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Case Study.

Delivered end-to-end data transformation: defined the Microsoft Fabric architecture, deployed secure Azure infrastructure, migrated and rebuilt ETL pipelines, implemented a Lakehouse-based Data Warehouse, and developed a unified Power BI Semantic Model for enterprise-wide reporting and analytics.

White Oak UK

Client

White Oak UK

Company

LDF Operations Limited

Industry

Financial Services

About White Oak UK

For over 35 years, we’ve been dedicated to helping SMEs and mid-sized companies secure the funding they need. As an independent UK business lender, we provide customised and flexible finance solutions with the speed and agility your business requires.

1.

The Challenge

White Oak UK, a leading provider of business finance solutions, needed to migrate their on-premises SQL Server-based Data Platform into Azure. Their existing setup relied on legacy SSIS BIML ETL frameworks, traditional SQL Servers, and fragmented reporting through Power BI on Analysis Services.

With a strategic move to Cloud Computing across the business, the existing architecture needed modernisation to meet ISO27001, GDPR compliance, security, scalability, and agility demands. White Oak UK sought to build a fully private, secure, and scalable Azure Data Platform capable of supporting future AI, Machine Learning, and advanced analytics use cases.

2.

Getting the Right Advice

The Data Crew partnered with White Oak UK to design and deliver a comprehensive Azure Data & Analytics Platform built on Microsoft best practices,
including the Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) and Cloud Scale Analytics principles.

Our solution leveraged Azure Landing Zones, Data Platform Zones, and our proprietary CLOUDXCELERATOR™
and DATAXCELERATOR™ frameworks to enable rapid, secure, and repeatable platform deployment — delivering a secure, governed foundation for all data and analytics workloads.

3.

Building the Data & Analytics Platform

We delivered a full Data Platform transformation that included:

  • Enterprise Azure Landing Zone: Built a CAF-aligned Azure Landing Zone with full private networking, hub and spoke architecture, Azure Firewall, VPN, ExpressRoute integration, and governance policies.
  • Data Platform Landing Zone: Implemented Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Data Factory, Databricks, Storage Accounts, Key Vault, and Management Services, fully integrated using Private Endpoints and DNS.
  • Data Migration: Migrated the existing metadata-driven SSIS BIML ETL Framework into Azure Data Factory, using our DATAXCELERATOR™ to automate and accelerate the migration.
  • Automation & DevOps: Implemented Azure DevOps Pipelines for continuous integration and deployment of Data Factory pipelines, SQL assets, and Databricks notebooks.
  • Power BI & Fabric: Enabled secure Power BI connectivity using Power BI Data Gateway, and delivered a roadmap for future Fabric integration for scalable capacity and AI readiness.
  • Databricks for ML & AI: Deployed Databricks to enable experimentation for machine learning workloads on a pay-as-you-go basis with Unity Catalog integration prepared.

All designs followed strict private networking and GDPR-compliant standards, ensuring security, governance, and operational excellence were embedded from day one.

4.

Empowering the In-House Team

The new platform was designed for self-sufficiency and scalability:

  • Platform Ownership: Individual Restaurants now fully own their Azure Data & Analytics Platform — no reliance on external hosting or proprietary vendor technology.
  • Ongoing Extendibility: The platform allows easy onboarding of new data sources like updated loyalty systems and booking platforms.
  • In-House Capability: Training and operational enablement mean Individual Restaurants’ team can build new reports, update models, and expand analytics without external dependency.
  • Data Governance: End-to-end security, monitoring, and auditing controls were embedded into the platform from day one.
We built not just a data platform — but an environment Indivisual Restaraunts can own, adapt, and expand as their needs grow.

5.

Ongoing Support & Maintenance

Beyond initial delivery, The Data Crew provides full ongoing support and maintenance for Individual Restaurants’ Data & Analytics Platform, ensuring it continues to operate reliably, securely, and in line with evolving business needs.

Our support model includes:

  • Proactive Monitoring: Automated platform health checks, pipeline monitoring, and alerting across critical services.
  • Incident Management: 4-hour initial response SLA for critical incidents, with next business day resolution targets for standard service requests.
  • Platform Enhancements: Regular service reviews to identify opportunities for improvement, scalability, and performance tuning.
  • Change Management: Controlled updates to ETL pipelines, data models, and reporting assets following agreed change request processes.
  • Security and Compliance: Ongoing updates and reviews to maintain security best practices, access controls, and compliance with GDPR and corporate policies.
  • Operational Support: Assistance with report publishing, workspace management, and user training as the business grows its analytics footprint.

With The Data Crew’s dedicated support, Individual Restaurants can focus on making data-driven decisions, while we ensure the platform remains robust, secure, and future-ready.

6.

Empowering the In-House Team

White Oak UK now benefits from:

  • A fully private, secure, scalable Azure Data Platform built on Microsoft best practices.
  • Modernised ETL processes using Azure Data Factory and the DATAXCELERATOR™ Framework.
  • Real-time, governed access to business-critical data for analysis, reporting, and future AI projects.
  • Full control and ownership of their Data Estate, reducing reliance on external vendors.
  • A solid foundation for future integration with Microsoft Fabric, advanced analytics, and machine learning initiatives.

With a future-proofed Azure architecture, White Oak UK has the flexibility to grow their data platform capabilities, confidently scaling their analytics journey.

Looking to migrate and modernise your data estate like White Oak UK?
Contact The Data Crew — your partner for Azure and Microsoft Fabric transformation.

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