5 Steps To Modernise IT for Agentic AI

Published 25/03/25 under:

Agentic AI is more than just the next iteration of automation.

These Agentic AI systems are capable of reasoning, acting independently, and collaborating with users – opening up new opportunities for efficiency, insight, and innovation. But without a modern IT foundation, organisations risk being held back by legacy systems, fragmented security, and disconnected user experiences.

At Kerv, we’re working with IT and operations leaders across multiple sectors to prepare for this shift, modernising infrastructure, securing data, and enabling productive digital workplaces that are ready for agentic AI. Straight from our technical teams, here’s how businesses are taking practical steps to modernise in 2025.

1. Replatforming legacy infrastructure

To support AI agents that operate across systems and departments, businesses are moving quickly to modernise their infrastructure. Legacy platforms, such as on-premise desktops, ageing VDI environments or static file shares, are being replaced by cloud-first solutions that are agile, scalable, and easier to manage.

We’re helping organisations achieve this by:

• Migrating to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD): Delivering a flexible, secure desktop experience for remote and hybrid users, with centralised control and cost efficiency via Azure.
• Modernising legacy line-of-business applications: Lifting and shifting or refactoring key workloads into Azure to improve reliability and performance for AI-driven processes.
• Enabling hybrid and multi-cloud architectures: Creating environments where data and services are accessible across platforms, supporting a more connected and intelligent ecosystem.

This shift builds the flexibility and scalability required to support AI effectively, while streamlining IT operations in the process.

2. Strengthening security and governance

AI agents often need access to large volumes of business data to deliver value. That raises the stakes when it comes to security, identity, and governance, particularly as businesses start to embed AI into everyday workflows.

Our security and compliance services help organisations take a proactive approach by:

• Deploying Microsoft Intune for endpoint management: Providing cloud-native control over corporate and BYOD devices, ensuring compliance with policies at scale.
• Rolling out Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Protecting users and devices with intelligent threat detection and automated remediation.
• Implementing Conditional Access and identity governance controls: Making sure only the right users, devices, and agents can access specific systems and data.
• Auditing Microsoft 365 environments for Copilot readiness: Reducing risks around data exposure by tightening sharing, permissions, and external access settings.

Security and governance can’t be an afterthought. By addressing them early, businesses can scale AI with confidence.

3. Preparing the digital workplace

Many organisations will encounter agentic AI for the first time through Microsoft Copilot. While the user experience is intuitive, there’s a lot of groundwork needed behind the scenes, particularly around data access, security, and platform readiness.

We support organisations with structured, low-risk adoption programmes:

• Running Microsoft 365 readiness assessments: Reviewing data estates, tenant configurations and policies to ensure alignment with Copilot requirements.
• Delivering AI and Copilot adoption programs: Including licenses, onboarding, technical setup, and training to help organisations trial Copilot in a controlled way.
• Supporting adoption and change enablement: Helping users understand where Copilot adds the most value, while avoiding confusion or misuse.

We also help replace outdated apps and tools with modern alternatives that are better suited to AI-enhanced workflows.

4. Elevating IT as an enabler of AI Strategy

IT teams are playing a more strategic role as AI adoption accelerates. Beyond infrastructure management, they’re being asked to lead transformation, support new technologies, and partner with the wider business to unlock AI value.

We help IT teams step into this role by:

• Identifying automation opportunities within IT and business functions: From ticketing to reporting, AI can remove manual effort and free up time.
• Building governance frameworks for agent deployment: Establishing clear rules, oversight, and accountability for how AI systems operate across the business.
• Modernising cloud, endpoint, and security infrastructure: Giving IT better visibility and control, so they can confidently support AI rollouts.
• Facilitating collaboration with department leaders: Aligning AI use cases to real operational goals — not just technology hype.

When IT is empowered with the right tools and support, it becomes a true driver of innovation.

5. Making modernisation measurable

Businesses that are modernising successfully aren’t doing it all at once. They’re working through a clear roadmap, focused on outcomes, not perfection — and building momentum over time.

Our clients benefit from structured, proven programmes such as:

• Cloud and cost optimisation reviews: Ensuring infrastructure is right-sized for AI and financial efficiency.
• AVD proof of concepts and migrations: Validating performance, user experience and ROI before full-scale rollouts.
• Security and compliance baseline reviews: Closing gaps in identity, MFA, data access and endpoint security.
• AI and Copilot enablement workshops: Helping organisations prepare people, processes, and platforms for AI integration in Microsoft 365.

Each step is designed to deliver value now, while setting the stage for what comes next.

Agentic AI is already reshaping how businesses operate but it can only deliver real value if the IT foundations are in place. That means secure infrastructure, modern endpoints, cloud-first strategies, and a digital workplace designed for agility.

At Kerv, we help businesses take the complexity out of modernisation, whether they’re preparing for AI, migrating to Azure Virtual Desktop, or rethinking endpoint and identity strategies.

Ready to modernise your IT strategy for the age of agentic AI? Let’s start the conversation.