IPSX
IPSX, based in London, has launched the world’s first regulated stock exchange dedicated to commercial real estate. IPSX is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a Recognised Investment Exchange, providing confidence to both potential issuers and investors.
Pro Drive IT provided consulting advice to IPSX to assist in their accreditation for Cyber Essentials, IASME Governance and general IT Security, as well as implementing Microsoft 365.
THE CHALLENGES
IPSX facilitates the initial public offering and secondary market trading of companies owning single institutional grade property assets and multiple assets with commonality. As a trading exchange, IPSX is highly regulated and needed to be Cyber Essentials compliant ahead of launch.
Bernhard Michna, IT Operations Manager at IPSX, explains: “The main challenges for us with gaining Cyber Essentials were to cover our two markets of IPSX Prime for retail and professional investors and for IPSX Wholesale for institutional commercial real estate investors. The COVID-19 pandemic has added a further complication as many of the team are now home working and that meant that our remote operations and processes needed to be compliant too.”
THE APPROACH
Pro Drive drew upon its expertise in working with regulated businesses and designing technical solutions to complex information security issues to provide a comprehensive approach to help support IPSX with their certification.
It helped IPSX improve their business practices and workflows and carried out an initial piece of consultancy to prepare them for gaining a Cyber Essentials certificate. This involved explaining the challenges around certification, and the impact that this has on working practices.
Pro Drive worked with IPSX to ensure the appropriate network controls and management policies were in place. For example, to help improve the location of company data Microsoft 365 consultancy was provided to help design new enforcement policies and protect information correctly.
THE RESULTS
IPSX now have better knowledge about the information security capabilities of Microsoft 365. The team are also able to keep business information safe with off-site working at home.
Bernhard Michna concludes: “Pro Drive’s capability ensured IPSX were prepared and gained the appropriate certificate to enable us to launch the exchange. We’re delighted with the progress made.”
