Building resilience on and off the pitch with backup, cybersecurity, and future-ready IT
Like many organizations using Microsoft 365, the Portland Timbers discovered that Microsoft’s shared responsibility model left important gaps in data protection. While Microsoft guarantees service availability, each organization is responsible for protecting its own data from accidental deletion, malicious activity, or retention gaps. For a professional sports organization where both business and competitive data are mission-critical, this responsibility is magnified.
Through the Acronis #TeamUp Program, the Timbers partnered with Covenant Technology Solutions, an Oregon-based managed service provider with deep Microsoft expertise, to holistically secure their IT environments and Microsoft 365 data. For Covenant’s founder, Tim Choquette—a lifelong Timbers fan—this partnership is both professional and personal, combining a passion for soccer with a commitment to cybersecurity excellence.
The Challenge: Complex Environments, High Stakes
The Timbers’ IT team was managing a patchwork of backup tools, including Veeam, native Windows backup, and other sync utilities, across both cloud and on-premises workloads. This created inefficiency, added cost, and made compliance reporting for cybersecurity insurance a tedious process.
Meanwhile, the rapid shift to remote and hybrid work during the pandemic accelerated the team’s reliance on Microsoft services. But their 3-2-1 backup strategy lacked the unified visibility and simplified management they needed to stay agile and secure.
Data is by far the lifeblood of our organization — both on the business side and on the soccer side. Any time we think about that data, we’re strategizing security and ways to protect it,” explains Robert Rice, VP of Technology for the Portland Timbers and Providence Park.
Data is by far the lifeblood of our organization — both on the business side and on the soccer side. Any time we think about that data, we’re strategizing security and ways to protect it.
Robert Rice, VP of Technology for the Portland Timbers and Providence Park.
The Solution: A Unified Platform with Acronis + Covenant
To address these challenges, the Timbers deployed Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud through Covenant Technology Solutions. The solution consolidated protection for Microsoft 365, on-premises virtual servers, and other critical systems into a single, encrypted backup platform.
For Rice and his team, this wasn’t just about backup. With Acronis’ ability to spin up virtual machines in the cloud for disaster recovery, the Timbers gained confidence that matchday operations could continue—even in the face of unexpected disruptions.
“We’re a Microsoft-centered shop,” says Tim Choquette, President of Covenant Technology Solutions. “We focus on Microsoft hardening—securing Microsoft 365, Azure, and related services. That’s where we’ve been able to mesh well with the Timbers, bringing both expertise and a solutions-first approach to complement Acronis’ technology.”
We’re a Microsoft-centered shop. We focus on Microsoft hardening—securing Microsoft 365, Azure, and related services. That’s where we’ve been able to mesh well with the Timbers, bringing both expertise and a solutions-first approach to complement Acronis’ technology.
Tim Choquette, President/CEO and Founder of Covenant Technology Solutions
The Results: Peace of Mind and Room to Grow
The impact of this partnership has been immediate and measurable:
- Simplified Management: A single pane of glass for all backups reduced the burden on IT staff.
- Streamlined Compliance: Robust reporting has made audits and cybersecurity insurance renewals faster and easier.
- Disaster Recovery Confidence: The ability to spin up workloads in the Acronis Cloud assures that business and matchday operations will not be disrupted.
- Refocused IT Resources: With backup simplified, the Timbers’ IT team can dedicate more time to stadium projects and digital fan experiences.
“The Acronis platform for us has really been that data security piece,” Rice explains. “Because the reporting is so robust, because we have a single pane of glass to check for on-premises and cloud environments, we can easily dive into the platform and understand what’s being backed up. It helps me sleep at night.”
A Foundation for the Future
The Timbers’ 50th anniversary marks a pivotal moment—not only in their history as a club but in their digital evolution. With Covenant and Acronis, they now have a technology foundation that supports growth, fan engagement, and business continuity.
This partnership demonstrates the power of combining local IT expertise with global technology innovation. Acronis delivers a robust platform, and Covenant provides a Microsoft-focused strategy to help the Timbers thrive in an ever-changing digital world.
🏆 Want to see how Covenant and Acronis helped the Portland Timbers build resilience on and off the pitch?
📖 Read the full case study on Acronis’ blog: https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/the-portland-timbers-secure-microsoft-365-with-covenant-and-acronis/
About Covenant Technology Solutions
Founded in 2002, Covenant Technology Solutions is Oregon’s premier Microsoft solutions provider, serving businesses across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. With five out of six Microsoft Solutions Partner designations and recognition as a top-tier MSP/MSSP on Paul Dipple’s Expertise Scale, Covenant brings unmatched depth in cybersecurity, cloud, and Microsoft 365 solutions.
Our mission is simple: to empower organizations to achieve digital success while freeing them to focus on what matters most—growing their business, serving their community, and, in the case of the Timbers, winning matches.
