ComfNet Solutions GmbH

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the managing partners at an audit firm that links two offices of lawyers and an academy. We focus on everything related to governance, risk and compliance auditing, and consulting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ComfNet Solutions GmbH?

One of our clients wanted us to support them on a project, so we used ComfNet Solutions to support this project on the back while we were in the front.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ComfNet Solutions provided us with two consultants for this project, who were in charge of supporting us with the administrative tasks involved in the process, organizing everything. Their tasks included reworking documentation, documenting processes, and reviewing audit materials that we got from our client. As we were the auditors, their involvement allowed us to focus on the actual audit tasks.

The deliverables we got from ComfNet Solutions were internal controls related to the Sarbanes–Oxley Act, the US federal law that applies to the companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. These internal controls come with certain requirements for IT systems, application databases, and data centers, so they need to be reviewed, reworked, and audited.

After that project, we also got the support of one of their consultants with business consulting and IT strategy. They helped us outline a cybersecurity strategy, analyzing risk management patterns for our client.

What is the team composition?

We got the support of three consultants from ComfNet Solutions, and Mohammad (Founder & CEO) was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with ComfNet Solutions GmbH?

Mohammad and I knew each other from BNI, a large business network operating worldwide. We started explaining to each other what we did, and we then started finding ways to support our businesses. When I hired ComfNet Solutions for these projects, we proved that we could collaborate perfectly.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around €15,000 (approximately $17,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started talking around mid-2020, began working some time later, and by the end of 2020, we were on a high-peak work season. Currently, we’re still in contact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

ComfNet Solutions’ reporting was very accurate and precise, which was absolutely necessary. I’m a certified information systems auditor, and I know that auditing within the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is one of the most stressful tasks because it has the highest audit requirements. However, ComfNet Solutions was able to step into the project and deliver results immediately.

If an audit within this federal law doesn’t meet the requirements for being inadequate or incomplete, the client would need to pay huge fines. Thus, evidence of our engagement’s success is that we didn’t face any challenge like that.

How did ComfNet Solutions GmbH perform from a project management standpoint?

ComfNet Solutions’ high-quality work was completed on time and within the budget. We didn’t come across any stressful surprises or use more budget than expected. We used Microsoft 365 services to manage the project. Additionally, we had personal meetings and used phone calls and Microsoft Teams meetings to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

ComfNet Solutions was very punctual and delivered on time. This aspect was very important for me, and they met my expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Working with offshore companies is very different than working with local companies. When working with offshore companies, the work mentality might change, and communication barriers may exist, so you should consider that when looking for a vendor. However, working with ComfNet Solutions, we discovered that they perfectly understood both the European and US mentalities. They can successfully connect both worlds to understand the requirements of the project at hand.