case study
Compliance, Scalability, and Trust – How Logicata Gives Vector AIS the Assurance to Grow
Sector
Finance
Service
InfrAssure – AWS Managed Services
Vector AIS Case Study
Vector AIS is an innovative fund administrator focused on building the next generation of fund administration. Vector offers closed-end fund managers industry-leading technology, top-tier talent, innovative workflows, and a comprehensive suite of integrated fund services. By integrating high-touch, relationship-based service with purpose-built software, Vector delivers exceptional service and customized solutions to meet the unique needs of their clients. Only three years old, Vector already has more than 150 clients and an impressive retention rate.
As Vector grows, its AWS infrastructure becomes more complex. Looking to the future, Vector made the strategic decision to partner with an expert AWS managed services provider (MSP) rather than bring expertise in-house. Vector saw that working with an outside provider would give Vector access to a group of experts kept sharp by managing the AWS infrastructure for many different clients and applications.
Global search for the right AWS partner
This decision triggered a global search led by Margo Norton, Vector’s Director of Technology. Margo set out clear criteria for the winning provider:
- “Ownership”: A partner willing and able to be accountable for the infrastructure.
- Proactive: A partner who would speak up before issues arose.
- Aligned values: A partner with the same boutique and personalised feel behind Vector’s impressive client and employee retention rate.
- Relevant references: A partner with clients similar to Vector and willing to validate the partner’s service claims.
- Collaborative and open-minded approach: A partner who wants everyone on the team to succeed and who is open to new ideas.
- Opinionated expertise: A partner with opinions but no emotional attachment to any answer.
- Long-term partnership: A partner committed to growing with Vector over the next five to 10 years.
“The size we are now isn’t where we’re going to be in five to 10 years,” says Margo. “We needed a partner who could not only manage our current infrastructure but also foresee and prevent potential issues as we scale.”
Margo’s criteria extended beyond AWS technical expertise because Vector’s eyes are on a big future. That big future made it important for Vector to partner with an MSP aligned with Vector’s business philosophy and growth plans.
“Talking to Logicata’s other clients made it easy to see that Logicata was the best partner for us because Logicata has the same boutique approach. There’s automation, but Logicata keeps humans in the process, reviewing what’s happening and making recommendations based on those reviews.”
Margo Norton
Director of Technology, Vector AIS
Exceeded expectations
“Logicata has exceeded our expectations, providing the expertise and proactive support we needed to grow effectively.”
True Partners
A year into the partnership, Margo confirms Logicata has proven to be what she calls a true partner.
“Logicata is delivering on the promises that they’re making, and they’ve really taken the time to understand us and how we can work together to accomplish our goals,” she says. “They’re not just reacting to issues as they arise. They’re hands-on, anticipating our needs and helping us grow in the right direction.”
Margo Norton
The value of an assured approach to AWS
Logicata CEO Karl Robinson says his team see themselves as an extension of the client’s team, whether the team is in-house, external or blended, as is the case for most clients.
“We want everyone in the business to feel the benefit of working with us. We want the client to feel assured that the right decisions are being made about their infrastructure. We want the developers to feel that they’ve got someone who understands the application they’re writing and the infrastructure requirements it has.” The secret lies in earning everyone’s trust, says Karl. “Once the client trusts us with their infrastructure, they can get on with growing their business. Once the developers trust us, they can get on with doing what they love, which is writing code.”
Logicata’s approach to earning trust across the client’s business is to be honest and transparent without being critical. “We’re there to make everything work as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. And part of being efficient is having a great working relationship with everyone involved,” says Karl.
Consolidating the picture
At the time Vector started its global search for the right MSP, it was working with consultants, and its infrastructure management was fractured. No one’s understanding covered every aspect of the infrastructure, and that was a problem that was only going to grow as the business scaled.
“This wasn’t sustainable, says Margo. We needed a dedicated team that could thoroughly understand our environment and own it. They had to identify areas of improvement and growth before they became issues. This was where Logicata’s proactive approach was a key differentiator. We were also confident that they could scale as we did.”
