Modern SharePoint Online Intranet
SharePoint Online Intranet
Introduction
Data Techniques is a UK-based network infrastructure architecture company delivering enterprise networking solutions across a wide range of sectors, including retail, banking, and central government. With a growing workforce operating not only remotely but also across multiple client sites, the organisation required a more effective way to improve internal communication, collaboration, and document accessibility.
To support this shift in working patterns, Data Techniques required a modern SharePoint intranet solution that could be structured around departmental needs while still enabling centralised communication and collaboration across the business.
Dolphin IT Solutions was engaged to design and implement a scalable SharePoint Online intranet tailored to departmental requirements and modern hybrid working practices.
Challenges
The organisation was facing increasing complexity in how employees accessed and shared information across departments.
Key challenges included:
- Growing reliance on remote and client-site working, reducing informal internal communication
- Lack of a unified intranet structure to support collaboration across departments
- Each department requiring different intranet functionality and content structures
- Need for a scalable solution that could support future business growth
- Requirement for consistent permissions and access control across multiple business areas
- Need for automated processes to reduce manual administration of intranet content
The existing approach lacked cohesion and did not provide a centralised or scalable digital workplace experience.
Our Solution
Dolphin IT Solutions designed and delivered a structured SharePoint Online intranet architecture based on departmental site collections, unified through modern SharePoint Hub Site functionality.
The solution focused on providing both departmental autonomy and centralised governance, ensuring each team had the flexibility they needed while maintaining a consistent intranet experience.
Intranet Architecture and Departmental Structure
The intranet was built using a multi-site collection model, with each department receiving its own dedicated SharePoint site collection.
These site collections were then connected using SharePoint Hub Sites, enabling:
- Seamless navigation across departments
- Consistent branding and structure
- Centralised search and discovery across all content
- Improved scalability for future departmental expansion
Each department was also supported in configuring their SharePoint Team Sites, allowing for collaborative working, document sharing, and project-based organisation.
For areas requiring more structured communication and content presentation, Communication Sites were also implemented where appropriate.
Automation and Workflow Enhancement
To reduce manual administration and improve operational efficiency, Dolphin IT Solutions introduced automation using Microsoft Power Automate.
This included workflows designed to automatically:
- Create new project folder structures when new initiatives were initiated
- Standardise document organisation across departments
- Reduce manual setup and improve consistency in project onboarding processes
These automations ensured that intranet content remained structured and up to date without requiring ongoing manual intervention.
Intranet Landing Page and Communication Layer
A key component of the solution was the redesigned intranet landing page, which served as the central communication hub for the organisation.
The homepage was built using modern SharePoint web parts and included:
- A centralised internal news feed using the SharePoint News web part
- A consolidated view of organisational updates and announcements
- A social media integration layer displaying approved external news sources
To meet the requirement for displaying curated Twitter content, Dolphin IT Solutions developed a custom SPFx (SharePoint Framework) web part, enabling structured display of approved social media feeds within the intranet environment.
This ensured employees had access to both internal updates and relevant external industry news in a single, unified location.
Security and Identity Management
To support a structured and secure intranet environment, a clear permissions framework was implemented using Azure Active Directory.
This allowed the organisation to:
- Define structured user and group hierarchies
- Apply consistent permissions across departmental site collections
- Control access to sensitive project and departmental content
- Ensure users only accessed information relevant to their role or department
This security model ensured both flexibility and governance across the entire intranet platform.
Results
The completed SharePoint intranet provided Data Techniques with a scalable, structured, and modern digital workplace platform aligned to hybrid working requirements.
Key outcomes included:
- A fully structured SharePoint Hub Site architecture across departments
- Improved collaboration through dedicated Team Sites and Communication Sites
- Reduced manual administration through Power Automate workflows
- Enhanced internal communication via a modern intranet landing page
- Custom SPFx development enabling external news integration
- Stronger security and access control through Azure AD integration
- A scalable foundation for future intranet and collaboration expansion
The result was a cohesive intranet ecosystem that improved communication, streamlined collaboration, and provided a future-ready SharePoint architecture aligned with modern working practices.
Client Testimonial
We engaged with Andy Taylor and the team at Dolphin IT Solutions to build a bespoke intranet site for Data Techniques. The solution was built using SharePoint and, from the start of the project, Andy took time to fully understand our requirements, and to showcase the potential of the software platform using real-life examples of functionality. As the project progressed, the team remained fluid in their delivery of the solution to ensure that our success criteria was exceeded. Where customised functionality was required, this was fully discussed and tested with the relevant stakeholders before being seamlessly deployed. At the end of the project, key user training was provided for the new site, and all of this being delivered on budget and to agreed timescales.
