Schools, colleges, academies and educational organisations can often be working from ICT programmes installed across a number of different legacy computer systems, networks and accumulated hardware/ software technologies.

The need to upgrade to a more efficient, safe and cost effective, integrated infrastructure can invariably be limited by available budgets and term-time constraints. Leaving teachers, educators, students and pupils struggling to communicate and interact across differing devices and technologies.

The first step towards creating a specific IT strategy starts with a technology audit to determine the current status. From system and network weaknesses and vulnerabilities to all-important data security.

Integrated customer experience and real-time engagement across all devices, network systems and applications. These are only two of a number of key technology changes which the financial services industry has quickly needed to embrace.

Regulatory compliance to new regulations is another significant, and critical change demanded from the financial sector. Particularly, in response to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

In a fast developing, hybrid working environment, a cyber-secured IT infrastructure and unified, interactive communications offers significant time and cost efficiencies across an entire business operation.

An integrated IT strategy can support existing internal IT teams or be fully outsourced.

Strategy consulting IT tools for law firms and providers of legal services is a specialist activity, with added cyber security compliance. IT strategy consultants always involve secure, accessible data storage systems, backup and disaster recovery, whether running on-premises or in the cloud.

Integrated and unified communications, and minimum downtime between offices, locations and personnel are increasingly a standard need across any professional network service infrastructure. Even more so in legal services where the confidentiality and security of client and case data is critical.

In today's hybrid working landscape, smooth communication between a working team from a variety of different devices provides law firms with both a reliable and cost effective IT network. Above all, a significant time saving for meeting case-load and courtroom deadlines.

The all-important requirement for secure and protected storage and use of client data makes the insurance sector one of the most highly regulated. Many general insurers and their intermediaries are bound to the requirements of the Financial Conduct Authority.

At the same time, the pace of digital transformation across the industry continues to implement business strategy together with IT strategy. An optimised infrastructure enables a greater cost efficiency for policyholder interaction as well as agile technology for insurers to flexibly compete for new clients.

An IT strategy consultancy can outline specialist advice on how insurance companies are better able to collect and process data, and manage file claims. Above all, access any number of case files quickly and easily, interacting and communicating with clients in a collaborative process.

Manufacturing businesses will call upon the services of professional IT strategy consultants to audit, analyse and present a total overview of their technology infrastructure, network access and communications across all personnel devices. An all-important element is the protection and security of intellectual property (IP), and similar, sensitive company information. In addition to potential cyber attacks, the potential for technology failure means manufacturing companies must have a disaster recovery plan with access to IT services.