Compliance
Additionally, Vector needed a partner who could keep the company compliant with its regulatory environment, including SOC 2 standards for data management. Compliance is an area where Vector accepts no margin for error, and Logicata is certified under the ISO 27001 information security standard.
Casting the global net
Vector was looking for the best fit, which meant a global RFP process, although ideally, the successful provider would have a significant list of clients in the USA with similar circumstances to Vector.
Vector received high-quality responses from ten different firms. Each was evaluated for technical expertise, proactive management, and alignment with Vector’s collaborative and forward-thinking culture. Each provider was assessed on their ability to provide a comprehensive, scalable solution that could evolve with Vector’s needs.
“What ultimately led us to choose Logicata was their more hands-on approach and proactive versus reactive thought process,” Margo said. “Logicata excelled in being able to identify areas of improvement and growth before they became pressing issues. Also, they really aligned with our values and where we are as a company. We felt they could act as an extension of our team.”
Margo Norton
Director of Technology, Vector AIS
Confidence
“The conversations we had with Logicata’s current clients all highlighted Logicata’s reliability, expertise, and commitment to delivering on their promises. Ultimately, that solidified our choice.”
The human touch
One of the primary reasons Vector chose Logicata was the human touch, not just in the personalised service but in Logicata’s approach to the work.
“With Logicata, you see more of that hands-on service versus relying on automation to make decisions,” Margo says. “They still have that human process where they’re conducting reviews and making recommendations based on those reviews.”
Also, Logicata slotted into Vector’s approach to working with other external providers, which is to consider everyone as part of a team that brings opinions to every meeting, but not emotional attachment.
““We wanted a partner who could understand our environment, listen to everyone, make suggestions, act on feedback, and generally integrate seamlessly with our team, including our developers. Logicata proved to be that partner,” Margo says.”
Karl Robinson, CEO of Logicata, echoed this sentiment, emphasising his company’s own goal of becoming an extension of the client’s team. “We’re here for assurance and peace of mind. We act as a trusted advisor, taking on the technical burden so our clients can focus on their core business activities,” Karl says. “That means they can keep their developers writing code and building products. It’s expensive to burn developer time on managing AWS, and developers don’t want to do it. Developers are more than happy to hand the infrastructure over when they can see that the MSP understands and respects the application they’re building.”
A tailored fit
Once engaged, Logicata conducted thorough reviews of Vector’s existing infrastructure, identifying areas for improvement and optimisation. “From the start, we provided a whole range of assurances, from security to compliance, giving Vector clients peace of mind that their infrastructure is in good hands,” says Karl.
“Logicata’s respect for our development team was clear from the start, but that hasn’t stopped Logicata from having opinions,” says Margo. “They keep everyone ‘honest’ and provide the second opinion that gives us the confidence we’re on the right track.”
Logicata’s strong track record of working effectively with developers comes from many of the Logicata team being developers themselves. “We understand that developers often have strong views on how things should be done, and we respect why that is,” says Karl. “Our role is to provide an objective perspective and suggest improvements without undermining their efforts. Respect and a collaborative approach build trust, and that’s how we have this track record of positive working relationships with our clients’ developers.“
Improvements in the present and an eye to the future
Having specialist support means Vector can now be sure its AWS environment is managed effectively today and optimised for future growth. “We’re undergoing a future-proofing project with Logicata,” says Margo. “They’ve been incredibly receptive to our feedback and have updated their plans based on our input.”
Logicata’s program to ensure smooth scaling includes regular reviews, feedback sessions, and updates based on the evolving needs of Vector. The results came almost immediately after Logicata was engaged.
Margo Norton
Director of Technology, Vector AIS
Confidence
We’ve seen substantial improvements in our system efficiencies. Their suggestions have allowed us to optimise our infrastructure, resulting in smoother operations and better performance.”
