Building Resilient IT Operations for Genavest Capital

Genavest Capital Limited is a Kent and London-based hedge fund established in 2020. Operating in a highly regulated environment, the firm has specific requirements around compliance, communications recording and data security, while its growing team and office footprint have created evolving technology requirements.

The Challenge

Akita became Genavest’s sole IT partner from the outset, creating the technology environment the new hedge fund needed to operate securely and support its regulatory requirements. As the firm grew, its IT needed to evolve around new offices, users and changing technology needs without disrupting day-to-day operations.

The work covered five key areas:

• No existing IT infrastructure — hardware, connectivity, domain and software all needed to be sourced and configured from day one.
• Regulatory compliance obligations — including voice recording for telephone calls and communications archiving.
• A small but growing team working across multiple locations, requiring IT that could scale without disruption.
• Multiple planned office moves, each requiring seamless on-site IT support to avoid downtime.
• Ageing systems as the business matured — including an outdated phone platform and devices not yet upgraded to Windows 11.

With one of the firm’s principals based abroad at the time of initial engagement, Genavest also needed an IT partner they could trust to act with minimal oversight and maximum reliability.

The Solution

Akita initially focused on establishing a secure and reliable IT foundation. As Genavest’s requirements evolved, the relationship expanded across cloud services, communications, security, proactive monitoring and infrastructure modernisation.

The work spans five key areas:

1. Full Office IT Build-Out
Akita designed and delivered Genavest’s initial technology environment, sourcing and configuring the infrastructure, connectivity and high-specification equipment required for its operations. This gave the firm a reliable foundation from day one, managed through a single technology partner.

2. Connectivity, Domain & Cloud Foundation
Akita arranged connectivity and domain services and established a structured Microsoft 365 environment, including Microsoft 365 backup for mailboxes, SharePoint and Teams data. This provided a secure and scalable cloud foundation that could develop alongside the business.

3. Security & Compliance
Operating in financial services meant security and regulatory requirements needed to be considered from the outset. Akita implemented endpoint protection, device encryption and communications archiving, with ongoing security assessments helping Genavest identify weaknesses and strengthen its security posture as the business evolved.

4. Communications — 3CX Upgrade
Genavest’s ageing 3CX phone system no longer met the firm’s needs. Akita upgraded and reconfigured the platform, providing more stable, modern communications while a revised contract also reduced running costs.

5. Transition to NOC Services
In 2024, Genavest moved to a fully managed services contract incorporating Akita’s NOC (Network Operations Centre) monitoring. The proactive model helps identify and address potential issues before they impact the business, improving uptime and visibility across the IT environment.

“Akita has supported us since the establishment of the business and has continued to adapt its services as our requirements have evolved. Their service has been consistently high quality, and their team is responsive, professional and reliable. Having dependable IT support across both offices allows us to focus on managing our business and serving our clients.”

Chief Operating Officer, Genavest Capital

The Results

From building Genavest’s original IT environment to supporting its continued growth, Akita has provided continuity across infrastructure, security, communications and managed support.

Reliable Operations
Genavest has a dependable IT environment supporting its teams across Kent and London, including two office relocations completed with no trading downtime.

Improved Resilience
Proactive managed services and NOC monitoring provide greater visibility across the IT environment, helping potential issues to be identified and addressed before they cause disruption.

Security & Regulatory Support
Security controls, communications archiving and ongoing technology management provide a stronger foundation for protecting sensitive information and supporting Genavest’s regulatory responsibilities.

A Long-Term Technology Partnership
From establishing Genavest’s original IT environment to supporting cloud services, communications, office moves and infrastructure modernisation, Akita has continued to adapt its services as the business has grown.