A good IT strategy for a renewable energy business is built around projects and sites, not just the office. It rests on six pillars: connectivity planned for every site, managed devices for field teams, cyber security that meets supply chain requirements, a clear boundary with site control systems, secure project collaboration and a roadmap tied to the project pipeline. It's delivered in three phases: stabilise, modernise and optimise.
Why renewables needs a different IT strategy
A typical office business has one location and a stable headcount. A solar, battery storage or renewables business may have a head office, several live sites, engineers on the road, contractors joining for one project, and partners who need access to some documents but not others. The strategy has to work for all of them.
The six pillars
1. Connectivity planned for every site
Every site gets a plan before it's needed: a coverage check, the main connection, failover if the site can't be left offline, and a way to recover the equipment when the project ends.
2. Managed devices for field teams
A standard set of laptops, tablets and phones, including rugged devices where needed, all enrolled in central management so they're encrypted, updated and able to be wiped if lost.
3. Cyber security that meets supply chain requirements
Multi-factor authentication (a second check when people sign in), protection against viruses and ransomware on every device (endpoint protection), email security, backup and monitoring, with Cyber Essentials as the minimum you can show a developer or utility.
4. A clear boundary with site control systems
Business IT and inverter, battery or grid control systems sit on separate networks, with separate accounts. Everyone knows who owns each side, including the equipment provider.
5. Secure project collaboration
Each project has one home for documents and conversations, with version control and controlled sharing for partners, consultants and investors.
6. A roadmap tied to the project pipeline
New projects mean new sites, people and devices. A roadmap that follows the pipeline means connectivity is ordered in time and new starters have a laptop on day one.
What technology stack do we recommend?
| Business need | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| Productivity | Microsoft 365 Business Premium |
| Collaboration | Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, one workspace per project |
| Device management | Microsoft Intune |
| Cyber security | Endpoint detection and response, email security and a security operations centre |
| Backup | Microsoft 365 backup and a tested recovery plan |
| Office connectivity | Full fibre or a leased line |
| Site connectivity | 4G/5G, satellite where coverage is poor, and automatic failover |
| Mobiles | Network chosen by coverage at your sites, rugged devices for field teams |
| Telephony | A cloud phone system that works with Teams and mobiles |
| AI | Microsoft Copilot where there's a clear use case |
The products matter less than making every decision part of one plan.
Signs your IT strategy needs reviewing
- Each new site gets whatever connection someone can find
- Engineers use personal phones for site photos and customer data
- Monitoring portal logins are shared between staff
- New starters wait days for a working laptop
- Project documents live in email attachments
- Nobody has reviewed your technology in the last two years
- A developer or utility has asked for Cyber Essentials and you don't have it
How to build a roadmap in three phases
- Stabilise. Fix recurring issues, turn on multi-factor authentication, enrol every device in management and document every site connection.
- Modernise. Move project files into SharePoint, standardise site connectivity and failover, and achieve Cyber Essentials.
- Optimise. Automate onboarding and approvals, introduce Copilot for reporting, and review the roadmap against the pipeline every quarter.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a renewable energy business review its IT strategy?
At least once a year, and whenever the project pipeline changes significantly. A quarterly check against upcoming projects is better, because site connectivity and new devices need ordering in advance. Leased lines, for example, typically take 30 to 90 working days to install.
Is Microsoft 365 Business Premium enough for a renewables business?
For most businesses of 10 to 300 users, yes. It combines email, Teams, SharePoint, Intune device management and Microsoft's business-grade security features in one subscription. Specialist design, monitoring and financial software sits alongside it, but Business Premium usually covers the core.
How Indigo does this. Indigo Unified Communications starts every engagement by mapping how your people work across the office, sites and the road. Our Platinum package includes Microsoft 365 Business Premium and a dedicated security team watching your systems 24/7 (a security operations centre), and onboarding a new client usually takes about two weeks. From our Glasgow office, we then build the roadmap around your project pipeline and review it with you regularly.
Sources: Microsoft, Microsoft 365 Business Premium service description, https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/servicedescriptions/office-365-platform-service-description/microsoft-365-business-premium · NCSC, Cyber Essentials: Requirements for IT infrastructure, https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberessentials/overview
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