Hybrid, Co-managed IT at WaterAid

Case Study, IT Outsourcing, IT Strategy, Microsoft, Recruitment & retention, Service Desk

Challenge Water Aid is an international charity that works to provide clean water and toilets to communities around the world. Like many charities, WaterAid were facing challenges in resourcing the IT Support function. Internal IT employees left the organisation, driven by the cost-of-living crisis, and the charity was unable to compete with corporate wages. This meant…

Your charity’s digital maturity journey

Cyber Security, Data Protection, Digital Maturity, Internet, IT Strategy, Microsoft, Recruitment & retention, Resources

Welcome to the Smartdesc November newsletter. This month we share how charities can be more digitally mature and offer the following resources: A blog on the five key stages of digital maturity for charities with illustrations Free Microsoft Cloud Security, Cyber Security and Data Protection assessments Free instructor-led MS365 training sessions Our next Quarterly Charity…

Cyber Security and other charity IT resources

Cyber Security, Data Protection, IT costs, IT Outsourcing, IT Strategy, Microsoft, Recruitment & retention, Resources

Welcome to the Smartdesc October newsletter. This month we discuss how you can can strengthen your charity’s cyber security posture and offer the following resources: A blog on cyber security takeaways from our recent roundtable, and another on vulnerabilities you should be aware of Free Microsoft Cloud Security, Information Governance, and Cyber Security assessments The…

Charity Technology Roundtable – Cyber Security – Summary

Cyber Security, Data Protection, Expertise, IT costs, IT Strategy, Microsoft, Recruitment & retention, Resources, Security

Last week we held our third Quarterly Charity Technology Roundtable, hosted by Microsoft Tech for Social Impact. In this blog, we summarise our discussion on cyber security, including risk management, BYOD, reducing risk of human error and systems gatekeeping. Compliance Frameworks, Risk Management, Reporting​ It is good practice to define the framework(s) or standard(s) that are…

Increase your IT team’s capacity with hybrid outsourcing

Cost of Living, Cyber Security, Hybrid Working, IT costs, IT Outsourcing, IT Strategy, Microsoft, Recruitment & retention, Resources

Welcome to the Smartdesc September newsletter. This month we discuss the benefits of adopting a hybrid, in-house outsourced model for your IT function, including: A blog and video on how many large charities are adopting a co-managed IT structure, what this is and how to get started. The chance to come together with your peers to…

Charity Technology Roundtable – Inflation and increasing IT costs – Summary

Expertise, Hybrid Working, Internet & Connectivity, IT costs, IT Strategy, Microsoft, Recruitment & retention, Resources, Security

Last week we hosted the first of our Quarterly Charity Technology Roundtables, with Microsoft Tech for Social Impact and Charity Finance Group. In this blog, we summarise our discussion on managing IT budgets, staff retention, and measuring the value of IT, and provide information about our upcoming events. Recruitment & retention Colleagues were aligned that…