When launching The Cornerstone Opportunities project, it was clear that we needed to review, modernise and streamline our technologies and ensure enhanced security was implemented across the organisation.

We also wanted to access our system remotely, allowing team members to continue to support the organisation, wherever they were.

However, we were struggling with an IT system that simply wasn’t fit for purpose and an IT supplier that wasn’t delivering to our precise needs.

The laptops used were low spec and outdated, incorrectly configured and even basic security wasn’t enabled. Additionally, there wasn’t a centralised hub to manage multiple devices or user accounts, nor could anything be accessed remotely.

One of our directors had worked with Orbits IT previously and highly recommended their service. A small, locally-based business that focuses on ethos and values while providing outstanding support, we soon believed that they would be the ideal fit.

Orbits IT presented their proposal in 2022 which we immediately accepted. Then we started officially implementing their solutions in December of that year.

This included:

• Proactive IT Support – December 2022. Transitioning to Microsoft Azure AD allowed us to address unmanaged hardware setups and a lack of centralised control.
• Domain name change – Feb 2023. Orbits helped us rebrand our email domain for better brand representation and simplicity. They also established managed signatures for this same purpose.
• Orbicomm Broadband Connection – April 2023. We switched broadband providers to Orbicomm, Orbits IT’s sister company to ensure our connectivity was reliable and streamlined.
• Cyber Essentials Basic Accreditation – Sept 2023. Orbits IT also enhanced security by installing excellent encryption and antivirus software, achieving Cyber Essentials accreditation.
• Mobile Device Management – Sept 2023. Orbits also helped update, integrate and optimise our mobile devices to ensure everything was streamlined within the organisation.

Throughout this IT upgrade, the team at Orbits IT spoke frequently with our team leader, Jenn Byard, to ensure that we received all the help and support we needed throughout this journey with minimal disruption.

Thanks to Orbits IT, the new IT infrastructure is used throughout the company, using multiple shared platforms to help us continue to provide outstanding support for the homeless.

Within the first 12 months of working with them, we had achieved Cyber Essentials- helping us protect our sensitive data and future-proof our business.

Of course, these changes have increased our overheads slightly. However, we have saved an incredible amount of time, seen our efficiency and productivity levels soar and know that we have a secure, user-friendly and robust modern system.

We’ve also noticed a significant improvement in our brand perception which has already helped improve our relationships with our funders and improve transparency.

In addition, we must mention how happy we have been with Orbits IT’s customer-focused approach, friendly manner and transparency. Any charges are clearly explained and they are transparent in what they do (without hidden costs!)

Our experience was so good that we continue to work with Orbits IT to provide reviews of the existing setup, ensure security continues to be enforced and that all company devices are maintained.

We also plan to discuss further cybersecurity measures, work on further data capture and database options and improve our team members’ cyber awareness through training sessions.

Over the coming months, we also plan to open a community hub that can provide digital skills training and IT support for service users. We hope Orbits IT will be part of this new project too.