Price Ferguson
Price Ferguson Wealth Management, based in Woking and Farnham, Surrey, is well known as a wealth management and financial planning firm. Established in 1997, it provides advice on retirement planning and investment, tax planning and wealth protection strategies.
As Price Ferguson deals with sensitive data and handles financial transactions, it must have reliable and secure technology.
Pro Drive IT moved Price Ferguson’s services to the cloud to provide more flexibility and allow staff to work from anywhere productively during the pandemic and going forward. We also upgraded the IT security to best recommended practice to give the firm – and its clients – confidence that data is secure.
KEY SOLUTIONS
- Microsoft 365
- Cyber Essentials
- Mimecast Cyber Security Awareness Training
THE CHALLENGES
Price Ferguson wanted more flexibility and needed to improve their cybersecurity and ensure that staff working remotely had the same high level of security as those in the office. This was critical, as personal details of clients are held on business systems.
THE APPROACH
Pro Drive retired the old server and migrated the files and computer management to Microsoft 365 cloud to allow secure access by staff whether working in the office or at home.
“Moving all services to the cloud has allowed our team to work from anywhere productively during the pandemic and going forward.”
Karen Folland, Business Administrator, Price Ferguson
We recommended Cyber Essentials – a UK Government standard which helps businesses guard valuable data against common cyber threats and demonstrates a commitment to tackling cyber security.
As 99% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error, it was agreed that a fast and effective cybersecurity awareness training tool for staff should be deployed – a Mimecast cyber security training system. Furthermore, the shocking increase worldwide in email cyberattacks such as phishing emails, meant email was a prime target. So we installed best-in-class Mimecast email security, to reduce the risk of malware or a breach coming in via email.
THE RESULTS
Moving to the cloud removed the need to replace server hardware, which saved a considerable amount of money (likely cost about £5K). It also enabled Price Ferguson staff to work securely on laptops at home, which has increased productivity.
The whole system was built to Cyber Essentials standards and Price Ferguson are now certified to Cyber Essentials and are working towards full IASME Governance certification. This will ensure they have best-in-class management of all their data built into their business processes.
“We have peace of mind that our IT security follows best recommended practice and provides us and our clients with confidence that data is being looked after.”
Karen Folland, Business Administrator
