How Jolera helped a regional waste management organization unify IT across 27 locations, strengthen cybersecurity, improve audit readiness, and create a scalable operating foundation for continued growth.
The challenge
From acquisitions to operational complexity
The organization had expanded through multiple acquisitions, but its technology environment had not kept pace. Each site operated much like an independent business, with fragmented systems, limited governance, and an inconsistent cybersecurity posture.
Many locations lacked firewalls, network configurations were poorly documented, and help desk requests could remain unresolved for weeks. With one internal resource supporting a complex environment, the business lacked the operational backbone required for further growth.
Client snapshot
Industry
Waste collection, disposal & recycling
Footprint
27 locations, Florida to the Carolinas
Organization
600+ employees
Engagement
Multi-site IT modernization
Limited IT leadership
No central operating model existed to prioritize work, support users, or govern technology across the business.
Audit and compliance exposure
Security and governance gaps prevented the organization from passing a compliance audit.
M&A integration barriers
Fragmented systems and site-level practices made each new acquisition harder to integrate.
Unresolved support requests
Help desk tickets could remain open for weeks, affecting productivity and confidence in IT.
Licensing waste
Inaccurate user data contributed to unnecessary Microsoft 365 licensing costs.
The Jolera approach
Evidence first. Then a coordinated transformation.
Jolera documented each location through site visits, photo and video records, infrastructure audits, and stakeholder interviews. This established the baseline for prioritization and created the first coordinated view of the organization’s technology estate.
01
Service Desk & ITIL
No central operating model existed to prioritize work, support users, or govern technology across the business.
Response moved from weeks to minutes.
02
Standardization & Consolidation
Jolera created a common endpoint image, documented printers, VLANs, and network configurations, and right-sized Microsoft 365 licensing.
Thousands saved in licensing costs.
03
Cybersecurity & Compliance
MFA, EDR, conditional access, and secure email gateways strengthened controls and supported audit readiness.
Aligned with ISO 27001 and SOC 2 standards.
04
Network Infrastructure
Outdated equipment was replaced with firewalls, switches, and EPS, while ISP support helped stabilize connectivity.
A more reliable multi-site foundation.
05
Continuity & Risk Mitigation
A cybersecurity incident response produced forensic insight when litigation-related data issues emerged.
Structured response supported favorable legal outcomes.
Security, network & continuity
One secure foundation across distributed operations
Jolera connected technology priorities to business risk: strengthened controls, modernized network equipment, stabilized connectivity, and established structured incident response.
Results and impact
A unified, audit-ready enterprise in under a year
The client moved from a fragmented and vulnerable environment to a more unified, audit-ready, and growth-capable enterprise.
Jolera did more than deploy technical controls. It became the organization’s de facto IT leadership and connected technology priorities to day-to-day business operations.
Responsive service desk
A fully operational support model replaced inconsistent ownership and unresolved requests.
Reduced licensing waste
Microsoft 365 right-sizing improved cost efficiency and saved thousands in licensing costs.
Audit-ready security posture
Consistent controls and governance strengthened security and improved audit readiness.
Platform for M&A integration
Common standards made financial-system consolidation and future onboarding more repeatable.
Transformation at a glance
What changed across the business
| Before | After | |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Independent site practices | Coordinated multi-site operating model |
| 02 | Limited visibility and governance | Documented infrastructure and clearer ownership |
| 03 | Support requests unresolved for weeks | Service desk response measured in minutes |
| 04 | Inconsistent security controls | MFA, EDR, conditional access, and secure email gateways |
| 05 | Licensing based on inaccurate user data | Microsoft 365 right-sizing and reduced waste |
| 06 | Fragmented systems slowed acquisitions | A repeatable foundation for M&A integration |
Designed for what comes next
A repeatable platform for M&A integration
Common endpoint, network, security, and support standards created a clearer path for integrating new locations and consolidating financial systems. The proposed standards also established a repeatable model for M&A onboarding and network architecture.
“We didn’t just improve their IT, we helped them run their business better.”
– Mike Dobson, Program Manager at Jolera
Frequently asked questions
Key questions about the transformation
How did Jolera modernize IT across 27 locations?
Jolera completed on-site discovery across every location, documented the technology estate, and implemented a coordinated programme covering service desk processes, endpoint standards, Microsoft 365 licensing, cybersecurity, network infrastructure, connectivity, and incident response.
Which cybersecurity controls were introduced?
The programme introduced multi-factor authentication, endpoint detection and response, conditional access, and secure email gateways. These measures supported a stronger security posture and improved audit readiness.
How did the engagement improve service desk performance?
Jolera replaced the ad hoc support model with a standardized service desk and ITIL processes. Ticket response moved from weeks to minutes, with clearer intake, prioritization, ownership, and escalation.
How did IT modernization support future acquisitions?
The engagement created common endpoint, network, security, and support standards that could be applied to new locations. It also supported more seamless consolidation of financial systems and a repeatable model for M&A onboarding.
