Mediterranean Marine Services
Mediterranean Marine Services
Cloud Migration and IT Infrastructure
At a Glance
The Situation
Mediterranean Marine Services is a Mallorca-based business providing technical and operational support to superyachts operating across the western Mediterranean. Managing a fast-moving operation across vessels, marinas, and offices, the business had grown quickly but its IT had not kept pace.
Critical data was stored locally on ageing hardware with no reliable backup. The team were working across a mix of personal and work devices with no consistent platform. When a key laptop was lost overboard during a vessel transfer, taking several months of unbacked data with it, the director decided the situation had to change.
The Challenge
Marine businesses have specific IT requirements. Staff are frequently mobile between offices, vessels, and marinas. Internet connectivity is variable. The business needed a system that would work reliably regardless of location, protect its data properly, and be straightforward enough for a practical, non-technical team to use without friction.
The data lost in the laptop incident was estimated to represent around three weeks of work to partially reconstruct. The director recognised that a more serious loss was a matter of when rather than if.
What KCL Did
Aidan carried out an initial IT audit covering the existing hardware, software, data storage, and working practices across the business. The audit confirmed the infrastructure was fragile and made a clear case for migration to a cloud-based platform.
KCL proposed and implemented a migration to Microsoft 365, providing a cloud-based platform for all documents, communication, and collaboration that worked reliably from any device or location. All existing data was migrated to properly structured cloud storage with automated backups and clear access controls.
A simple job and client management system was built to replace the spreadsheets and email threads the team had been using to track vessel schedules, supplier contracts, and crew documentation. The system was designed around how the team actually worked rather than requiring them to adapt to the software.
KCL supplied and configured updated hardware for the office, set up remote management capability so that technical issues could be resolved without an on-site visit, and provided staff training on the new systems. The business subsequently moved onto a KCL Fractional CTO retainer, giving them ongoing strategic technology support as they continued to grow.
Before and After
| Before KCL | After KCL |
|---|---|
| Data stored locally on ageing hardware with no reliable backup | All data in cloud storage with automated daily backups |
| Team working across personal and work devices with no consistent platform | Consistent platform across all devices and locations |
| Loss of several months of data when a laptop was lost overboard | Zero data loss since migration |
| Estimated 3 weeks of work to partially reconstruct lost data | Full IT support available remotely without on-site visits |
| No remote IT support capability | Ongoing Fractional CTO retainer providing strategic technology guidance |
The Outcome
The business now runs on a stable, properly managed technology platform. The team work from vessels, offices, or marinas with equal reliability. All data is backed up automatically and accessible securely from any location.
The move to a Fractional CTO retainer means the director has strategic technology support available on an ongoing basis without the cost of a full-time hire. Technology decisions are made with proper advice rather than in reaction to the next problem.