sites, tablets and phones have replaced paper and the need to run back to the office to pick up something forgotten. "All stakeholders on a project, including clients and subcontractors, can securely use our platforms," Curson explains. “Our clients are often impressed with the level of transparency our way of working offers them.”

This has boiled down to cost-savings. "We've managed to become more sustainable by reducing our printing paper consumption by half in the last five years thanks to Microsoft 365 E3. Some of us don't even have access to a printer," Curson shares. “We’ve also reduced our landline telephony footprint significantly, saving about USD27,000 monthly, and have heavily adopted Teams calling as our primary method of communication.”

“We've managed to become more sustainable by reducing our printing paper consumption by half in the last five years. We’ve also reduced our landline telephony footprint significantly, saving about USD27,000 monthly, and have heavily adopted Teams calling as our primary method of communication.”

Matt Curson, Group IT Manager, Khansaheb Civil Engineering

Constructing a safer workplace

Looking ahead, Khansaheb Civil Engineering is set to continue its digital transformation. With plans to optimize its Microsoft 365 E3 use with the support of the Microsoft Partner, Bespin Global, Khansaheb Civil Engineering is looking forward to the next steps in its journey. “We also plan to start using Microsoft Sentinel to bring log analytics together and create a single view to further enhance our cybersecurity posture,” adds Curson.

Reflecting on the journey so far, Khansaheb Civil Engineering recognizes the significant impact Microsoft 365 E3 has had on its operations and workforce. "Microsoft 365 E3 enabled our people to get up from their desks and take their laptops and tablets out to the field. That's where we're seeing the value: measuring that wall, inspecting on site works, or assessing a safety incident, all using digital tools." Curson explains.