BrightWork
BrightWork is a software and services company that develops project and portfolio management (PPM) solutions designed to operate within and leverage the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Founded in 1995, the company provides tools intended to help organisations plan, manage, and report on projects, while evolving their project management processes, using Microsoft-based collaboration and productivity platforms.[1]
BrightWork is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and also maintains operations in Galway, Ireland.[2]
History
BrightWork was founded in 1995 by Éamonn McGuinness with the aim of developing solutions to support structured project management practices. The company initially built solutions on the Lotus Notes platform before transitioning to Microsoft technologies in the late 1990s.[3]
Following the release of Microsoft SharePoint in 2001, BrightWork shifted its focus to SharePoint-based project management software and became an early independent software vendor developing solutions on the platform. Over subsequent years, the company released multiple versions aligned with new SharePoint and Microsoft platform updates.
In the 2010s, BrightWork expanded its offerings to include guidance, templates, and services related to collaborative project management. In 2021, the company introduced BrightWork 365, a project and portfolio management solution built on Microsoft 365 and the Power Platform.
Products
BrightWork 365
BrightWork 365 is a cloud-based project and portfolio management application built on Microsoft 365 and the Microsoft Power Platform. The software and personalized services are designed to support structured project management practices while allowing teams to work within commonly used Microsoft applications such as SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Power BI.
The solution provides standardised project templates, project request workflows, and reporting dashboards to support consistent project delivery and portfolio visibility. BrightWork 365 operates within an organisation’s Microsoft 365 tenant, using its existing identity, security, and compliance configuration.
BrightWork also offers an on-premises product, BrightWork for SharePoint, for organisations that require deployment within their own infrastructure.
Functionality
BrightWork 365 includes features for managing projects, programmes, and portfolios, including task tracking, scheduling, and status reporting. The system supports project intake processes, enabling organisations to submit, review, and approve project requests before initiating new work.
Reporting capabilities include portfolio- and programme-level dashboards, with optional integration with Microsoft Power BI for additional analysis. The software supports automation and custom workflows through Microsoft Power Automate and Power Apps.
Technology and Integration
The platform is built on Microsoft 365 technologies and integrates with SharePoint Online for document management and Microsoft Teams for collaboration. User authentication and access control are managed through Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory). Data is stored within the customer’s Microsoft 365 environment rather than on separate third-party infrastructure.
Security and Compliance
BrightWork 365 relies on Microsoft 365 security and compliance features, including role-based access control, audit logging, retention policies, and eDiscovery, subject to tenant configuration. Governance and data protection are managed in accordance with the organisation’s Microsoft 365 administration policies.
References
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