--- title: "From 0 to 1,400 Locations in Three Weeks: Rethinking Enterprise Network Modernization" description: Explore how an enterprise scaled its network from 0 to 1,400 locations in just three weeks, redefining network modernization, agility, and scalability. image: https://prismip.ca/hubfs/2-2.png --- [Skip to content](https://prismip.ca/prismmanagedipincblog/from-0-to-1400-locations-in-three-weeks-rethinking-enterprise-network-modernization#main-content) [![](https://prismip.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Default.png?width=90&height=28&name=Default.png)](https://prismip.ca) - Services - [Network strategy and assessment](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-network-strategy) - [Telecom strategy and assessment](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-telecom-strategy) - Solutions - [Single, multi & hybrid cloud networking](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-single-multi-hybrid-cloud-networking) - [Integrated security & network services](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-integrated-security-network-services) - [Business partner connectivity](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-business-partner-connectivity) - [Global backbone-as-a-service](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-global-backbone-as-a-service) - [Zero trust network access (ZTNA)](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-ztna) - About - [Our team](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-about-page-our-team) - [Our partners](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-about-page) - [Resources](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-resources-page) [Contact us](https://share.hsforms.com/1UK9Zk1dyTZ27nSycFaPvGAt786s) - Services - [Network strategy and assessment](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-network-strategy) - [Telecom strategy and assessment](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-telecom-strategy) - Solutions - [Single, multi & hybrid cloud networking](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-single-multi-hybrid-cloud-networking) - [Integrated security & network services](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-integrated-security-network-services) - [Business partner connectivity](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-business-partner-connectivity) - [Global backbone-as-a-service](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-global-backbone-as-a-service) - [Zero trust network access (ZTNA)](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-solutions-ztna) - About - [Our team](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-services-about-page-our-team) - [Our partners](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-about-page) - [Resources](https://prismip.ca/prism-ip-resources-page) [Contact us](https://share.hsforms.com/1UK9Zk1dyTZ27nSycFaPvGAt786s) ![](https://prismip.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/2-2.png?width=1672&height=941&name=2-2.png) # From 0 to 1,400 Locations in Three Weeks: Rethinking Enterprise Network Modernization ![Justine Francisco](https://7528315.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-cms-elevate-theme_hubspot/elevate/images/avatar-placeholder.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=avatar-placeholder.jpg) Justine Francisco November 3, 2026 Enterprise network modernization has traditionally involved significant capital investment, hardware procurement, complex configuration, and lengthy deployment schedules. For organizations operating across hundreds or thousands of locations, these requirements can make infrastructure transformation a resource-intensive undertaking. However, the emergence of Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service (NIaaS) is changing how enterprises approach network deployment and management. Instead of building and maintaining extensive physical infrastructure, organizations can leverage cloud-delivered networking platforms to establish connectivity, apply centralized policies, and scale across distributed environments. A deployment involving Michaels, one of North America's largest arts and crafts retailers, demonstrates just how significantly this approach can accelerate enterprise network modernization. ## The Challenge of Modernizing at Retail Scale With approximately 1,400 stores across the United States and Canada, Michaels needed a network architecture that could support its nationwide retail operations while accommodating its growing reliance on cloud applications. The company was already transitioning more workloads to Google Cloud, creating a need for secure and reliable connectivity between its retail locations and cloud environment. Traditional datacenter-centric networking introduced additional infrastructure dependencies and operational challenges. Previous outages had also demonstrated the business risks associated with relying heavily on centralized datacenter equipment. Michaels needed an alternative that could support its cloud strategy, reduce infrastructure complexity, and accommodate a large-scale deployment under tight deadlines. The timing was particularly important as the company prepared for peak holiday demand and anticipated a fourfold increase in network traffic. ## Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service: A Different Deployment Model Alkira's Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service model provides a cloud-delivered network fabric that connects public clouds, private datacenters, and distributed enterprise locations. Through a global footprint of Cloud Exchange Points (CXPs), organizations can establish connectivity without having to deploy and manage additional physical network infrastructure at every location. The platform abstracts underlying network components into a unified operational layer, allowing enterprises to manage connectivity, routing, segmentation, and security policies centrally. This changes the traditional deployment model in several important ways: **Reduced capital requirements.