IT Risk Management & Compliance

Some clients approach us because IT worries are keeping them awake at night. They’re concerned about increasing cyberthreats, security risks, regulatory issues, and compliance problems. Rightfully so: we meet clients whose businesses have literally been brought to a standstill by online attacks.

Other CEOs simply recognise the need to beef up cybersecurity and to create compliance policies, disaster plans, and business continuity plans.

 

Whatever the issue, it can be hard to move forward because the IT guys don’t always speak the same English as a CEO!

We assess the risk and present a plan

Risk and compliance management is a difficult area — there is no end to the money you could spend on hardware, software, and advice.

One of our consultants (we call them ‘Principals’) can join your senior team and explain the issues and options in plain business language. Our Principals then help you assess the risk and agree on a commercially sensible plan.

We provide direction

Compliance and risk issues can be extremely complex. People without an IT background often don’t have enough time to fully investigate the details and make an assessment.

Freeman Clarke is unique because one of our Principals can get involved in every aspect of your IT, from servers and infrastructure to bespoke software and AI.

We will understand your business, the demands of your sector, your back-office systems, your processes and data, your clients and supplier contracts.

We can present issues and options in business terms to allow the senior team to assess the real business issue, including your own appetite for risk, and to put in place a plan.

All our Principals have wide experience of common regulations and practices, and we have excellent links to experts in legal issues and specific areas of technical risk.

We understand that different clients have different needs

Many of our clients are traditional companies who simply need to get the basics right.

Some of our clients provide critical 24/7 services and need to be confident they can keep operating to fulfil their contracts and commitments.

Other clients are high-profile organisations subject to sustained cyberattack, sometimes politically motivated or even state-sponsored.

What they all have in common is the need for commercially viable, technically sensible arrangements.

Below are some relevant briefings, posts, videos and stories from our clients.

All written in plain-English and suitable for CEOs and Board members.

Client Stories

We are trusted technology strategy providers for CEOs of mid-market businesses. Read our client case studies to find out more...

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Business insights

We have a wide range of experience in delivering business-focus and mid-market IT strategies that will help your business grow...

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What’s the best path to cyber security?

What’s the best path to cyber security?

Even the most well-funded organisations with the smartest technology have been victimized by cyber attacks. This is means that no...

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Business Insight

Knights Plc

'Freeman Clarke has been our trusted IT advisor and has helped us develop the IT capability to support our profitable, growing business' Read more

Client story

Cyber Security and Compliance

Cyber and compliance are huge threats, but more often than not it’s about getting the basics right to mitigate these...

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Knowledge Centre
How to stop worrying about cyber security and compliance: Part I

How to stop worrying about cyber security and compliance: Part I

This article is the first in our two-part report designed to provide busy CEOs with a template for mitigating the...

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Business Insight
How AEC can succeed with digital: Infographic

How AEC can succeed with digital: Infographic

To download, save or print this Infographic, click here Freeman Clarke is the largest and most experienced team of part-time,...

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Business Insight
Part IV: Next-gen technology

Part IV: Next-gen technology

Part IV: Next-gen technology Here’s the next instalment in our series on how midmarket AEC firms can succeed with a...

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Business Insight
COVID 19: Urgent operational challenges from some of our clients

COVID 19: Urgent operational challenges from some of our clients

For every business, the COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge to the wellbeing and safety of their people. For some businesses...

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Business Insight
IR35

IR35

Here’s a brief video of one of our founders, Steve Clarke, explaining how the IR35 change is affecting small operators,...

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Business Insight
How to avoid a CRM car crash

How to avoid a CRM car crash

Any CEO knows that customer information is a very valuable asset. And how you manage customer relationships is vital. So...

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Business Insight
5 Key IT points for CEOs in AEC

5 Key IT points for CEOs in AEC

At Freeman Clarke, we work extensively in AEC (architecture, engineering and construction). We’ve noted very clearly that when AEC companies...

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Business Insight
Custom software & digital

Custom software & digital

Custom software is an opportunity to build real competitive advantage, making your business unique and adding business value. But custom...

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Business Insight
How to stop worrying about cyber security and compliance: Part II

How to stop worrying about cyber security and compliance: Part II

This article is the second in our two-part report designed to provide busy CEOs with a template for mitigating the...

