Lucid Networks Ltd

Lucid Networks was set up in 2010 by two directors and now offers business IT support and consultancy across the UK from offices in Manchester and Edinburgh. The firm's aim, as it puts it, is for a client's business to get the most out of technology and to have its infrastructure designed for growth.

Support that goes straight to engineers

The firm says clients get through to an expert straight away rather than passing through layers of helpdesk technicians. It presents its role as the IT function that smaller firms often lack in house, and as a set of on-demand specialist resources for larger organisations that already have their own IT team.

IT services for smaller firms

For organisations of up to 100 staff, the firm provides unlimited support across a client's IT systems, along with IT security, Microsoft 365, internet connections and data backup. Its security work protects against threats and unauthorised access, and extends to data accessed from employees' personal devices.

Strategy and projects for larger organisations

For organisations with more than 100 staff, the firm offers on-demand help with IT strategy, technical projects and moves to the cloud. Strategy work turns plans into practical technical steps that are meant to deliver business value, and the firm says it steps forward when help is needed and steps back when it is not.

Microsoft, cloud and infrastructure skills

The firm is a Microsoft Silver Partner and helps clients adopt Microsoft 365, Azure and Amazon Web Services. Its listed technical experience includes Windows Server and Active Directory, Exchange Server including cross-site and clustered systems, data centre design and management, HP networking and server equipment, mobile device management and monitoring dashboards. It also states that its senior technical staff each have more than twenty years of experience.

Accreditation and assessment

The firm lists practitioner status under the accredited Cyber Essentials scheme, approved by the Scottish Business Resilience Centre, and says it works as a Cyber Essentials Plus assessor. Its staff are listed as security cleared.

Sectors served

The firm says it has extensive experience with professional services firms throughout the UK, and especially with firms in the legal, property, financial, health, land and energy sectors. Clients range from small businesses to larger organisations in those fields.

Approach to working with clients

The firm says it reduces the total cost of technology ownership, helps clients solve complex or long-running IT problems, and gives expert advice alongside practical help. It can manage a client's whole IT infrastructure or work alongside the client's own IT team. Its model draws on the experience of staff who spent their careers working within IT teams or running them, and it says it recommends only what it judges right for each client.