
Capo and Co
For over a decade, Capo and Co, a trusted accounting firm in Mount Hawthorn, Perth, has relied on our expertise to manage its IT infrastructure. Their journey with us began with an on-premises setup featuring a MYOB application server and locally connected computers. However, as the industry evolved and cybersecurity threats increased, they recognised the need for a modern, secure, and cost-effective IT solution.

- Aging on-premises infrastructure | Their local servers required ongoing maintenance and periodic replacements with significant upfront costs. The cost and effort of maintaining aging hardware posed a significant financial strain, while downtime from system failures could disrupt daily operations and have an economic impact.
- Security concerns | Handling sensitive financial data meant they needed a robust cybersecurity strategy to protect against potential threats, maintain customer trust, and meet current cyber insurance requirements. The increasing frequency of cyberattacks targeting financial firms heightened their risk profile, necessitating a more advanced approach to data security.
- Scalability limitations | The existing infrastructure did not support flexible, remote work arrangements. Employees found it challenging to work efficiently from multiple locations, leading to reduced operational flexibility and collaboration inefficiencies.
- Unpredictable IT Financial Forecasting | Unmanaged IT expenses created financial uncertainty, leading to unexpected repair costs, emergency hardware replacements, and ad-hoc support fees. The lack of a structured IT expenditure model made financial planning difficult, as unanticipated IT failures could result in large, unbudgeted expenses. Additionally, reactive IT support meant that resources were often diverted from strategic investments to cover urgent system repairs, impacting overall profitability and business growth. Without a predictable financial framework, Capo and Co faced challenges in maintaining cost efficiency while ensuring their IT infrastructure remained secure and operational.
- Regulatory compliance challenges | As an accounting firm, Capo and Co needs to meet strict compliance requirements related to financial data security and privacy laws. Their existing IT infrastructure made it difficult to ensure adherence to these evolving regulations, exposing them to potential legal and financial repercussions.
Our Solution
To address these challenges, we transitioned Capo and Co to a cloud-first organisation, leveraging modern technology to enhance security, efficiency, and scalability.
Migration to Microsoft 365 Business Premium
- Financial Benefits | Reduced capital expenditure on IT infrastructure, allowing the firm to allocate resources more effectively. By shifting to a cloud-based model, Capo and Co significantly reduced upfront hardware costs, ongoing maintenance expenses, and the need for costly IT infrastructure upgrades. The predictable subscription-based pricing of Microsoft 365 Business Premium enabled better financial forecasting and budget stability. Additionally, reduced downtime and enhanced security measures mitigated the risk of financial losses due to cyber incidents, ensuring business continuity and compliance with cyber insurance requirements.
- Intune for Device Management | Enabling a Standard Operating Environment (SOE), enforcing patch management, and applying company policies for both corporate workstations and BYOD devices.
- Seamless File Access and Collaboration | This eliminated reliance on local file shares while improving accessibility and efficiency.
- Increased Productivity | Employees gained access to integrated cloud tools that streamlined workflows, enhanced collaboration, and improved overall efficiency, translating into greater operational cost savings over time.
- Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery | Ensuring that critical financial data, including Email, OneDrive, and SharePoint, remains secure, accessible, and protected from both unintended and malicious events.
Network Segmentation for Enhanced Security
Given the sensitivity of their data, Capo and Co required a secure and structured network. We implemented network segmentation to isolate and protect different networks, which included segmenting critical business operations and guest access.
- Security Benefits | Network segmentation minimised the risk of cyber threats spreading across the infrastructure by compartmentalising sensitive business functions from guest access and external vendor networks. Additionally, segmentation enhanced visibility and monitoring capabilities, allowing for quicker threat detection and response.
- Better Bandwidth Management | Ensuring that high-priority financial applications always have sufficient network resources, preventing slowdowns and performance bottlenecks.
- Cyberinsurance Compliance | It also helped enforce compliance with cybersecurity insurance requirements which followed recommendations from authorities such the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight Strategies, NIST, and SMB1001, by restricting access to sensitive financial data and ensuring only authorised personnel can interact with business-critical systems.
Strengthening Cybersecurity with a Managed Security Platform
Cybersecurity is a top priority for Capo and Co. To ensure the highest level of protection, we implemented our managed security platform, which includes:
- 24/7 SOC Monitoring and Remediation | Continuous security monitoring to detect and respond to potential threats in real time. Our Security Operations Centre (SOC) employs advanced threat intelligence and behavioural analytics to identify and mitigate cyber risks before they escalate. This includes proactive threat hunting, incident response, and automated remediation to minimise downtime and protect critical business data.
- Advanced Endpoint Protection | Safeguarding both local devices and M365 cloud identities by mitigating risks such as business email compromise and illegal VPN usage. This includes continuous monitoring for suspicious login attempts, enforcing multi-factor authentication, and detecting unauthorised access patterns to prevent data breaches and maintain compliance.