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Business Insight
How to get Cyber Security on the Board agenda

How to get Cyber Security on the Board agenda

Cybercrime is a clear and present danger to mid-market companies. Here’s how to get your executive team to make it...

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Business Insight
3 Focus Points for Successful Systems Integration

3 Focus Points for Successful Systems Integration

Freeman Clarke co-founder Graeme Freeman explains the three areas you’ll need to focus on for a successful systems integration project...

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Business Insight
3 common problems with systems integration

3 common problems with systems integration

Integration challenges can be difficult to identify. In this video, Freeman Clarke Co-founder Graeme Freeman explains three of most common...

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Business Insight
A concise introduction to integration problems – Part II: How to solve them

A concise introduction to integration problems – Part II: How to solve them

This is the second of our two-part series on integration problems. Click here to read Part I: How to Spot...

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Business Insight
ERP Explained: The Basics

ERP Explained: The Basics

At Freeman Clarke, clients frequently ask for our help with their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects. We’re not surprised, because...

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Business Insight
Board action plan: IT roadmap for growth

Board action plan: IT roadmap for growth

To download, save or print this CEO's Action Plan, click here Companies planning growth need to have a plan for...

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Business Insight
A concise introduction to integration problems – Part I: How to spot them

A concise introduction to integration problems – Part I: How to spot them

A Concise Introduction to Integration Problems Part I: How to Spot Them Integration problems can cause your business quite a...

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Business Insight
Cyber security and compliance strategy for non-technical board members

Cyber security and compliance strategy for non-technical board members

Cyber and compliance are huge threats, but for a non-technical board member it’s difficult to set direction and strategy if...

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Business Insight

AllTruck plc

'We needed an experienced IT Director to provide continuity and strategic thinking to address our IT issues' Read more

Client story

Turnaround Publisher Services

'Freeman Clarke have overhauled our purchase order system, is driving down costs wherever possible, and is raising efficiency through process improvements, dragging us into the 21st century' Read more

Client story

Queen Alexandra College

'We have a roadmap for the next few years that is cost effective, structured, and deliverable thanks to our Fractional IT Director' Read more

Client story

Amberjack

'It was vitally important that our IT strategy and delivery were led by an expert who understood our values' Read more

Client story

GRS Roadstone Group

'Having an IT Director with previous experience in the sector has given us the confidence to make significant investments in systems, putting us at the leading edge of our industry' Read more

Client story

Immunocore

'The IT leader's ability to pick up on our industry's complex technology, combined with his capabilities, resulted in Immunocore being in a stronger, more secure IT environment' Read more

Client story

Sleaford Quality Foods

'The Freeman Clarke model works well for our business, providing us with access to a senior IT Leader who helps us achieve our ambitious goals' Read more

Client story

BRC

'Freeman Clarke provided a first-class, committed IT leader on a long-term but flexible basis' Read more

Client story

Crown Golf

'I now have someone within the senior team who can explain the complexities of IT in business terms and has provided clarity and direction to my technology team' Read more

Client story
Cyber, legal, compliance … How a CEO can sleep soundly

Cyber, legal, compliance … How a CEO can sleep soundly

It is not an exaggeration to say that most days we meet companies who have been hacked, their reputations damaged,...

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Business Insight

British Pathé

'Having someone completely independent and trusted who understands both the business and the technology has proved to be a significant business enabler' Read more

Client story

Simplify Digital

'Freeman Clarke were crucial to the successful transformation of our IT' Read more

Client story
Solving cyber security and compliance risks: How a mid-market CEO can sleep soundly

Solving cyber security and compliance risks: How a mid-market CEO can sleep soundly

Every day, businesses confront the stark reality of cyber threats. Hacks not only damage reputations but also result in financial...

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Business Insight
How AEC can succeed with digital

How AEC can succeed with digital

How AEC can succeed with digital Introduction Our priorities, of course, should be to stay healthy and do everything we...

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Business Insight
Demystifying AI: a guide for mid-market CEOs

Demystifying AI: a guide for mid-market CEOs

There is suddenly a lot of urgency around artificial intelligence and what it will mean for the future of business....

