Thinking about opening a second office? It’s an exciting sign that your business is growing, but are your IT systems ready to grow with you?
Expanding into a new location is a strategic move that demands careful planning, especially when it comes to technology. It’s vital to ensure seamless communication between sites, maintain strong cyber security, and ensure scalable support for your continued success.
Let’s explore the five essential IT considerations to help Scottish business owners prepare for a second office and how a smart IT strategy can support long-term business growth.
Scottish Business Growth Is on the Rise
According to recent data, almost 92% of surveyed businesses expect higher total business costs over the next six months due to government changes in the first quarter of 2025.
Despite this, there are many businesses that feel optimistic about their future prospects, including planning for expansion. This appetite for growth is great news for the economy and for innovation.
But with it come new operational demands. Ensuring your IT strategy evolves with your business is key to making that growth sustainable.
Five Key IT Considerations Before Opening a Second Office
- Audit Your Current IT Infrastructure
Before scaling, it’s vital to take stock of what you already have. A comprehensive IT audit identifies what’s working, what’s outdated, and what may struggle to scale with your business. This sets the foundation for your expansion plans, including servers, cloud applications, device compatibility, and software licences. We recommend documenting your IT assets, systems, and workflows to understand their capacity to support multiple sites. - Review Network and Telecoms Readiness
Reliable connectivity between offices is non-negotiable. You’ll need to ensure secure, high-speed internet at both sites, alongside seamless VoIP and unified communications tools to maintain collaboration. Before doing this, ask yourself: can your network architecture support real-time communication, shared file access, and remote support across locations? - Secure Your Cyber Perimeter
An extended footprint brings increased risks. It’s important that your cyber security is consistent across both locations – not added on as an afterthought. Think firewalls, endpoint protection, MFA, and secure access to shared systems. Additionally, use cloud-native solutions to maintain centralised control of security policies so your teams can remain productive and safe wherever they work. - Adopt a Scalable IT Support Model
Whether your teams are based in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, or beyond, your support model should evolve to match. Consider a mix of remote helpdesk and on-site support, with clearly defined SLAs tailored to multi-location environments. Remember, proactive support matters. Don’t wait until your second office is live to realise your support partner can’t scale with you. - Enable Staff with Training and Governance
A second office means new starters, new systems, and a need for consistent processes. IT training, onboarding, and clear governance policies ensure your staff know how to use the tools at their disposal and do so securely and efficiently.
What ‘Good’ Looks Like: A Jera IT Case Study
A growing accountancy firm headquartered in Edinburgh had been planning to open a second office and decided to partner with Jera IT to help them ensure a smooth expansion.
Their strong local client base and rising demand from clients in the North-East made Aberdeen a prime location for their second office, so with Jera IT’s expertise, they began the process of opening a new location:
- Audit: We began by auditing their existing systems, identifying that their local file server and outdated VPN setup wouldn’t support cross-site collaboration.
- Connectivity: We implemented cloud storage with conditional access policies and deployed a unified VoIP system to keep communication flowing between teams.
- Security: Endpoint protection and a managed firewall were configured to secure both sites, with centralised management for complete visibility.
- Support: We tailored their IT support package with a dedicated account manager and remote helpdesk that could adapt to their needs.
- Training: Staff in both offices were onboarded with security awareness training and tools to collaborate effectively across Microsoft 365.
This resulted in a smooth expansion with minimal disruption, and a resilient IT foundation was built to support their next phase of business growth.
Jera IT: A Trusted Partner for Scottish Businesses
At Jera IT, we work with ambitious businesses across Scotland to align their technology with long-term business strategy. Whether you’re opening a second office or planning wider expansion, we help ensure your IT evolves alongside your growth – without the growing pains. We offer:
- Strategic IT planning: We align your technology with your business goals, not the other way around.
- Multi-site expertise: With a presence in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen, we understand the challenges of operating across multiple locations.
- Tailored solutions: Everything we deliver is built around your specific needs, including connectivity, cloud platforms, cyber security, and IT support.
- Reliable support: Our proactive helpdesk and on-site services keep your teams supported, wherever they’re based.
- Plain-speaking advice: No jargon, no tech overwhelm – just straightforward guidance to support smarter decision-making.
Book a Discovery Call with Us
Expanding your business is exciting, but it pays to plan ahead. By auditing your current setup, future-proofing your connectivity, securing your systems, and adopting the right support model, you can scale with confidence.
Ensure your next office launch is a success – book a discovery call with Jera IT today.
