Hedley May case study

A cloud-first environment with proactive support and strategic direction.

How Hedley May improved resilience, security and decision-making across London and New York while taking the day-to-day stress of IT away from its team.

Managed IT Cloud services Cyber security
Hedley May brand graphic
The result Secure access to business-critical data, backed by 24x7 support and technology planning at board level.
Client overview

Protecting the information and availability behind an international search firm.

Hedley May is an executive search firm operating from London and New York. Its team relies on extensive data resources to identify and advise senior talent, making continuous, secure access to information fundamental to client delivery and the organisation's reputation.

With more than 30 employees across two cities, the business needed reliable systems that could support mobility without creating gaps in backup, business continuity or cyber security. Previous providers had been largely reactive, leaving the internal team to carry too much of the burden for identifying and driving improvements.

Hedley May began working with Fifosys in 2020 for managed IT support and virtual CIO input. The aim was not only to stabilise the environment, but to create a more deliberate technology strategy with stronger protection, clearer costs and the ability to work effectively from laptops.

The resulting partnership combines around-the-clock helpdesk support with dedicated account and project management, security improvement and strategic participation in board-level conversations.

The challenge

Move from reactive support to confident control of data, continuity and risk.

The firm needed dependable access today and a partner able to improve the environment before weaknesses became incidents.

01

Business-critical data

Large information resources had to remain continuously available and protected across offices and mobile employees.

02

Backup and continuity risk

The business needed stronger recovery arrangements and confidence that disruption would not stop client work.

03

A reactive service history

Previous providers responded to problems but did not consistently identify opportunities, risk or unnecessary spend.

04

Security and reputation

Credential exposure, phishing and account compromise could damage both operations and the trust placed in the firm.

Why Fifosys

A proactive team able to remove pressure and contribute at board level.

Hedley May wanted an MSP that would take time to understand the firm, identify improvement opportunities and make recommendations before the internal team had to ask. Fifosys brought that proactive stance together with the operational support needed across two time zones.

Dedicated account and project managers created clear ownership, while the virtual CIO service gave technology a practical voice in board discussions. That combination allowed the firm to offload day-to-day stress without losing visibility of decisions, cost or direction.

01

Proactive rather than ticket-led

Testing, audits and regular recommendations shifted the relationship from problem response to continual improvement.

02

Clear strategic input

Virtual CIO participation connected technology choices to operations, security, budget and long-term business priorities.

03

A tailored and approachable team

Fifosys invested in the firm's specific needs and provided named people alongside the 24x7x365 service desk.

Our approach

Create a secure cloud-first model and keep improving it.

Fifosys assessed the existing environment, removed unnecessary cost and built a programme spanning cloud, security, support and strategic governance.

01

Test and audit the environment

Identify weaknesses, continuity gaps and areas where spend or complexity could be reduced.

02

Move to cloud-first working

Enable the workforce to operate from laptops with consistent access to the resources required in London, New York and elsewhere.

03

Strengthen account security

Introduce measures including multi-factor authentication and dark-web monitoring for exposed employee credentials.

04

Develop employee awareness

Provide regular cyber training and simulated phishing campaigns to reinforce secure behaviour.

05

Support people around the clock

Combine a 24x7x365 helpdesk with dedicated account and project management for continuity and clear ownership.

06

Bring strategy into the boardroom

Use virtual CIO input to explain options, costs, benefits and timelines and to maintain a forward-looking roadmap.

The outcomes

A more secure business with less internal effort spent managing IT.

Employees have noticed the improvement, leadership has clearer information and the organisation can plan its next steps proactively.

A successful cloud transition

Employees can work from a cloud-first laptop environment supported by clear explanations and structured delivery.

Stronger security confidence

MFA, credential monitoring, awareness training and phishing simulations reduce avoidable risk.

Open, transparent communication

Dedicated relationships and understandable advice give the firm visibility without requiring it to manage every detail.

Continual strategic improvement

Board-level input and proactive recommendations keep technology aligned with the firm's evolving needs.

“We can offload the stress of managing our IT systems onto them.”
Nikki Walker Operational Excellence, Hedley May
Your next chapter

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