IT Managed Service – Improving Efficiency and Security

Customer Profile

Aptus Clinical is a Clinical Contract Research Organisation (CRO) delivering high quality clinical trials on a global level.  Working in a highly regulated environment where compliance is paramount, Aptus Clinical are governed by the need to protect and safeguard data as well as providing streamlined operational processes to ensure efficiency and productivity.

Greystone provide fully managed IT support, cyber security support and IT project support for their Head Office based in Cheshire and remotely based operational team across the UK.

The Challenge

In early 2020 and with cyber security as its driver, Aptus Clinical performed an internal review of its IT systems and security with a view to enhance the level of support they received.  It became evident that there were areas of their business they could improve via IT processes and procedures and increasing their level of security.  To add to the challenge, the UK had just been moved into a state of national lockdown, making Aptus Clinical’s requirements more critical and a formal tender process was launched.

The Approach

Following a stringent vendor selection process, Greystone were appointed as Aptus Clinical’s new IT service provider due to their demonstrable capabilities and track record, and their close alignment to the culture and values at Aptus Clinical.

In the weeks that followed, Greystone conducted a full audit of the incumbent systems and processes with a view to design an end-to-end project plan, ensuring a seamless transition from the current IT service provider.  Speaking about this part of the process Ben McDougall explains: “From the moment we spoke to Aptus Clinical we knew Greystone would be in position to help them but first we needed to take the time to understand the requirements and business objectives and determine the best way forward for transitioning to Greystone’s support services.”

Aptus Clinical’s key priorities were identified as improving inefficiencies in their IT Systems, the implementation of Microsoft Intune for mobile device management (top priority given the pivot to home working) and improving operational uptime.

The Solution

Working to Aptus Clinical’s timeframes and requirements, Greystone developed a detailed action plan, integrated with communication points and testing dates.  From day one, Greystone’s team worked collaboratively and closely with the stakeholders at Aptus Clinical to ensure deadlines were met and the team was educated on new procedures and best practice.

Knowing that compliance was a top concern for Aptus Clinical, which was only heightened by the need for the team to work from home, Greystone set about swiftly implementing Intune relying on their extensive experience to manage the process, using simple, straightforward instructions and language.

Speaking about the experience Paula Roberts said: “Greystone ensured the implementation of Intune across the business was seamless and successful; they saved me time by developing How To Guides and supported everyone through the process on a 121 basis. They explained the process in a non-technical way so we could understand not only what we had to do but how the software would work on our devices.”