Case Study: Henson Crisp - Cobweb
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Case Study: Henson Crisp

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Company Name:

Industry:



Financial Advisors

Size:



20+ employees

Project Type:

✅Microsoft Business Premium Set Up
✅Managed Services
✅Network and communications survey
✅Network infrastructure upgrade & deployment
✅WiFi and network segmentation

Case Study Overview

Henson Crisp needed to modernise its IT, security and office network to support day-to-day operations more reliably and securely and prepare for future growth due to their current IT and hardware being outdated and could not support current demands.

Cobweb helped Henson Crisp take control by moving them from reactive, individual-led IT to a managed, secure, and scalable foundation with improved connectivity, clearer ownership, and stronger controls aligned with a regulated environment. The project was managed throughout by our Prince2-certified Project Manager.

Main challenges for Henson Crisp:

Henson Crisp reached a turning point where their IT had been kept running through the knowledge and availability of one long-serving IT consultant. As retirement approached for this consultant, the risk became clear that knowledge, access, and day-to-day decision-making did not have a documented platform, process, or accountable partner.

Key pressures included an inherited network that had evolved without consistent design or documentation, limited visibility and control over legacy and unmanaged equipment, inconsistent WiFi coverage across the premises, and no clear accountability for ongoing IT health and security. Connectivity was also becoming a constraint; what had once been an acceptable internet performance was now impacting staffs’ productivity and day-to-day operations. At the same time, cyber risk continued to rise, particularly in a regulated financial services environment where email-borne threats and impersonation are common attack vectors.

Cobweb’s Solution:

Following conversations and thorough consultations with Cobweb, it was agreed Henson Crisp needed to implement a managed, secure, and accountable IT platform. The aim was to establish clearer responsibility, strengthen security, and develop an IT environment capable of reliably supporting the company’s ongoing growth.

Cobweb conducted a thorough on-site survey of the networking and communications infrastructure. This assessment provided valuable insight into the daily workings of the network and pinpointed areas where upgrades were necessary to better meet the needs of the business.

Using these survey findings, Cobweb designed and implemented a comprehensive network refresh. Key improvements included upgrading the communications cabinet to securely house modern equipment, fully decommissioning outdated connectivity, replacing ageing switches with a centrally managed core network, and introducing a dedicated security gateway. New ceiling-mounted WiFi access points were installed to deliver reliable coverage throughout office and kitchen areas, complemented by a segregated and branded guest WiFi network to protect internal systems and separate traffic. The entire environment was configured according to best practice standards and prepared for ongoing remote monitoring, management, and regular updates. A Router Managed Service replaced inconsistent inherited configurations, bringing the network edge under continuous management and security oversight. Additionally, broadband connectivity was upgraded from around 7Mbps to 1Gbps, eliminating long-standing performance bottlenecks and future-proofing the business’s connectivity.

Alongside this, Cobweb upgraded Henson Crisp from Microsoft 365 Business Standard to Microsoft 365 Business Premium to reinforce their identity security and device control. This transition unlocked advanced security and management features, including Entra ID Conditional Access. Alongside the licence upgrade, Cobweb provided a Premium Setup service to ensure these capabilities were deployed correctly and aligned with best practice. This included setting up identity and access management, conditional access policies, cloud applications and productivity settings, and threat protection controls. Every change was securely implemented and thoroughly documented, replacing a previously ad-hoc approach with a structured, well-governed setup that supports compliance requirements.

With their upgraded, securely configured IT environment established, Henson Crisp decided to adopt Cobweb’s Managed Service for ongoing 24/7 proactive management and clear accountability across their IT environment, ensuring they had continuous monitoring, maintenance, and support, with defined ownership for daily operations.

It was also essential to mitigate a prevalent threat vector for Henson Crisp who are a professional services firm – email attacks and impersonation. Cobweb deployed Mimecast Critical Protection (Gateway) to minimise the risk associated with these threats, thereby providing an additional layer of security their business.

The Outcomes:

Henson Crisp now operates with a secure and resilient IT platform that is no longer reliant on one individual. Internet performance constraints have been removed, day-to-day stability has improved, and the environment is actively managed and monitored by the team at Cobweb. Cyber controls have been strengthened to better align with a regulated financial services context, reducing exposure to common threats such as email-borne attacks and impersonation. Overall, their IT has moved from a background worry to a dependable service that supports staff productivity and leadership confidence.

  • A secure, well‑configured Microsoft Business Premium environment that supports staff productivity while meeting modern security and compliance expectations
  • Improved identity and device security, with 24/7 monitoring and management to reduce risk and downtime
  • A modernised, centrally managed network core that is easier to maintain, scale and support as the business grows
  • Ongoing protection and oversight at the network edge, reducing exposure to threats through managed routing and a dedicated security gateway
  • Stable and reliable internet connectivity has now removed day‑to‑day disruption and allowed staff to work without interruption
  • Protection against email‑borne threats and impersonation attacks, which are particularly common in the professional services sector
  • Clear separation between internal systems and guest access, improving overall security and reducing the impact of potential breaches
  • Less frustration for users and greater confidence across the business that IT systems are secure, reliable and fit for purpose

Following the retirement of our IT consultant, it was clear we needed a well overdue update to our network. As we had an existing relationship with Cobweb for Microsoft licences, it seemed the logical step was to contact them regarding our network upgrade. Matt and Phil attended our site to review our existing system and helped us with a temporary solution to ensure we were supported whilst they created a network plan for us. They are both friendly and knowledgeable, with the ability to explain in terms which I could understand. The recommended equipment has made a big difference to the efficiency of the business. Matt provided a very thorough network map and detailed documentation to fulfil our compliance requirements. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Matt and Phil with any network upgrades, or from scratch, I trusted them to make the recommendations for equipment and installation, which were proportionate to our needs.

– Georgina Bellinger, Operations Director at Henson Crisp

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