Key Takeaways
The successful partnership between Vector and Logicata offers valuable insights into the benefits of choosing a proactive, hands-on AWS managed services provider. Here are the key takeaways from their collaboration:
1. Proactive Problem-Solving
Logicata’s proactive approach was instrumental in identifying and addressing potential issues before they became critical. This foresight allowed Vector to maintain smooth operations and avoid disruptions.
“Logicata doesn’t wait for problems to arise; they anticipate our needs and help us grow in the right direction,” Margo Norton emphasized.
2. Hands-On Service
Unlike many firms that rely heavily on automated processes, Logicata provided a personal, hands-on service. This approach ensured that recommendations and decisions were based on a thorough understanding of Vector’s specific environment.
“With Logicata, you see more of that hands-on service versus relying on automation,” Margo noted. This personalized attention fostered a strong, trust-based relationship.
3. Alignment with Values
Logicata’s boutique, client-centric approach aligned perfectly with Vector’s values and company culture. This alignment was crucial for a productive and harmonious partnership.
“We wanted a partner who could understand our environment and integrate seamlessly with our team. Logicata proved to be that partner,” Margo said.
4. Cost-Effectiveness
Outsourcing AWS management to Logicata proved to be more economical for Vector, allowing them to access a broad range of expertise without the expense of a large in-house team. This cost-effectiveness was a significant advantage, enabling better resource allocation.
“Utilizing an outsourced party where we could get subject matter expertise from a group of people made more sense for us,” Margo explained.
5. Enhanced Scalability
Logicata’s support enabled Vector to scale its operations smoothly, ensuring that their infrastructure could keep pace with their growth. This scalability was crucial for Vector’s ambitious expansion plans.
“Logicata has been instrumental in helping us scale our infrastructure to meet our growing needs,” Margo noted.
6. Assurance and Compliance
As a financial services company, maintaining compliance and security was paramount for Vector. Logicata’s thorough reviews and proactive management provided the necessary assurances, ensuring that the AWS environment remained secure and compliant with industry regulations. “We provide a whole range of assurances, from security to compliance, giving our clients peace of mind,” Karl Robinson highlighted.
7. Increased Developer Productivity
By taking over AWS management, Logicata freed up Vector’s developers to focus on their core activities, significantly enhancing productivity and morale.
“Having Logicata manage our infrastructure has allowed our developers to concentrate on writing code and building products,” Margo said.
8. Continuous Improvement
Logicata’s commitment to continuous improvement and client satisfaction ensured that the partnership remained dynamic and responsive. Regular feedback sessions and updates based on Vector’s evolving needs kept the collaboration effective and forward-looking.
“Logicata’s willingness to listen to our feedback and make necessary adjustments has been incredibly valuable,” Margo emphasized.
These key takeaways highlight the importance of choosing a managed services provider that offers proactive problem-solving, hands-on service, and alignment with company values. The partnership between Vector and Logicata underscores the benefits of a collaborative, client-centric approach, paving the way for sustained growth and success.
Conclusion
Vector has proven its model, giving it a clear path to a big future. It can approach that future with confidence, knowing that its promises are underpinned by rock-solid infrastructure—efficient, compliant, secure, and backed up.
“The partnership between Vector and Logicata is a compelling example of how bringing team-orientated AWS experts into the mix creates efficiencies and frees up resources without generating friction. As a result, Vector can be confident that its infrastructure and its blended team are ready to scale.”
Are you looking for the assurance of working with a worldclass AWS managed services provider?
Does your application run on AWS? Would you like the extra time and peace of mind that comes from working with experts who know how to help developers run secure, scalable, and cost-effective infrastructure for their applications?
Logicata CEO Karl Robinson is available for a friendly conversation about your needs. You’ll be talking to Karl because we don’t have a sales team. Our AWS expertise “sells” our service, so we prefer to get straight to the point for a no-strings conversation about your infrastructure. You’ll leave the call knowing how we could give you back time and give you the sense of security that comes from knowing your infrastructure is well-managed, secure and backed up.