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Business Insight
CEO’s briefing: Technology roadmap for growth

CEO’s briefing: Technology roadmap for growth

As companies grow, their IT inevitably needs to change and develop. In reality, few companies follow a well planned path,...

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Business Insight
Cyber security is a leadership challenge

Cyber security is a leadership challenge

These days nearly half of all firms face some kind of Cyber Security attack. The usual response is to insist that...

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Business Insight
A strategy for solving systems integration problems

A strategy for solving systems integration problems

For many businesses, systems that don’t work together are the source of major headaches. Systems that don’t talk to each...

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Business Insight

Hybrid Working & Post-Pandemic

Businesses will be facing tough challenges over the months. Here is our best advice on mixing remote with office work...

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Knowledge Centre
How Can ERP Deliver Transformation

How Can ERP Deliver Transformation

This audio focuses on How can ERP deliver transformation. You can listen to the other audios in this series here....

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Business Insight
Don’t Let a Disaster Ruin Your Day

Don’t Let a Disaster Ruin Your Day

The phrase 'disaster recovery' conjures up earthquakes, fires and collapsing buildings. But a disaster can be as simple as a...

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Business Insight
When Nature gets angry, are you ready?

When Nature gets angry, are you ready?

This is what Datchet looks like at the moment. One of our clients, comxo, has an office in Datchet, fortunately...

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Business Insight
Is Your Project Stuck in the Weeds?

Is Your Project Stuck in the Weeds?

IT projects of every type can run into problems, get delayed, or overrun. Budgets and plans get abandoned. Projects get stuck...

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Business Insight
5 steps to getting your IT budget under control

5 steps to getting your IT budget under control

We meet some companies who are constantly banging their heads against a brick wall when it comes to their IT...

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Business Insight
Minimising the phishing threat: A CEO’s checklist

Minimising the phishing threat: A CEO’s checklist

To download, save or print this Infographic, click here Freeman Clarke is the largest and most experienced team of part-time,...

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Business Insight
6 Common IT Budget Blunders

6 Common IT Budget Blunders

1. No agreed IT strategy or plans No IT strategy means 'the IT guys' will come up with a new...

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Business Insight
Scale-up an e-commerce business: strategic model.

Scale-up an e-commerce business: strategic model.

Many successful e-commerce businesses have been launched by entrepreneurs passionate about a product or market place, or who have spotted...

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Business Insight
Work Life Balance for Top IT Leaders

Work Life Balance for Top IT Leaders

If you’ve got to the top in IT, the chances are that a lot of dedication and hard work got...

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Business Insight
2017 Employment Law Update

2017 Employment Law Update

Here’s an article by Angela McDonald, HR Director at People Puzzles, a very close partner of ours… With so many changes...

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Business Insight
Four key steps to successfully managing IT suppliers

Four key steps to successfully managing IT suppliers

The IT Suppliers you use in your business are a critical component to your success. Like any other team though,...

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Business Insight
GDPR Essentials: The Impact on IT, Legal and Marketing for Your Business

GDPR Essentials: The Impact on IT, Legal and Marketing for Your Business

GDPR – the EU General Data Protection Regulation – is among the biggest legislative changes to hit UK businesses in...

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Business Insight
GDPR Mindset and Culture: A Short Note for the Board

GDPR Mindset and Culture: A Short Note for the Board

Original article written by Trupti Harding-Shah of My Inhouse Lawyer, www.myinhouselawyer.uk In her video address yesterday, marking the one-year countdown...

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Business Insight
A CEO’s briefing: Solving systems integration problems

A CEO’s briefing: Solving systems integration problems

IT and Systems Integration problems can make a simple business feel complicated. Whether its the CRM system, Finance System, a...

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Business Insight
CEO’s Guide to Strategic IT for M&A or Exit.

CEO’s Guide to Strategic IT for M&A or Exit.

UK M&A activity progressively increased during 2017 and is forecast to grow further during 2018. With growth in most economic...

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Business Insight
What does it take to stay at the top of our game?

What does it take to stay at the top of our game?

People are the most important part of any business. We run conferences where we hear from expert speakers and run...

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Business Insight
Hiring a CTO: What are the 6 Must-Haves?

