Locknet Managed IT

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We were a five-branch community bank, Iowa State Bank, with 90 employees. I served as AVP Network & IT Compliance Administrator.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Locknet Managed IT?

We had worked with multiple managed service providers for years, but inconsistent configurations and unresolved performance issues left us without confidence in our IT foundation. Engineer turnover repeatedly disrupted technical continuity. We also needed banking-specific expertise to address gaps in compliance documentation and audit readiness.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Locknet Managed IT took over our managed IT services and corrected the misconfigurations that had made our environment unstable. They carried out IT improvement projects and put a standardized audit packet and consistent documentation in place.

How did you find Locknet Managed IT?

Referral.

Why did you select Locknet Managed IT over others?

We selected Locknet Managed IT after a formal RFP that evaluated regional and national providers. Their banking experience and engineering depth stood out, and independent references from bankers we knew personally confirmed our decision.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement began in December 2023 and is ongoing.

How many teammates from Locknet Managed IT were assigned to your project?

6-10 employees.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Our IT environment became stable, eliminating the outages that had concerned our leadership. We completed more projects in a year than our previous providers had made possible, often without any disruption to employees. The standardized audit materials simplified our interactions with examiners and strengthened our regulatory posture. Locknet Managed IT worked like an extension of our team, providing continuity and deep knowledge of our environment, including the ability to recall projects years later.

What was your primary form of communication with Locknet Managed IT?

There was great communication and responsiveness throughout the engagement.

How did Locknet Managed IT perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was organized and timely, with excellent communication and responsiveness.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The tenure of their employees and their laser focus on IT for community banks were most impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are Ellis Construction, a construction firm founded in 1932 and based in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Our specialties are K-12, municipal, and commercial construction.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Locknet Managed IT?

Our IT operated on a reactive, break-fix basis, so problems were addressed only after they disrupted work. Unplanned outages cost our teams time and created frustration as they worked toward deadlines on complex, long-term projects. We also needed to meet strict cyber insurance requirements without taking on the expense of internal IT specialists.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We chose Locknet Managed IT because their experience in highly regulated industries such as banking gave us confidence in their ability to address our cyber insurance requirements. They provided managed IT services focused on proactive monitoring and stronger cybersecurity. Their dedicated support team replaced our one-off interactions with different technicians and gave us ongoing access to current IT and security expertise.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Locknet Managed IT reduced downtime through proactive monitoring and faster responses, helping our staff and equipment keep pace with project schedules. Our security measures aligned with our cyber insurance requirements and reduced organizational risk.

Their team became an extension of ours, with clearer communication and quicker problem resolution. We gained access to specialized expertise at a fraction of the cost of building those capabilities internally.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Security

Are there any areas for improvement or something Locknet Managed IT could have done differently?

No