Background
Emmy-nominated Outpost VFX creates digital effects for film and episodic productions.
After the film industry updated its regulations, Outpost VFX needed to develop and implement a whole new compliant storage system by the end of the 2022 financial year.
Outpost VFX initially selected Insight for its technical expertise and was impressed by the consultancy approach that Insight adopted.
Challenge
The volume of video created, processed, and stored when producing visual effects generates vast amounts of data. Both video and data must be stored in-line with industry regulations, as failure to comply can result in fines.
Changes to the industry’s regulations put all studios at risk of non-compliance. Outpost VFX needed a technology solution to ensure it was aligned to the updated regulations, which could be implemented quickly.
Outpost VFX is spread internationally across five locations – LA, London, Montréal, Bournemouth and Mumbai – complicating the challenge, as each location had to be migrated individually and in sequence.
“We wanted to work with Insight because of its Microsoft expertise. We were confident that the Insight team could deliver a compliant and secure architecture solution for us, and we were pleased that its consultation approach could help future-proof our system for further digital transformation.
“First and foremost, we needed an industry compliant solution, fast. That’s exactly what Insight gave us, delivering it ahead of the initial schedule.”
Tim Chauncey, Chief Technology Officer, Outpost VFX
Solution and Outcome
From the outset Insight took a consultancy approach to the project, as understanding Outpost VFX’s broader needs was essential to creating the right solution. Through discovery workshops and scoping meetings, Insight was able to understand Outpost VFX’s high-level requirements and business goals. This helped Outpost VFX ensure it was primed for further digital transformation with Insight’s services.
Outpost VFX operated two Active Directory Forests which needed to be consolidated to meet the industry’s best practices. As a multi-site solution, each of Outpost VFX’s locations had to be taken offline individually and in sequence. Once complete, Outpost VFX’s data was stored in a single domain.
The migration plan involved relocating Outpost VFX’s applications and services including Microsoft Exchange and specialised graphical applications, used to create film visual effects.
The whole process was overseen by a dedicated Insight project management team, who set a progress timeline to get the industry-compliant solution up and running as soon as possible.
Insight’s openness and the understanding it showed of Outpost VFX’s values throughout the collaboration fostered a feeling of mutual trust – considered by Outpost VFX a pre-for the project.
Insight’s approach and expertise meant that the solution was delivered ahead of schedule, saving time that Outpost VFX could carry forward to its next project with Insight.
Why Insight?
Outpost VFX was impressed by Insight’s consultative approach as well as by its technical solution. By taking the time to genuinely understand its values, high-level requirements and broader business goals, Outpost VFX knew that Insight was committed to building a long-term, long-lasting change with its interests at heart.
Insight is the largest global provider of Microsoft solutions, with many awards and accreditations to its name. Outpost VFX recognised this and trusts Insight to be the best-fit technology partner to support its digital transformation, now and in the future.
