Advantex Network Solutions - Experts & Thought Leaders

Advantex Network Solutions announces plans to move forward under the sole leadership of Dave O’Connell, co-founder and one of the cornerstones of the business’s success for the past two decades. Founded in 2002 by brothers Dave and Steve O’Connell, Advantex has built a strong reputation as a trusted partner, supporting businesses, manufacturers, education and hospitality providers, and local authorities across the region and beyond. Innovation and customer success The move comes as the Follingsby Park-based company, which is an integrator of IT, communications, and IP security solutions including cybersecurity, data networks, and IP camera and access control systems, has seen sales revenues double in 2024 on the back of work-secured from the manufacturing, hospitality, and education sectors. Projects for SeAH Winds, AESC, Hitachi, Sirius Group, Advance Learning Partnership, and Newcastle International Airport together with a loyal customer base, see the business start the new year poised for further strong growth and a commitment to innovation and customer success through investment in services and industry talent. Tailored and innovative solutions The company plans to build on the 20-plus years of expertise in FY25 and into FY26 Following an impressive 46% growth in team size over the past 18 months, the company plans to build on the 20-plus years of expertise in FY25 and into FY26 with recruitment for a raft of additional engineering, business support, sales, and operations roles. Developing and expanding the business further, Dave O’Connell’s vision and leadership together with the management team, will ensure that Advantex not only upholds its legacy of delivering tailored and innovative solutions but also expands its footprint in the sector. Dave's comment He said, “Throughout our journey, we’ve built Advantex on the foundations of technical excellence and an unwavering commitment to our customers’ success. The significant growth we’ve achieved, particularly over the last 18 months, demonstrates the strength of our business model and the exceptional capabilities of our team." “As we move forward, we’re in a prime position to accelerate our growth plans, with a robust pipeline, strong financial performance, and most importantly, a talented team of 70 professionals who share our vision for innovation and service excellence. Our commitment to expanding our workforce and capabilities reflects our confidence in the opportunities ahead, and I’m excited to lead Advantex into this next chapter of growth.”

Gateshead-based IT solutions provider Advantex has successfully implemented one of the region’s first managed DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) services for Thornaby-based Process Control Equipment (PCE). Securing email communications As a European distributor of valves, actuators, and automation packages, PCE is heavily dependent on secure email communications across multiple European domains.  In response to escalating cyber threats cited by 84% of UK businesses, PCE turned to Advantex to enhance email security by combating spam and preventing possible phishing or spoofing attacks. Authenticity of email messages Despite a rise in DMARC adoption from 3.98% to 7.78% of verified .org domains within a year DMARC is a critical email validation system that safeguards domains from unauthorised use by ensuring the authenticity of the sender’s email messages, thus thwarting phishing and spoofing attempts. Despite a rise in DMARC adoption from 3.98% to 7.78% of verified .org domains within a year, only 1.2% of domains have fully implemented the protocol, indicating a substantial gap in email security, according to EasyDMARC, a global pioneer in DMARC ecosystems. DMARC adoption Leveraging the managed DMARC offering through Advantex, PCE has made significant strides in enhancing the security of its email environment, improving domain reputation, enhancing mail flow, and eliminating unauthorised emails, ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of its communications. This has resulted in increased confidence throughout their enterprise and supply chain. Email-sending locations Oliver McGuire, IT Manager at PCE, stated, “The insights provided by this solution, have enabled us to not only improve our domain reputation but also enhance mail flow and eliminate unsanctioned emails.” He further added, “Advantex supported us throughout the implementation process, offering regular updates and helping ensure that all legitimate email-sending locations were covered by the policy. While this might sound straightforward, it is quite complex given the integrated systems we operate.” Several value-add solutions Advantex’s Technical Director, Dave Sample, added, “Our managed DMARC service is one of several value-add solutions we offer to our support clients. We have seen a significant rise in interest in this solution since Yahoo and Google introduced changes in February, which have compelled some clients to adopt it." "Although the changes primarily targeted bulk email, the security enhancements and visibility provided by a properly managed DMARC solution are invaluable, complementing any email security system.” Digital communications He concluded, “As the threat landscape continues to evolve, we predict DMARC adoption to rise at a much steeper curve in 2024 and beyond, as organisations continue to prioritise security and brand reputation.” PCE’s proactive stance on email security, bolstered by Advantex’s expertise, sets a standard for organisations seeking to fortify their digital communications. 

Tech specialist Advantex, has successfully delivered a major IT infrastructure and security overhaul for PCCA, a global manufacturer and distributor of personalised medicines. This comprehensive project not only enhanced PCCA UK’s cybersecurity capabilities but also provided the UK operations with strategic autonomy over their IT decisions, ensuring resilience and efficiency in an increasingly challenging digital landscape. Advanced security measures PCCA has been a valued client of Advantex for several years, benefiting from its expertise in managing IT infrastructure across all UK sites. As part of the decentralisation strategy from the US, PCCA turned to Advantex to develop and implement a solution that would meet the specific needs of its UK operations. Advantex responded by working closely with PCCA’s US-based global IT team to design a strategy that allowed the UK office to operate with greater independence. The project encompassed several critical elements, including the creation of a new Active Directory domain, a tenant-to-tenant migration for Office 365, and the implementation of advanced security measures such as Multi-Factor Authentication and Cisco Secure Email. Ensuring minimal disruption These improvements have provided PCCA with a robust and scalable IT environment The project also involved upgrading all legacy hardware to HPe enterprise-class systems, re-platforming server operating systems and line-of-business applications to the latest versions, and enhancing disaster recovery capabilities using Zerto with Azure. These improvements have provided PCCA with a robust and scalable IT environment, equipped to support future growth and innovation. Siobhan Toner, head of finance at PCCA, said: “We are thrilled with the advancements made in our IT infrastructure. The strategic enhancements provided by Advantex have significantly improved our operational efficiency, performance, security and data protection. The solution was not only cost-effective but also delivered on time, ensuring minimal disruption to our operations. Additionally, the ongoing support from Advantex means we have a reliable partner to help us navigate future challenges. I can now sleep better knowing we have done all we can to protect our business, clients, and distribution channels.” Personalised medicine sector The successful delivery of this project by Advantex underscores its commitment to providing tailored IT solutions that meet the specific needs of their clients. By prioritising security and strategic autonomy, the company has empowered PCCA UK to maintain its leadership in the personalised medicine sector while ensuring the safety and integrity of its operations. Reflecting on the collaboration, Scott Duncan, business development manager at Advantex, said: “Working with PCCA on this project has been a rewarding experience. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies and best practices, we’ve created a secure and autonomous IT environment for their UK operations. We look forward to continuing our support and contributing to their ongoing success.”