Getting started
Onboarding takes
2 to 6 weeks
This is how we take on your IT, whether you’re switching providers, adding to an internal team or starting from scratch. The time depends on your size and the current state of your IT.
Four phases, and what we need from you
Most of the work is ours. Each phase lists what we need from you.
The tasks below are a guide. Your onboarding plan is set for your environment and any bolt-ons you choose.
1
Prepare
We collect key information, coordinate any provider handover and get everything ready before we visit.
Prepare
We collect key information, coordinate any provider handover and get everything ready before we visit.
We collect details about your environment, users and current IT arrangements. If you have a provider, we coordinate the handover with them.
What we do
- Meet with your decision-makers to understand business priorities
- Collect environment details: users, credentials, domains, licensing
- Coordinate the handover with your outgoing IT provider (if you have one)
- Ask the outgoing provider to remove their tools so they don’t conflict with ours
- Collect third-party vendor details (telco, software, hosting, copier)
- Review existing documentation and history
- Schedule the onsite visit
What you provide
- 30 to 60 minute meeting with key decision-makers
- Nominated key contact for IT matters
- M365 Global Admin credentials (or delegate access)
- Current IT provider details (if applicable)
- Staff list with roles and devices (if available)
2
Discover
We visit your site, document every device, network and system, and deploy our monitoring and security tools.
Discover
We visit your site, document every device, network and system, and deploy our monitoring and security tools.
Our team attends your site to document devices, network equipment and infrastructure, and installs our monitoring and security tools.
What we do
- Walk the site and identify every workstation, server, printer and piece of network gear
- Build a full asset inventory with serial numbers, operating system and encryption status
- Document the firewall, switches, access points and Wi-Fi
- Record IP addressing, VLANs and connectivity details
- Deploy monitoring and security agents to all in-scope devices
- Deploy endpoint protection (Defender for Business where licensed)
- Check encryption, Entra ID join and patch status on each device
- Photograph the server room, comms cabinet and key infrastructure
- Identify immediate issues and quick wins
- Give your team our support and onboarding guide, including how to contact support
What you provide
- Site access and someone to help with locked rooms or equipment
- Device login PINs or passwords available for each workstation
- Availability of staff if devices are in use
3
Configure
We set up your Microsoft 365 security, email protection, backup and device policies remotely.
Configure
We set up your Microsoft 365 security, email protection, backup and device policies remotely.
After the onsite visit, we configure your Microsoft 365 security, email protection, backup and device management remotely.
What we do
- Configure Microsoft 365 security defaults and MFA for all users
- Set up Conditional Access policies (with Business Premium)
- Configure anti-phishing, anti-spam, Safe Links and Safe Attachments
- Configure and verify SPF, DKIM and DMARC email authentication
- Set up a break-glass admin account and password policies
- Configure Microsoft 365 backup (mail, OneDrive, SharePoint)
- Configure Windows Update and patch management policies
- Enable BitLocker encryption and Intune device management
- Complete a security baseline covering patching, identity and endpoints
- Complete the third-party vendor register and confirm our authority to deal with each vendor
What you provide
- Any compliance or regulatory requirements we should be aware of
- Approval for MFA rollout to staff (we handle the deployment)
- Confirmation of vendor contact authority
4
Stabilise
We close gaps, patch systems and share a prioritised roadmap of recommendations.
Stabilise
We close gaps, patch systems and share a prioritised roadmap of recommendations.
We fix the issues found during onboarding, remediate priority risks and share a prioritised roadmap.
What we do
- Fix critical patching gaps and security risks
- Remove consumer or legacy antivirus software
- Move local account users to Entra ID sign-in
- Upgrade Windows Home devices to Windows Pro (if in scope)
- Resolve printer, peripheral, and connectivity issues
- Deploy managed network monitoring (if in scope)
- Complete a prioritised roadmap with short, medium and longer-term recommendations
- Complete a risk register of the risks found during onboarding, with recommended fixes
- Take management through the roadmap and recommendations
- Scope and quote any extra project work separately
What you provide
- Known pain points or recurring issues to prioritise
- Decision on roadmap items that require commercial approval
- Feedback on recommendations
Support
Onboarding is complete, and day-to-day support starts with a clear maintenance schedule.
Support
Onboarding is complete, and day-to-day support starts with a clear maintenance schedule.
We confirm escalation paths, move any open items into the service desk and start ongoing support.
What we do
- Confirm escalation paths and key contacts
- Move outstanding items and known issues into the service desk
- Confirm maintenance schedules and reporting
- Deliver an onboarding summary: what was deployed, what is outstanding and what we recommend
- Book your first business review
- Monitor your systems, run business reviews and keep your IT plan current
Improve
Once you are stable and secure, we keep finding ways for technology to do more for the business.
Improve
Once you are stable and secure, we keep finding ways for technology to do more for the business.
We look for ways to remove friction, lift staff productivity and support where the business is heading.
What we do
- Review the technology roadmap against your business goals
- Recommend practical improvements as the business changes
- Report on what is working and where the gaps are
- Bring ideas on automation, AI tools and process improvements
- Plan and budget larger projects before they become urgent
What you provide
- Visibility of business priorities and the changes ahead
- A decision-maker for roadmap and budget items
- Feedback on what is and is not working day to day
Common questions
2 to 6 weeks, depending on your size and the current state of your IT. A small office on Microsoft 365 sits at the short end. More sites, servers or a messy handover push it longer.
Most customers don’t. We’ll help you track down credentials, contacts and contracts. Finding out what’s there and filling the gaps is part of onboarding.
We keep disruption low. We install tools remotely and schedule changes outside business hours, or agree the timing with you first. Most staff notice a few update prompts and a new sign-in check when MFA is turned on.
We coordinate the handover with them directly, including documentation, credentials and access. You don’t have to manage it. If you don’t have a provider, we start from scratch.
Yes. You can call our team from day one. If something urgent comes up during onboarding, we handle it.
Yes. A one-off onboarding fee applies to all new customers. It depends on team size and complexity and is confirmed in your quote. A 24-month agreement takes 25% off the fee.
Yes. The Discover phase includes an onsite visit to document your devices and network, and the onboarding fee covers it. After onboarding, phone and remote support is unlimited, and onsite visits are billed at our schedule of rates, with 5% off for Protect+ customers.
Yes. Every customer gets a named onboarding lead who runs the onboarding from start to finish.
Onboarding finishes in 2 to 6 weeks with a summary of what was deployed, what is outstanding and what we recommend. Over the following weeks we settle the support process, review early ticket trends and book your first business review, where we take you through the roadmap. Reviews then run twice a year below 25 users and quarterly from 25.
We document it and quote it separately, for example infrastructure upgrades or a migration. Nothing outside the onboarding scope starts without your approval.
Yes. Our tools and support work the same across the office, home and anywhere in between.
Yes. We can take on cybersecurity, vendor coordination, procurement or specific projects and leave day-to-day work with your team. Co-managed arrangements are agreed case by case, so get in touch.
Have other questions? See our full FAQ.
Talk to us about your onboarding
We will walk you through how onboarding would run for your business. One conversation. No pressure. If we are not the right fit, we will tell you.
We reply within 1 business day.