SB Italia migrates 4,000 ASST Melegnano e Martesana Users to Microsoft 365

From overcoming technological limitations to creating a secure, modern, and integrated digital environment: the migration led by SB Italia now serves as a model for the Italian public healthcare system.

SB Italia, a leading provider of IT solutions, recently completed the migration to Microsoft 365 for the ASST Melegnano e Martesana, which comprises various hospital facilities, including those in Melegnano, Melzo, Cassano d’Adda, Cernusco sul Naviglio, Vaprio d’Adda, and Vizzolo Predabissi, involving 4,000 users. The project, managed with great attention to both technical and organizational aspects, marked a significant evolution in the hospital’s operational and communication methods, significantly improving efficiency, security, and collaboration.

The ASST Melegnano e Martesana stands out among Lombardy’s public hospital systems as one of the first institutions to have made the radical transition from a Zimbra-based solution to the full Microsoft 365 suite, through Consip agreements. This journey was shaped by the innovative vision of the Strategic Management of ASST Melegnano e Martesana, which guided all strategic and technological phases.

The decision to adopt Microsoft 365 was driven by very specific reasons: the solution offers an integrated suite of tools for collaboration, document management, and real-time communication, ensuring advanced security levels, as well as the ability to access data and work tools from any device, anywhere and at any time, thereby overcoming the limitations of the previous email platform and on-premises file server. All of these are essential elements in a modern healthcare setting, where information protection and operational continuity are top priorities.

“The move to Microsoft 365 was not merely the result of a need for technological modernization, but a strategic decision that has enabled ASST Melegnano e Martesana to address current and future challenges with the right tools, improving the efficiency, security, and quality of the service provided to patients,” stated Luca Cervo, Head of IT Infrastructure and Delivery at SB Italia.

The project, divided into several phases, required meticulous planning and careful management of technical and organizational complexities. SB Italia was able to draw on its decades of experience, its understanding of hospital operations, and its ability to coordinate large-scale projects.

One of the distinctive features of this migration was the active involvement of key users—not only from the IT team but also from department heads and frontline healthcare staff. Tests, targeted training sessions, and an intensive internal outreach campaign were organized—essential tools for overcoming natural resistance to change and fostering the adoption of new digital skills.

Following a “cascade” approach, SB Italia trained a group of key users who, in turn, shared their knowledge with colleagues in the departments, thereby quickly training all users and ensuring a smooth transition without service interruptions.

“We are thrilled with the positive results achieved through the migration and firmly believe this project can serve as a model for other hospital systems seeking to modernize their IT infrastructure. We appreciate the support SB Italia has consistently provided and continues to offer today,” commented Gianni Origgi, Director of Information Systems at ASST Melegnano e Martesana.

The migration of 4,000 mailboxes was completed in three months, followed by a major document consolidation on SharePoint Online that revolutionized internal collaboration. The “top-down training” approach ensured maximum operational continuity and effective adoption of the tools. Data history was fully preserved, and the rate of post-migration issues was much lower than expected, thanks to thorough testing and careful validation (User Acceptance Testing).

The new platform offers numerous tangible benefits: greater reliability and security thanks to the cloud, centralized authentication, collaboration tools such as Teams and SharePoint, simplified management of user accounts and IT resources, and a more modern and integrated user experience, including on mobile devices.

Not only that: the project has fostered the growth of internal digital skills, reducing dependence on external vendors and strengthening the autonomy of IT staff. ASST Melegnano e Martesana has now become a benchmark for public institutions seeking to undertake similar modernization initiatives, able to rely on the support and expertise of SB Italia.

Luca Cervo added: “The migration of ASST Melegnano e Martesana to Microsoft 365 was a significant challenge, but thanks to our experience and collaboration with the hospital team, we were able to successfully complete the project. The real achievement was facilitating the transition for users, modernizing document management, and streamlining permissions and procedures, resulting in a system that is finally clear and streamlined—a best practice for the entire sector.”

SB Italia will continue to support ASST Melegnano e Martesana by providing a dedicated service desk, fine-tuning the platform, and guiding every future technological evolution with transparency, risk analysis, and a focus on the organization’s business objectives. The partnership, strengthened by the success of this project, lays the groundwork for a roadmap of further innovations and confirms SB Italia as a reliable and strategic partner for the digital transformation of Italy’s public healthcare system.