Overview
The Independent is a globally recognised British news brand that has embraced digital transformation since becoming a fully online publication in 2016. With a growing team in both the UK and US, the organisation continues to invest in innovation, not just in journalism but also in the way its people work. When The Independent set out to take control of its IT estate, it partnered with Cobry and Google Workspace to build a modern, collaborative and independent platform for the future.
The Problem
The Independent’s IT environment was historically managed within a shared Office 365 setup overseen by its sister company. This structure left the team with limited administrative access and control over key systems. As a result, day-to-day decisions around IT were slowed down, reliant on external teams and often misaligned with The Independent’s own operational needs.
To support international growth and enable faster, more agile ways of working, The Independent needed to take full ownership of its IT systems. The first phase of this project focused on migrating the US-based team to a standalone environment without impacting productivity.
The Solution
To enable this shift, Cobry delivered a structured migration to Google Workspace. The solution was designed to give The Independent full control over its systems while equipping teams with tools that support seamless collaboration.
Cobry configured a dedicated Google Workspace environment and migrated all essential data including email, calendars, contacts and files from Office 365. Shared drives were set up with clearly defined access permissions, ensuring content was organised and secure from day one.
A phased approach was adopted to reduce disruption, with delta migrations and a carefully planned switch of mail routing. Alongside the technical migration, Cobry led on change management and user onboarding. This included internal communications, tailored training sessions and post-migration support to ensure a smooth transition.
Cobry worked closely with The Independent’s internal IT and project teams throughout, providing guidance, hands-on expertise and knowledge transfer to enable ongoing self-sufficiency.
The Outcome
The Independent now has complete control of its IT environment. This independence means the organisation can move faster, make decisions internally and respond more effectively to its own priorities.
Google Workspace has fostered a more collaborative and flexible working culture, supporting productivity across geographically dispersed teams. The streamlined IT environment has made system management more efficient and reduced reliance on external support.
Security has also improved. Google Workspace’s built-in protection tools now help safeguard sensitive data and provide peace of mind across the organisation.
Key Success Factors
The phased rollout ensured the transition happened without operational disruption. Cobry’s technical leadership enabled a secure and efficient migration process, while change management and user training ensured strong adoption. By aligning technical delivery with user experience, the project set the team up for success from day one.
What’s Next
Following the successful migration of the US team, Cobry went on to transition The Independent’s UK team to Google Workspace. With both regions now operating on a single, unified platform, The Independent has fully achieved IT independence. The organisation is well positioned with a secure, scalable and collaborative environment that supports its global operations and continued digital growth.