A Modern Device Management Case Study

‍Why a Standard RFP Response Wasn't Going to Cut It

A local housing development corporation needed to migrate hundreds of laptops from Windows 10 to Windows 11, a straightforward modernization goal that masked a more complicated technical reality.

Their original RFP was written around Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT). The problem: MDT does not officially support Windows 11, and the approach they envisioned wasn't viable for their environment.

The first round of vendor responses either ignored this, proposed workarounds at inflated cost, or tried to deliver what was asked without flagging why it wouldn't work.

Derive's response took a different approach, identifying the gaps in the original requirements and proposed a supported, realistic alternative that addressed what the client was actually trying to accomplish.

What Derive Proposed

Derive's solution preserved what was salvageable while replacing what wasn't.

For devices where MDT still applied, Derive used it, getting the right drivers in place and setting up Windows Deployment Services to support the process. For the broader rollout, the team configured task sequences, managed the hardware deployment, and provided hands-on support throughout the transition.

Derive also surfaced an opportunity the client hadn't initially scoped: a modern device management layer. The HDC was already licensed for Microsoft Intune through their existing Microsoft agreement; they just weren't using it. Derive recommended a pilot deployment, which would allow the organization to manage and control devices regardless of where they were located.

That recommendation led directly to a follow-on engagement.

How the Project Unfolded

Phase 1 — Windows 11 Imaging (RFP Project) Derive configured the imaging environment, established Windows Deployment Services, built out the required task sequences, and worked alongside the HDC's team to deploy Windows 11 across their laptop fleet. The focus was on setting the client up to sustain the process going forward, not just completing a one-time rollout.

Phase 2 — Intune Pilot (Follow-On Engagement) Following the success of Phase 1, Derive designed and deployed a Microsoft Intune environment configured for Azure AD Join. This included device management policies, application management, and the configuration controls needed to manage endpoints both on-premises and remotely. A pilot group was stood up, tested, and handed off to the client's team with full support throughout.

Timeline:

• RFP     issued: May 2024
• Derive     selected: ~June 2024
• Windows     11 deployment: August–September 2024
• Intune     configuration and pilot: October 2024–January 2025
• Pilot     duration: approximately one month

What Changed After the Engagement

Before working with Derive, NYC HDC had limited insight into the state of their endpoint fleet and no scalable way to manage devices operating outside their network. After the engagement, that changed on both fronts.

The new environment gave their IT team a unified platform for managing devices internally and remotely, with policies and controls to enforce compliance and push updates without requiring physical access to machines. The organization also avoided a meaningful financial risk: without the Windows 11 transition, devices approaching Windows 10 end of support would have required costly extended support agreements to remain compliant.

Perhaps most importantly, they now have a device management foundation that scales. As the fleet grows, Intune and Azure AD Join grow with it; without requiring a new infrastructure project each time.

Why This HDC Chose Derive

What differentiated Derive in this engagement wasn't the technology: it was the willingness to be direct.

In a competitive RFP process where other vendors were delivering what the client asked for rather than what the client needed, Derive identified the technical gaps, explained them plainly, and proposed a solution grounded in what was supported and sustainable. That approach reflected something this HDC hadn't experienced from previous vendors: genuine expertise applied in the client's interest.

Modern Endpoint Management for Government Agencies

Derive Technologies helps government and public sector organizations modernize endpoint infrastructure, navigate Microsoft licensing, and build device management programs that hold up over time. As an MBE-certified IT solutions provider with active city and state contract vehicles, Derive brings both the technical depth and procurement flexibility that public sector engagements require.