International Cat Care is a UK‑based not‑for‑profit organisation dedicated to improving the welfare of cats worldwide. The organisation operates with a predominantly remote workforce, supported by a small office location used on an occasional basis. Its staff and consultants rely on a range of cloud‑based systems to collaborate, communicate, and deliver charitable services effectively.
International Cat Care undertook a review of its IT arrangements following a change in staff personnel, which highlighted the risks of relying on a single internal IT resource. While day‑to‑day support was being managed in‑house, the model lacked scalability, resilience, and consistent coverage for a growing and flexible workforce.
The organisation operated within a mixed technology environment, with users accessing email and calendars through different platforms and varying levels of adoption of Microsoft 365 and SharePoint. This created complexity for onboarding new starters and supporting remote working patterns. There were also concerns around handling confidential information, maintaining security standards such as Cyber Essentials, and ensuring systems remained aligned with best practice.
In addition, limited visibility of device lifecycle management, backup resilience, and user training meant the organisation wanted reassurance that its IT environment was secure, efficient, and well‑structured to support its mission going forward.
Qlic IT proposed a structured, discovery‑led approach designed to strengthen International Cat Care’s IT foundations while supporting its not‑for‑profit operating model. The engagement began with a detailed review of the existing Microsoft 365 and SharePoint environment, recognising the opportunity to rationalise usage across email, calendars, and collaboration tools.
A phased onboarding plan was defined to support a predominantly remote workforce, with minimal disruption to staff. Endpoint protection was standardised through the deployment of Sophos Central Endpoint across all supported devices, alongside ScreenConnect to enable secure and responsive remote support. Microsoft and Google environments were reviewed to ensure consistent access and governance.
As part of onboarding, partner relationships were established for Microsoft 365 through Qlic IT and PAX8, with GDAP access requested to enable secure delegated administration. Administrative accounts were protected with multi‑factor authentication, and configuration and credential information was documented centrally to support ongoing service delivery.
A light‑touch site survey was planned for the organisation’s small office location to capture infrastructure details and validate credentials. Training was included through Bigger Brains to improve user confidence in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and modern working practices. Additional services such as backup, encryption, and filtering were identified for discovery and future recommendation, ensuring decisions were made with clarity and alignment to organisational needs.
International Cat Care gained a clearer, more resilient IT operating model designed to support its remote‑first workforce. By moving from reliance on a single internal resource to a structured managed service, the organisation improved continuity, reduced risk, and gained access to broader technical expertise.
Microsoft 365 usage became more consistent, supporting clearer communication and collaboration across teams. Endpoint security was strengthened through standardised protection and improved visibility of devices in use. Centralised documentation and onboarding processes made it easier to support existing staff and introduce new starters without friction.
Security assurance was enhanced through improved administrative controls, clearer governance, and a roadmap for maintaining standards such as Cyber Essentials. User training helped staff feel more confident using collaboration tools, reducing reliance on ad‑hoc support. Overall, the organisation achieved a more secure, scalable, and well‑governed IT environment aligned with its charitable objectives.
- Reduced reliance on a single internal IT resource
- Improved resilience and continuity of IT support
- More consistent use of Microsoft 365 and SharePoint
- Enhanced endpoint security and remote support capability
- Better onboarding experience for staff and consultants
- Clearer visibility of systems, devices, and security posture
- User training to support modern and efficient working
