Technology helpyou can understand.
Custom software, cloud design, IT leadership and security reviews, from a small team that builds and ships its own apps. A principal talks it through with you, in plain English.
Custom software and mobile apps
Web and mobile apps built around how your business really runs.
Not every problem has an app for it. When yours doesn't, we design and build one: a tool for the office, an app for the people in the field, a portal for your customers, or all three working together. We keep it as simple as the job allows, so people actually use it.
We've done this for ourselves three times. Shimly (construction management), CashWard (personal money planning) and Signet (PDF tools) are our own apps, and Signet is live on the Mac App Store.
When you need it
- The spreadsheet, the shared inbox or the pile of paper has outgrown itself
- An off-the-shelf tool almost fits, but you keep working around it
- You have an idea for an app and want a team that has built and shipped before
- Your people work where the signal is weak or gone and need an app that keeps going
What you get
- A plain-English plan and a sketch you can react to before anything is built
- Working software you can see and try as it takes shape
- A web app, a mobile app, or both, whichever the problem calls for
- A planned launch, and support afterward so it keeps working as your business changes
How an engagement works
Talk it through
We learn how the work really happens today and what's getting in the way.
Design it
We sketch the simplest version that solves it and show you before we build.
Build it
We build in steps, so you see real progress and can steer as we go.
Launch and support
We help you roll it out, then stay on to fix, adjust and grow it.
Cloud and infrastructure design
Where your systems live, how they're backed up, and who can get into them.
Cloud and infrastructure design is deciding where your systems should run and how they fit together: hosting, networks, storage, backups, access and monitoring. The aim is a setup that is reliable, sensible to run and doesn't cost more than it should.
We design it, and we can help build it or move you onto it.
When you need it
- You're moving from office servers, or a patchwork of accounts, to the cloud
- Your cloud bill keeps growing and nobody can say why
- You're not sure what would happen, or how fast you'd recover, if a system went down
- A customer, insurer or auditor wants to know how your systems are set up
What you get
- A plain-language picture of what you have today and what it costs
- A recommended design: what runs where, how it's backed up, and who has access
- A migration plan that moves things in a sensible order, with as little disruption as we can manage
- Documentation the next person can follow, so you're never stuck depending on one person
How an engagement works
Take stock
We map what you have, what it costs, and what keeps you up at night.
Design it
We draw up the simplest setup that meets your needs and budget, and walk you through it.
Build or migrate
We set it up, or move you over in stages, checking at each step.
Hand over and support
We document it, and stay available for changes and questions.
IT strategy and fractional CIO/CISO leadership
Senior technology and risk leadership, part-time.
A CIO looks after technology. A CISO looks after security and risk. Most small businesses don't need either one full-time, but they do need someone senior to make the calls.
"Fractional" means we fill that seat part-time: plans, budgets, vendors and risk, all tied to what your business is trying to do this year.
When you need it
- You're growing, and your IT has been "whoever knows computers"
- You're weighing a big purchase, a new system or a vendor pitch and want a straight second opinion
- You need a technology plan and a budget you can actually plan around
- Customers, insurers or partners are asking about your security practices and you want a credible answer
What you get
- A short roadmap in plain English, tied to your goals for the year
- A budget you can plan around, with the reasons behind it
- Help choosing, negotiating with and managing vendors
- A ranked list of risks in plain words, with what to do first
- Ongoing part-time leadership if you want it: someone senior to call
How an engagement works
Talk about the business
Where you're headed this year, and what technology has to do to get you there.
Take a look
A quick, honest review of what you have: systems, costs, vendors and risks.
Agree a plan
A roadmap and budget in plain words, and how much of our time you want.
Work alongside you
We stay on as your part-time technology lead for as long as that's useful.
Security reviews and testing
An outside check on what you have, and a plain list of what to fix first.
A security review looks at how your business is protected today and where the gaps are. Where it helps, we also test things for real, always agreed with you first. You get a short report in plain English, in priority order, rather than a thick binder.
A review can cover your accounts and who has access, your devices and networks, your cloud services and the software you run. If you want it, we can look at the physical side too: doors, badges and how visitors are handled.
When you need it
- No outside party has ever looked at your setup
- A customer, insurer or partner has asked about your security
- You've grown, moved or changed systems and want to know nothing was left open
- Something went wrong once, and you want to be sure it can't happen the same way again
What you get
- A short, plain-English report with findings ranked by what matters most
- A list of what to fix first, and what can wait
- A walk-through of the results, so you know what each item means for your business
- Help fixing the findings, if you'd like it
How an engagement works
Agree the scope
We agree in writing what's covered, what isn't, and how any testing will work, before we start.
Look and test
We review your setup and, where agreed, test it.
Report in plain words
Findings in priority order, with what to do about each.
Walk through it
We go through the results with you and can help with the fixes.
The same team builds our own apps.
Shimly, CashWard and Signet are designed, built and supported by the small team you would be working with. Signet is live on the Mac App Store.
Not sure which one you need?
Tell us what's getting in the way. A principal will read it and tell you where we'd start, usually within one business day. Or write to shadowteam@shadowaccess.ca.