Lake Group Strata (LGS) is a leading Strata and Community Title Manager. For the past 30 years, they have provided clients with a comprehensive range of services from their offices in Charlestown and Maitland. Their highly skilled and expert team of 50+ staff give their clients the best possible service no matter the size or type of development. Lake Group Strata meets client needs through a comprehensive, quality, and flexible approach to business.
This case study outlines how an IT partnership with Myrtec enabled LGS to improve their IT infrastructure in 5 separate phases.
Problem: In 2022, LGS General Manager, Mel Bird, identified that they had outgrown their existing IT provider. This was due to many of their IT requirements falling outside of their incumbent provider’s professional scope. There was also a lack of structure, support, and transparency that often led to operational disruptions. LGS was on a rapid growth trajectory and needed functional IT systems that could help them scale out.
Solution: LGS went to market and engaged Myrtec as their new IT partner. Myrtec began by conducting a thorough IT assessment that unravelled the complexities of LGS’s IT landscape. They worked with LGS’s incumbent to get data handed over, and they identified systems, security risks, hardware and licensing issues. This scope laid the foundation for a strategic IT plan.
Benefit: By partnering with Myrtec, LGS gained more than just a Managed IT provider. They had an IT partner and a strategic IT roadmap to get them where they wanted to be.
“Myrtec put all of the puzzle pieces together. This gave us a good foundation to ensure we would have the right infrastructure moving forward. We discussed our immediate priorities and Myrtec worked with us to map out a phased IT overhaul that they immediately began chipping away at.”
Problem: LGS were using old-fashioned wired network connections for the Internet. This caused various issues and frustration amongst staff because their ability to work flexibly and productively was limited. Company resources on onsite servers meant users needed to be connected to the internal network to access their data. They also couldn’t use laptops, only desktop PCs that required them to connect to the network at their desk.
Solution: Myrtec scoped and implemented a centrally managed Wi-Fi mesh network that provided a single Wi-Fi network with complete coverage throughout LGS’s premises on a single Wi-Fi network. Through effective change management, Myrtec ensured smooth adoption among staff members.
Benefit: The Wi-Fi changed how LGS users worked for the better. It now allows staff and guest Wi-Fi access and enables users to be on laptops and roam throughout the premises without losing network connectivity.
Problem: LGS’s IT hardware was comprised of custom-built computers that were not fit for purpose, lacked the capacity required to fulfil job functions, and lacked manufacturer support in case of faults or failures. This posed limitations to growth, productivity, and customer service because machines were running slowly, often out of action for extended periods when there were faults or issues, and they did not support modern workplace IT systems.
Solution: Myrtec assessed the IT hardware as part of onboarding to their managed service. They highlighted which machines were underperforming, outdated, or lacked manufacturer backing. Next, Myrtec created a list of machines in order of priority that needed to be replaced, and then provided modern business-grade assets that were scoped to meet the specific requirements of different roles within LGS’s organisation. This ensured software compatibility, efficiency, and manufacturer backing through the asset lifecycle.
Benefit: The hardware uplift enhanced LGS’s operational efficiency by simply allowing users to complete their job functions with ease. Mel understood the importance of appropriate technology, stating, “This was all the bare essentials that set us up to be proactive”. These upgrades didn’t just eliminate user disruptions and performance frustrations, they also enabled the next phase of development of their IT infrastructure.
Problem: LGS was running a single onsite server with multiple virtual servers hosted on it. Some virtual servers were running Internet-facing outdated and unsupported operating systems. This posed a significant risk to their organisation as those servers hosted critical business systems with sensitive information.
Solution: Myrtec implemented additional layers of security, including gateway firewalls to disconnect the servers from direct inbound access over the Internet. Myrtec then built replacement servers to facilitate the functions performed by the legacy servers and then migrated the data, applications, and functions of the legacy servers to the new servers. Finally, they decommissioned unsupported server operating systems.
Benefit: LGS are now running server architecture that is manufacturer-supported. They receive updates and security patching through Myrtec’s managed IT service. The firewalls protect the internal infrastructure from external threats and facilitate seamless connection for authenticated users to company resources. This supported architecture also allows for the complete implementation of Microsoft 365 for a cohesive modern workplace solution.
“I can approach any of the Myrtec team with a question and they come back to me with a pros and cons list for different outcomes. They really know their stuff, and they give me the resources I need to make educated decisions in our best interest”.
Problem: LGS users were working in isolation from one another. Each user had a different setup and access to different resources. There was no standardisation, no access to collaboration tools, and limited security and access control. Beyond limiting operational efficiency, this was a huge security risk for the organisation and was prohibiting their ability to scale up and introduce more efficient methods of working.
Solution: Myrtec scoped and deployed Microsoft 365 for every employee at LGS based on Microsoft’s Best Practice guidelines. The outcome was that all users were provided with a fully configured Microsoft 365 environment. This included access to emails and shared calendars, file migration into SharePoint for document management and the rollout of Teams with pre-determined structures and groups based on users’ roles. Myrtec then deployed Endpoint Management with enterprise antivirus, and Microsoft 365 Apps so that all users were on the same Office version. Finally, Microsoft 365 training was provided by Myrtec to all users at LGS before the solution went live.
Benefit: LGS now has structure and standardisation built in to their IT infrastructure. They are confident that their systems are now secure and compliant. They are reaping the rewards of better collaboration between their team members on systems that operate efficiently with less downtime and disruption.
“It’s so important for us to work with an IT partner that we can trust. We’re strata specialists. Not IT specialists. Our partnership with Myrtec allows us to do what we do best, and Myrtec does what they do best for us.”
Through these phased initiatives, LGS transitioned from a disorganised and commonly disrupted IT environment to a streamlined IT infrastructure that supports sustainable growth and efficiency across their operations. These strong foundations will now pave the way for further development of their environment, including looking for opportunities to improve workflow, introduce process automation, and find practical use cases for AI tools.
COMPANY NAME
LAKE GROUP STRATA
YEAR
1994
INDUSTRY
Real Estate Services
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