The Alabama Appellate Court System is revolutionizing its legal operations with a solution based on Windows 11 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Government. This transformation enables the judicial institution to expedite results through flexible remote work and secure access to case files from anywhere in the United States. Additionally, IT management has been simplified, and judges and court staff are now better equipped to support the community with a more secure, agile, and future-ready digital environment.
Our decision to transition to Windows 11 Enterprise was a proactive step in aligning our technology infrastructure with the future needs of our courts. It was a strategic move to foster innovation, streamline processes, and better serve our community through modern and secure technology.
- Blake T. Lunsford, Director of Information Technology
Alabama Appellate Court System
While the state constitution is the guiding principle for the Alabama Appellate Court System, the judicial institution relies on technology to keep the wheels of justice turning. The court has 150 employees in various roles, including judges, administrative staff, and attorneys. Over the years, the judicial landscape has evolved, with employees increasingly working from diverse locations such as their homes, remote offices across Alabama, and traveling. To accommodate these changing workstyles, the court decided to deliver an updated technology environment that improved ease of use while ensuring that sensitive case information remained secure and accessible only to those with the necessary credentials.
"The need for flexible working arrangements had become increasingly important," says Blake T. Lunsford, Director of Information Technology at the Alabama Appellate Court System. "However, some judges, clerks, attorneys, and administrative staff previously faced challenges accessing case information remotely, making it more difficult to manage legal proceedings. We needed to equip our workforce with the tools to work effectively regardless of their physical location while also maintaining stringent security measures."
In May 2022, Blake and his team launched a major technology refresh initiative, adopting Windows 11 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Government. Blake sought a solution to meet immediate needs for security and remote collaboration while also looking toward the future.
“Ultimately, our decision to transition to Windows 11 Enterprise was a proactive step in aligning our technology infrastructure with the future needs of our courts,” he explains. “It was a strategic move to foster innovation, streamline processes, and better serve our community through modern and secure technology.”
Introducing a revolutionary approach with robust, built-in security
The IT team collaborated closely with their Microsoft account and FastTrack for Microsoft 365 teams on an implementation strategy, and the project was off to a great start right from the beginning. Windows 11 Enterprise devices come with multiple layers of security already enabled, reducing the need for additional configuration. Previously, the IT team had to re-image hundreds of PCs and laptops before deployment to ensure compliance with the court’s security standards, a time-consuming yet necessary process. This changed with Windows 11 Enterprise.
"What made this rollout particularly noteworthy was the departure from our past practices,” explains Blake. “The comprehensive default security provided by Windows 11 Enterprise eliminated the need for a full re-imaging process. This was a significant advantage, saving time, resources, and minimizing disruption for our institution. This rollout methodology underscored our commitment to efficiency and security in every facet of our IT initiatives.”
Simplifying management, increasing security, and bolstering regulatory compliance
With Microsoft Intune, the institution has achieved greater flexibility while simplifying device management. IT administrators can now manage a variety of devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones, through a centralized, cloud-based console. “Windows 11 Enterprise with Microsoft Intune has streamlined device provisioning, updates, security configurations, and troubleshooting processes,” says Blake. “By centralizing these tasks, we've achieved operational efficiencies, optimized resource allocation, and effectively managed our technology environment with a lean IT team.”
Windows 11 Enterprise with Microsoft Intune has streamlined device provisioning, updates, security configurations, and troubleshooting processes. By centralizing these tasks, we've been able to achieve operational efficiencies, optimize resource allocation, and effectively manage our technology environment with a lean IT team.
- Blake T. Lunsford: Director of Information Technology
Alabama Appellate Court System
Modern device management is enhancing both efficiency and control within the Alabama Appellate Court System. “Intune enables us to set up conditional access policies based on user roles, locations, and device states, ensuring that only authorized users on compliant devices can access sensitive case information,” says Blake T. Lunsford, Director of Information Technology. “The ability to manage a wide range of endpoints remotely while enforcing consistent security measures aligns seamlessly with our goal of providing a secure and agile digital environment within our judicial system.”
Ramon West, Chief Information Officer, leverages Microsoft Azure Sentinel and Microsoft Purview for deep insights into security performance. “With Windows 11 Enterprise, Microsoft has significantly elevated our security posture by integrating advanced security mechanisms into our operational framework,” says Ramon. “This heightened security landscape not only enhances protection against potential threats but also empowers us to confidently uphold regulatory standards.”
The institution employs the full Microsoft Defender suite, including Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Office, to protect against targeted cyberattacks and provide the IT team with greater visibility into the organization’s threat landscape. Ramon notes that the end-to-end protection and visibility, combined with secure sign-on through the cloud, improve efficiency for both the IT team and the employees they support. The solution has largely replaced the existing virtual private network (VPN), allowing employees to sign on easily and securely through the cloud. “Windows 11 Enterprise allows us to take the onus off users and enables them to do their jobs without having to worry as much about security,” Ramon says. “Across the board, the more we integrate with Microsoft technologies, the more visibility we have into end users and endpoints.”
Safeguarding sensitive information with multi-factor authentication and going passwordless
Case management has become simpler with easy, secure access to mission-critical files and information. The Alabama Appellate Court System utilizes multifactor authentication, and employees use Windows Hello for Business for biometric or PIN authentication instead of passwords. This enhanced credential protection reduces the risk of password theft or sharing, thereby protecting sensitive information and the court’s reputation.
Conditional access policies provide an additional layer of protection for highly sensitive court records. “Adopting Windows 11 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 has been transformative,” says Blake. “Features like multifactor authentication and a cloud-based approach ensure that our judges, clerks, attorneys, and administrative staff can work collaboratively, accessing and updating case information in real-time. This allows us to maintain uninterrupted workflows and effectively serve our judicial system's needs, regardless of physical boundaries.”
Ongoing digital innovation with AI and Azure Virtual Desktops
The Alabama Appellate Court System is committed to a future of digital innovation with Windows 11 Enterprise and artificial intelligence (AI). Blake notes their active exploration of Copilot in Windows with Bing Chat Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Copilot, emphasizing the strategic roadmap focused on leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance productivity. A primary focus is on integrating AI-driven solutions to improve search capabilities and facilitate comprehensive legal research.
Additionally, the institution is exploring Azure Virtual Desktop, a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution that provides secure remote desktops. Initially, this service will be used by service providers, with plans to expand to other roles to benefit from the cost savings of Windows 11 multi-session.
Embracing transformative technology, the Alabama Appellate Court System aims to propel its judicial operations into the modern digital age while upholding justice and serving the community with high standards of security, accessibility, and efficiency. Blake highlights that Windows 11 Enterprise is not just a technological upgrade but a game-changer reshaping how justice is delivered and the rule of law is upheld.
With Windows 11 Enterprise, Microsoft has significantly elevated our security posture by integrating advanced security mechanisms into our operational framework. This heightened security landscape not only enhances protection against potential threats but also empowers us to confidently uphold regulatory standards.
- Ramon West: Chief Information Officer
Alabama Appellate Court System