ERW retired the VPN and made hybrid work smoother.
SkyDesk365 replaced slow, unreliable remote access with a secure cloud desktop so a commercial lighting team could work from anywhere without IT headaches.
ERW Lighting had served the Northwest for more than 50 years, but its hybrid workforce was losing time to an outdated VPN and a reactive IT model. Covenant helped modernize the work environment with secure cloud desktops, Microsoft 365 integration, and proactive support.
Case study snapshot
The challenge
ERW was a trusted lighting representative with a growing hybrid team, but its IT model was holding people back.
The VPN was slow and unreliable
Hybrid employees lost productivity when access to their workspace depended on an outdated VPN.
IT felt transactional
A pay-per-incident model created delays, unpredictable costs, and a reactive support experience.
Troubleshooting stole time from the business
Employees were spending valuable time working around technology instead of serving customers and growing the company.
Teams needed smoother coordination
Inside sales, field teams, and remote staff needed a consistent way to collaborate across locations and devices.
Remote work needed stronger controls
Access had to be secure and dependable without spreading business data across unmanaged endpoints.
IT spending needed predictability
ERW needed a model that replaced surprise fees with a clearer, budget-friendly management approach.
Why Covenant
ERW needed more than a break-fix vendor. They needed a proactive partner who could modernize access, support hybrid work, and make IT costs more predictable.
Why Covenant: With inside sales, field teams, and remote staff depending on secure access every day, ERW needed a modern, scalable solution and a partner who would help prevent IT issues instead of waiting for users to submit another ticket.
What Covenant did
The work focused on replacing VPN frustration with secure cloud access, improving reliability, and shifting ERW from reactive support to proactive managed IT.
Deployed SkyDesk365
Covenant moved ERW to a secure cloud Desktop-as-a-Service environment so employees could log into their workspace from any device, anywhere.
Removed VPN dependence
SkyDesk365 gave employees a smoother, more consistent way to work between home, office, and the field without relying on a fragile VPN.
Integrated productivity tools
Microsoft 365 integration helped support collaboration and productivity across the hybrid team.
Improved data protection
Proactive IT support, real-time threat monitoring, and secure cloud access helped protect ERW’s data.
Added proactive managed support
Covenant shifted ERW away from reactive troubleshooting toward a steadier support model.
Created predictable IT management
A contract-based pricing model replaced surprise per-incident fees with clearer, budget-friendly IT costs.
Results and impact
ERW gained secure access from anywhere, stronger reliability, and a simpler way to manage IT costs.
- Seamless, secure remote access that eliminated VPN frustration
- Enhanced security and reliability through proactive monitoring and support
- Predictable IT costs under a contract-based model
- More productivity as the team focused on lighting, not troubleshooting
Access became simpler
Employees could move between home and office without the daily drag of unreliable VPN access.
Support became proactive
ERW gained a partner focused on preventing issues and responding quickly when help was needed.
Costs became more predictable
The contract-based model helped reduce surprises and gave leadership clearer expectations.
Work became more focused
The team could spend less time troubleshooting and more time supporting customers and projects.
Client quotes
For ERW, the difference showed up in smoother operations and a technology partner that felt embedded with the team.
“SkyDesk365 has been a game changer for our operations. It allows us to work seamlessly between home and office without worrying about IT disruptions. Covenant’s team feels like a part of ours-they’re always responsive and proactive in finding solutions for us.”
Karina Newell, Principal, ERW LightingCloud access without daily friction
ERW needed hybrid work to feel normal, not fragile. SkyDesk365 gave the team consistent access while Covenant’s support model reduced the IT interruptions that had been slowing people down.
Looking ahead
ERW is now positioned for sustainable growth on a flexible, secure IT foundation.
Scale securely on SkyDesk365
As the team grows, ERW can continue adding users to a cloud desktop foundation designed for secure hybrid work.
Expand Microsoft 365 productivity
Microsoft 365 can continue supporting better collaboration across inside sales, field teams, and remote staff.
Keep IT predictable
Proactive support and contract-based management help IT remain a planned operating cost instead of a surprise.
Strengthen security over time
Monitoring, access controls, and cloud workspace practices can mature as the business continues to evolve.
Reduce endpoint risk
Cloud desktops help keep business work centralized instead of spreading data across unmanaged devices.
Support regional growth
The technology foundation can support a team serving customers across the Northwest without creating extra IT strain.
Related Covenant solutions
The ERW work connects secure cloud desktops, operational continuity, Microsoft 365, and proactive IT operations.
SkyDesk365
Secure cloud desktops that replace clunky VPN access and help hybrid teams work from nearly anywhere.
Explore SkyDesk365Operational Continuity
Keep your people working and your data protected through everyday interruptions and unexpected disruptions.
Explore Operational ContinuityAlways On IT Operations
Proactive support, monitoring, maintenance, and coordination so technology stays steady day to day.
Explore operationsMicrosoft 365 Cloud Solutions
Implement, secure, support, and optimize the Microsoft environment your team uses every day.
Explore Microsoft 365Fortify
Microsoft cyber hardening across identity, email, devices, data protection, governance, and AI readiness.
Explore FortifyAI Enablement & Productivity
Prepare Microsoft 365, permissions, governance, and users for responsible AI and Copilot adoption.
Explore AI EnablementEliminate VPN frustration and unpredictable IT costs.
If your team needs secure access from anywhere without the headaches of old remote-access tools, Covenant can help you build a cloud desktop and support model around how your people actually work.