** Enterprises can establish network connectivity through a service-based model rather than investing in extensive new hardware infrastructure. **Faster provisioning.** New locations and connections can be brought online rapidly, without repeating the procurement and deployment processes associated with traditional network builds. **Centralized management.** Connectivity and security policies can be defined centrally and applied consistently across distributed environments. **Simplified operations.** Abstracting underlying infrastructure reduces the need to manage multiple vendor-specific networking components and cloud-specific configurations. For enterprises seeking to modernize at scale, these capabilities can significantly reduce the time and resources required to expand network infrastructure. ## How Michaels Connected 1,400 Stores in Three Weeks After evaluating the Alkira platform through an initial deployment across a smaller number of stores, Michaels expanded the solution across its entire retail footprint. The results were significant. Michaels went from zero to full connectivity at individual stores within hours and completed its deployment across approximately 1,400 locations in the United States and Canada in just three weeks. By using Alkira to connect its retail locations directly to applications running in Google Cloud, Michaels was able to move away from unnecessary datacenter backhaul while establishing a more unified network architecture. The rapid deployment also demonstrated the flexibility of separating network connectivity and policy management from the underlying hardware. Rather than building out traditional infrastructure at every location, Michaels leveraged a cloud-delivered platform that could scale alongside its operational requirements. For an enterprise preparing for a fourfold increase in traffic during peak retail season, the ability to deploy quickly while maintaining reliable connectivity was particularly valuable. ## Changing the Economics of Enterprise Networking Beyond deployment speed, NIaaS introduces a different way for organizations to evaluate the cost and operational demands of network infrastructure. Traditional networking often requires substantial upfront investment in hardware, ongoing maintenance, and specialized resources to manage infrastructure across multiple locations. A service-based model shifts much of that complexity toward a cloud-delivered platform, allowing organizations to focus more on network outcomes and less on managing the underlying infrastructure. For IT and business leaders, this creates opportunities to: - Reduce dependence on capital-intensive network deployments. - Accelerate infrastructure modernization initiatives. - Simplify network operations across geographically distributed environments. - Scale connectivity as business requirements change. - Improve alignment between network infrastructure and cloud adoption strategies. The Michaels deployment demonstrates that large-scale network transformation does not necessarily need to involve lengthy infrastructure projects or extensive new hardware investments. ## The Next Evolution of Enterprise Network Modernization As organizations continue expanding their cloud environments and distributed operations, traditional network deployment models may struggle to keep pace with changing business requirements. Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service offers an alternative by making connectivity more flexible, centralized, and scalable. Michaels' deployment across approximately 1,400 stores in three weeks illustrates what this model can achieve when applied to a large, distributed enterprise. For technology leaders, the broader takeaway is that network modernization should not be measured solely by the infrastructure being replaced. It should also be measured by how quickly an organization can adapt, scale, and support its business without introducing unnecessary complexity. With cloud-delivered networking, enterprises can move toward a more agile operating model that supports long-term transformation. **Explore how Prism IP helps organizations evaluate modern networking solutions and build scalable infrastructure strategies.** ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fprismip.ca%2Fprismmanagedipincblog%2Ffrom-0-to-1400-locations-in-three-weeks-rethinking-enterprise-network-modernization](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fprismip.ca%2Fprismmanagedipincblog%2Ffrom-0-to-1400-locations-in-three-weeks-rethinking-enterprise-network-modernization) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://prismip.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/e91df174-1aa6-46b9-a816-f9c698654577.png?width=1672&height=941&name=e91df174-1aa6-46b9-a816-f9c698654577.png) Beyond the Datacenter: Why Distributed Enterprises Need a More Resilient Network Architecture](https://prismip.ca/prismmanagedipincblog/beyond-the-datacenter-why-distributed-enterprises-need-a-more-resilient-network-architecture) ### [![](https://prismip.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/yung%20last.png?width=1670&height=942&name=yung%20last.png) Making M&A Networking More Agile](https://prismip.ca/prismmanagedipincblog/making-ma-networking-more-agile) [![Frame 427318178](https://prismip.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Frame%20427318178.png?width=237&height=101&name=Frame%20427318178.png "Frame 427318178")](https://prismip.ca) PrismIP, 2025 all rights reserved - 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