Case Study: Building a Secure, Remote-Ready Digital Environment for a Financial Services Provider

Abundant Life Wealth Management, an SMB in the financial industry, handles sensitive and confidential data daily. When the pandemic pushed the organization into remote work, they expected the shift to be temporary. But even after adopting a permanent hybrid schedule, their daily operations were still tied to office-based tools, including a physical fax machine, a local server, multiple phone lines, and a VPN that employees relied on just to access files.

These systems were designed for a traditional office environment, but as hybrid work became the norm, the company needed a more streamlined, modern, and security-enhanced setup that supported how their team actually worked.

The Challenge: Legacy Systems Limiting a Hybrid Workforce

Although employees worked remotely several days a week, core operations still depended on office-bound equipment such as a physical fax machine, a local on-premises file server, and traditional desk phones. This created operational friction and slowed workflows.

• Disconnected Systems and Manual Workflows: The firm relied on traditional fax lines, printed documents, and hardcopy filing. Sharing information required extra steps like printing, scanning, or faxing, slowing down processes for a team handling sensitive data.

• A Server They Had Outgrown: Accessing files required a paid VPN and an on-premises server that demanded regular upkeep, electricity, hardware attention, and IT oversight. For a team rarely on-site, this setup was inefficient and costly.

• Evolving Security Risks: With sensitive client data moving through various systems, the company wanted a more unified and modern security approach that aligned with hybrid work and reduced operational complexity.

• Inefficient Communication Tools: Multiple phone lines, a physical fax connection, and a traditional phone system delayed meant processes would often get delayed. Managing calls, messages, and client communications required jumping between devices and systems, making collaboration slower and less reliable.

To address these pain points, Abundant didn’t just need upgrades, but a new digital framework that aligned with how their hybrid team operated.

Our Approach: A Modernization Digital Infrastructure

Rather than introducing isolated fixes, we focused on reshaping the client’s day-to-day experience. The goal was simple: give their team secure, cloud-based tools that make work easier, communication clearer, and data safer.

Transitioning from Physical Faxing to a Digital Faxing System

Traditional faxing was slow, manual, and dependent on office hardware. By introducing a cloud-based fax solution integrated with Microsoft Outlook, the need for printing, scanning, or on-site fax equipment was removed.
Employees can now send and receive faxes from anywhere, through email, while all documents are automatically stored in SharePoint. With features like encrypted transmission, digital signatures, and audit trails, the new system is also highly secure.  

This shift saved the company money on phone lines, reduced office supply expenses, and significantly accelerated how documents moved through the team.

Migrating On-Premise Data to SharePoint for True Remote Access

The on-premise server was replaced by SharePoint, a cloud platform that centralizes files and provides secure, anytime access without a VPN. SharePoint also enables granular permission controls, ensuring employees can only view the information they’re authorized to access - a concern the management team had with their previous system.  
This change eliminated server maintenance costs and removed the risk of downtime from local failures. Moreover, with SharePoint’s real-time editing and built-in version control, the team can collaborate more efficiently.

Strengthening Security with Check Point and Microsoft Entra

Because the financial industry deals with highly confidential information, expanding and modernizing the company’s security framework was a priority. While they already had baseline protections in place, we upgraded their environment with industry-leading Check Point solutions for email, devices, and browsing - blocking phishing attempts, securing endpoints, and preventing access to unsafe websites. With Microsoft Entra, all company devices became centrally managed and identity-secured, ensuring controlled access and compliance across the organization.

The outcome was a stronger security environment that protected data across every workflow and every device used by the hybrid team.

Modernizing Communication with Microsoft Teams Phone

The final upgrade involved replacing traditional phone lines with Microsoft Teams Phone, a cloud solution built directly into the platform the team uses every day. Instead of juggling separate tools, employees can make and receive calls, access voicemail transcriptions, join video meetings, and collaborate through chat - all within a single application. Teams also allows meetings to be recorded when needed, offering the chance to revisit important details without relying on manual note-taking.

Because everything runs through the cloud, the company no longer depends on physical phone hardware or office-based lines. This streamlined communication, reduced costs, and made collaboration more natural for a remote and hybrid team.

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The Results: A Remote-Ready, Secure, and Cost-Efficient Digital Workplace

With their new cloud ecosystem in place, Abundant now works the way their hybrid team was meant to - with enhanced security, greater efficiency, and less reliance on hardware or manual processes. Files, calls, and communication are accessible from anywhere, backed by modern security that protects every device and every interaction.

By eliminating servers, fax lines, VPNs, and traditional phone systems, operational costs dropped while productivity increased. Collaboration is smoother, communication is unified, and daily tasks that once required printing, scanning, or switching between tools are now handled instantly.

Ultimately, the company has moved from patching legacy systems to operating on a modern digital foundation built for long-term success. Their team is faster, better protected, and better equipped to serve clients with the reliability the financial sector demands.

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