Case Study: IT Transformation
How Loren Ferraro Replaced a Failing Server Before Tax Season
- INDUSTRY: Accounting Services
- TEAM SIZE: 8 supported users
- LOCATIONS: 1 main office
- BASED: Midland Park, NJ
- Download the Loren Ferraro LLC Case Study.pdf
Loren Ferraro LLC is a licensed accounting and tax preparation services firm located in New Jersey.
The firm helps customers and small businesses in New Jersey with various finance-related services including consulting, business planning, and auditing.
Powersolution Client Since 2019
Powersolution conducted a thorough analysis of Loren Ferraro LLC’s IT infrastructure, identified critical upgrades, and facilitated the upgrade of Peachtree accounting software. They organized the server room for improved performance and initiated proactive threat protection measures.
The Challenge
- Growing dissatisfaction with IT support over a period of 12 years.
- Incumbent IT provider did not provide an adequate level of responsiveness and consultation.
- Hardware, operating software, critical financial application software, and network/cabling infrastructure were outdated, lacking adequate security and not supporting the firm’s business needs.
- Office operations, client servicing, and revenue were at significant risk due to an outdated IT environment that was not properly supported.
- Pandemic caused a mandate for increased work-from-home, where IT systems needed to accommodate secure, remote connections to an in-house server.
Our Approach
The predictive failure was identified as a result of powersolution’s proactive 24×7 monitoring and management. As a result, powersolution informed the firm’s owners that the server might fail or get compromised by cybercriminals, including during the upcoming tax season. Understanding these risks, the Loren Ferraro owners authorized Powersolution to proceed with an IT project, replacing the old server with a new Dell Windows 2016 server.
What We Implemented
Performed a complete analysis
Complete analysis of hardware, software, and network environment. Includes scanning the server and inspecting the workstations and laptops to determine the current condition, specifications, and needed updates and replacements to secure the environment and properly support the firm’s business needs
Replaced their server
Their outdated Dell PowerEdge/Windows Server 2008 hosting the Peachtree accounting software posed a high-security risk. Microsoft ended support for Windows 2008 Standard in January 2020, leaving it susceptible to cyberattacks due to the lack of security updates
Reconstruction of their hard drive arrays
Their aging server and one of the hard drives exhibited signs of impending failure
Helped to facilitate communication with Sage software
Upgrade Peachtree to an up-to-date Sage accounting product that could run on the new server
Performeda server room organization project
Along with the server replacement, this included mounting the server in a wall rack, installing new switchgear, and arranging cabling. The organization project improved the manageability, performance, and reliability of the network environment
Implemented its Threat Ops protections
Includes ransomware canaries (canaries in the data mine), persistent foothold protections (attackers dwelling in the network), and external recon exposure monitoring (secures open communication ports)
Implement its cloud-based Secure Global Network (SGN) protections
Loren Ferraro authorized powersolution to implement SGN. This provides approximately 12 layers of security functions from any in-office or remote location. A few of the key functions include Security Information Event Management (SIEM) with forensics, traffic analysis, artificial intelligence, alert handling, and hot