- Monthly Security Awareness Training | Educating staff on emerging threats, phishing attempts, and best security practices to maintain a proactive defence. Training includes real-world attack simulations, interactive workshops, and scenario-based learning to ensure employees can identify and respond effectively to cyber threats. Employees are also educated on business email compromise tactics, social engineering attacks, and the dangers of credential theft. Regular assessments and phishing simulations help reinforce secure behaviours and create a culture of cyber awareness across the organisation.
- Regulatory Compliance | Strengthening security to align with industry regulations and financial data protection laws, ensuring Capo and Co meets the latest compliance mandates. This includes adherence to SMB1001, a critical framework that defines cybersecurity best practices for small and medium-sized businesses. By implementing these standards, Capo and Co not only maintains regulatory compliance but also enhances customer trust and ensures continued eligibility for cyber insurance coverage.
- Automated Threat Response | Implementing AI-driven security solutions to detect and neutralise cyber threats before they impact operations. This includes real-time threat detection, automated incident containment, and behavioural analysis to proactively identify suspicious activities. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, our system continuously adapts to emerging threats, preventing zero-day attacks and advanced persistent threats. Additionally, automated responses help mitigate business email compromise attempts and detect illegal VPN usage, ensuring a more secure digital environment for Capo and Co.
Transition to a Managed Support Agreement
- Improved IT Financial Forecasting | By transitioning to a managed support agreement, Capo and Co now benefit from a structured IT expenditure model that eliminates unexpected repair costs and unplanned capital expenses. This predictable budgeting framework allows them to allocate financial resources more effectively towards business growth initiatives. Additionally, the improved visibility into IT spending helps mitigate financial risks associated with cyber incidents, ensuring compliance with cyber insurance policies and avoiding potential financial penalties.
- Unlimited Support | Ensuring staff productivity is maintained by mitigating and reducing any IT-related disruptions. With fast and easy access to IT specialists, staff can quickly resolve technical issues, minimising downtime and maintaining operational efficiency.
- Scalable IT Services | Capo and Co can dynamically adjust their IT support and security needs in response to business growth, evolving regulatory requirements, and industry demands. This flexibility enables the firm to scale resources up without incurring significant capital expenditures, ensuring cost-efficient IT management.
- Faster Issue Resolution | With dedicated support personnel, technical issues are resolved quickly, minimising downtime and disruptions to financial operations. By reducing costly downtime and maintaining an optimised IT environment, Capo and Co has significantly enhanced its financial efficiency and long-term cost management.
Cost Savings
By shifting to a subscription-based model, they avoided large upfront investments, allowing for more strategic financial planning and resource allocation and eliminated the need for expensive on-premises server replacements and ongoing maintenance, reducing capital expenditure. Additionally, reduced energy consumption and physical space requirements led to further operational cost savings.
Improved Security
The implementation of AI-driven threat detection and automated responses significantly lowered the risk of cyber incidents, reducing potential financial liabilities related to data breaches and compliance violations. This strengthened protection of sensitive financial data through proactive monitoring, advanced cybersecurity measures, and regulatory compliance.
Operational Efficiency
Automated software updates and cloud-based management tools eliminated the need for manual interventions, freeing up valuable time for employees to focus on revenue-generating tasks. This provided a standardised and easily managed IT environment, reducing IT-related disruptions and improving staff productivity.
Enhanced Flexibility
The cloud-based infrastructure ensures seamless collaboration and business continuity, reducing downtime and improving overall financial performance. This allowed staff to securely access business-critical applications and data from anywhere, supporting remote work capabilities.
Financial Predictability
The managed support agreement ensures IT expenses remain stable and manageable, reducing financial strain on the business. Fixed monthly costs eliminate unexpected expenses, allowing for improved long-term budgeting and financial forecasting.
Business Continuity
With cybersecurity protections and proactive support, Capo and Co can operate with confidence, minimising downtime and risks. The integrated disaster recovery solutions provide a safety net against data loss, ensuring that financial operations remain uninterrupted even in the event of a cyberattack or hardware failure.
Regulatory Compliance and Cyber Insurance Benefits
By meeting industry regulations and adhering to SMB1001 cybersecurity best practices, Capo and Co ensures continued eligibility for cyber insurance coverage. This proactive approach reduces financial exposure to potential non-compliance penalties and increases their ability to recover from security incidents efficiently.
Conclusion
Capo and Co’s transformation to a cloud-first, security-driven IT infrastructure has positioned them for long-term success. With our continuous support and managed security services, they can focus on their core business, providing top-tier accounting and financial services without the burden of IT management.
If your business is ready to embrace a secure, modern IT environment, contact us today to explore how we can help.
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