Oakdale Financial Services Ltd, established in January 2011, is a Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management, a FTSE 100 company. Based in Pinner, England, Oakdale provides bespoke wealth management advice to private and corporate clients, focusing on long-term relationships and tailored financial solutions.
Supporting businesses IT needs since 2007.
Specialists across 15 diverse business sectors.
Business IT needs supported worldwide.
Fast response time for all urgent issues.
The Challenge
As a Partner Practice within the St. James’s Place network, Oakdale Financial Services faced several challenges in aligning with stringent cybersecurity standards and enhancing operational efficiency:
- Cybersecurity Compliance: St. James’s Place mandated that all Partner Practices achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification to ensure robust protection against cyber threats.
- Outdated IT Infrastructure: The existing hardware and software systems were outdated, leading to potential security vulnerabilities and hindering productivity.
- Data Collaboration and Remote Work: The firm required secure and efficient platforms to enable seamless data collaboration and support a work-from-anywhere model for their team.
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: There was a need for comprehensive plans to ensure business continuity and data protection in case of unforeseen events.
- Communication Systems: The existing phone system was inadequate for the firm’s needs, lacking the flexibility and features necessary for modern business operations.
Our Solution
To address these challenges, we implemented a comprehensive suite of solutions:
- Microsoft 365 Cloud Platform Integration:
- Email and Data Collaboration: Deployed Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint to enhance secure email communication and facilitate efficient data sharing among team members.
- Remote Work Enablement: Configured Microsoft Teams to support seamless collaboration, allowing staff to work effectively from any location.
- Cybersecurity Enhancements:
- Cyber Essentials Plus Certification: Assisted Oakdale in achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification, ensuring compliance with St. James’s Place requirements and enhancing protection against cyber threats.
- Advanced Endpoint Security: Implemented state-of-the-art endpoint security solutions to protect all devices against malware, unauthorised access, and other cyber threats.
- IT Hardware Refresh:
- Hardware Upgrades: Replaced outdated hardware with modern, high-performance devices to improve productivity and ensure compatibility with current software applications.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensured all hardware met the latest regulatory standards, reducing potential compliance risks.
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning:
- Cloud Backups: Established automated cloud backup solutions to safeguard critical data and enable quick recovery in case of data loss.
Disaster Recovery Plan: Developed a comprehensive disaster recovery strategy to maintain business operations during unforeseen disruptions.
- Cloud-Hosted Phone System:
- VoIP Implementation: Deployed a cloud-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system, providing flexible and cost-effective communication solutions.
- Integration with Microsoft Teams: Integrated the phone system with Microsoft Teams to streamline communication channels and enhance collaboration.
The Results
The implementation of these solutions led to significant improvements:
- Enhanced Cybersecurity Posture: Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification strengthened Oakdale’s defenses against cyber threats, ensuring compliance with industry standards and client expectations.
- Improved Operational Efficiency: Upgraded hardware and integrated cloud services enhanced productivity, enabling staff to collaborate seamlessly from any location.
- Robust Business Continuity: Comprehensive backup and disaster recovery plans ensured that business operations could continue uninterrupted, even during unforeseen events.
- Cost-Effective Communication: The cloud-hosted phone system reduced communication costs while providing advanced features to support the firm’s needs.
“Partnering with IT-LOGIX has been transformative for our practice. Their expertise in cybersecurity and IT infrastructure has not only ensured our compliance with industry standards but has also enhanced our operational efficiency. We now have a robust, secure, and flexible IT environment that supports our commitment to providing exceptional service to our clients.”
