NorthStar Consulting Project – Part 2: Scenario
Published: August 31, 2025
The company has grown to 7 staff members and until now, they've been working in a workgroup setup. Each computer has its own local login, files are scattered between OneDrive and USB sticks, and the Director is concerned about data security and scalability as the company continues to take on more clients.
The Director's request: "We need a central login system, secure file storage by department, and a way to make sure HR and Accounts data stays private. Keep it simple, but make it scalable for when we grow."
Current Staff & Departments
- Sarah Brown (Director) – Needs access to everything, but is not technical.
- John Smith (Consultant) – Works with client documents, needs a shared folder with other consultants.
- Emily Jones (Consultant) – Same as John, but often works remotely (may need VPN later).
- Alex White (Reception/Admin) – Handles scheduling, general documents, and shared office resources.
- Maria Green (HR) – Stores contracts, staff records; needs confidential access.
- James Black (Marketing) – Works with creative files, social media content.
- Linda Grey (Accounts) – Handles invoices and payroll, very sensitive data.
Business Problems (Why You're Here)
- User management is chaotic – Every PC has a different password, so resets take ages.
- No security separation – Anyone can access HR or Accounts documents if they know where they're saved.
- No central file share – Staff are emailing files back and forth, creating duplicates.
- No policies – USBs are widely used, which is a risk for malware or data leaks.