Hiring a CTO: What are the 6 Must-Haves?

We hire more CIOs, CTOs and IT Directors than any other organisation in the UK, and we are often asked...

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Business Insight
Digital transformations – Efficiency, effectiveness & risk management

Digital transformations – Efficiency, effectiveness & risk management

For many companies, the technology strategy begins and ends with technical details in which the Board have little interest. The...

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Business Insight
Even for Visa It’s Hard to Get Disaster Recovery Right, Can You?

Even for Visa It’s Hard to Get Disaster Recovery Right, Can You?

The recent Visa systems outage brings disaster planning into sharp focus. A simple hardware failure brought chaos to shoppers across...

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Business Insight
COVID-19: Delivering effective homeworking

COVID-19: Delivering effective homeworking

  Visit our Hybrid Working & Post-Pandemic Knowledge Centre which includes all content related to this topic. Freeman Clarke is the largest and...

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Business Insight
COVID-19: A Message from our Co-founder Graeme Freeman

COVID-19: A Message from our Co-founder Graeme Freeman

  Visit our Hybrid Working & Post-Pandemic Knowledge Centre which includes all content related to this topic. Freeman Clarke is the largest and...

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Business Insight
Getting the Benefits of BYOD

Getting the Benefits of BYOD

Many staff use their technology routinely for work, a trend that’s called Bring your Own Device (BYOD). For example, most...

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Business Insight

Financial Services & Private Equity

Companies in the Financial Services industry who get technology right will see great opportunities, those who hesitate will be left...

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Knowledge Centre
Real-World Advice to the Board About Meltdown and Spectre

Real-World Advice to the Board About Meltdown and Spectre

Another week and another story about malware, this time the attacks are called Meltdown and Spectre. These weaknesses are particularly...

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Business Insight
Technology fire triangle – Part 3: Compliance

Technology fire triangle – Part 3: Compliance

Successful businesses are worth protecting. But it is very difficult to strike the balance between investing in the success of...

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Business Insight
Preparing for strategic IT demands from corporate clients

Preparing for strategic IT demands from corporate clients

Providing services or product to corporate clients can be a lucrative opportunity. Large, stable clients can be a good market...

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Business Insight
Technology fire triangle – Part 2: Data

Technology fire triangle – Part 2: Data

This is part 2 of our series of 3 briefings about the Technology Fire Triangle, a term we coined to...

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Business Insight
Technology fire triangle – Part 1: Integration

Technology fire triangle – Part 1: Integration

Our aim is for IT to actively contribute to our clients’ strategic success rather than being a drag and a...

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Business Insight
The Hazards of Scaling Up Your Business (and How to Avoid Them)

The Hazards of Scaling Up Your Business (and How to Avoid Them)

Imagine this: the co-founder of a multi-million-dollar HR management software company with almost 500 employees likes to micromanage to the...

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Business Insight
CEO’s briefing on IT risks, compliance and security

CEO’s briefing on IT risks, compliance and security

No doubt you worry about growing your business and being successful, but as the business grows and becomes successful, protecting...

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Business Insight
Working with Wise (Wo)men

Working with Wise (Wo)men

It’s on Twelfth Night, or Epiphany – that many Christians celebrate the wise men arriving at the nativity scene. We...

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Business Insight

Companies also approach us about these areas

IT Strategy

Connecting your systems and digital strategy to your business objectives.

Bespoke Software Development

Online and digital are at the heart of most new opportunities, and custom software is often key.

Team Development and Leadership

Enable your IT team and suppliers to help drive efficiency, service, and innovation.

CIOs and CTOs for Private Equity

PE houses are driven by valuations, and IT and technology are now at the heart of business value.

IT Systems Integration and Reporting

Efficient and scalable systems and processes allow business to grow and flourish.

Knowledge Centres

 

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Graeme Freeman
Co-Founder and Director

Subscribe to our Business Insights

Plain English board-level briefings focused on technology strategies to deliver competitive advantage and business success.

* Please enter an email address
newnewsletterrecipient

You can unsubscribe at any time.

Thank you.

You’ll now receive regular expert business insights.

Call us on 0203 020 1864 with any questions.

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