Project Description
Our client, a growing firm in the financial services industry, recently secured a major contract with a national investment firm. This was a significant milestone—but it came with a challenge: the client had to meet a strict set of high availability, security, and compliance requirements to maintain the agreement.
While the client had a solid operational foundation, their existing IT infrastructure wasn’t built to meet enterprise-grade security standards. That’s where Proactive IT Solutions stepped in—to design and implement a solution that would not only meet the contract’s requirements but also future-proof the business.
The investment firm required the client to demonstrate:
- Controlled device access to the corporate network.
- Secure wireless and wired connectivity.
- A robust disaster recovery plan that would allow the business to continue operating in the event of a major outage or site loss.
The client’s existing setup lacked the infrastructure to meet these demands. Without a clear path to compliance, they risked losing the contract—and the opportunity to scale their business.
- Contract Secured:
The client met all compliance requirements and retained their high-value investment firm contract. - Enterprise-Level Security:
Network access is now tightly controlled, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches. - Robust Disaster Recovery Plan:
The business can now operate from a secondary site with no data loss or downtime in the event of a disaster. - Improved Remote Work Capabilities:
Staff can work securely from anywhere, with seamless access to company resources. - Future-Proof Infrastructure:
The client now has a scalable, secure IT environment that supports growth and compliance.
The Approach
We began by reviewing the investment firm’s compliance checklist and mapping out a project plan to meet all requirements within the specified timeframe. Our approach focused on three core areas:
- Network security and access control
- Business continuity through a disaster recovery plan
- Seamless remote access for staff using company-owned devices
The Solution
Enterprise-Grade Network Security
To ensure only authorized devices could connect to the network, we deployed Cisco enterprise switching gear and implemented 802.1x authentication. This meant:
- Only company-owned and registered devices could connect to wired network ports.
- Wireless access required both a secure key and device authorization.
This setup ensured full control over who and what could access the internal network—meeting the investment firm’s strict security standards.
Disaster Recovery Plan Implementation
We designed and deployed a secure, hosted disaster recovery site that maintains a live, replicated copy of the company’s entire file system. This environment is built using:
- Microsoft Server technologies
- Cisco dynamic routing
- VPN failover across two independent internet connections, delivered over different media by separate ISPs
In the event of a disaster—such as fire, flood, or cyberattack—the business can operate from the offsite location with minimal disruption.
Seamless Remote Access
Using Microsoft DirectAccess, staff can securely connect to either the main office or the disaster recovery site from anywhere. This provides:
- A consistent user experience regardless of location
- Full control over company-owned devices, including the ability to remotely disable lost or stolen hardware
What’s Next?
With a solid disaster recovery plan and enterprise-grade security in place, the client is now positioned to pursue additional contracts with confidence. They’ve also laid the groundwork for future cloud adoption and advanced compliance initiatives.
