One Folder, One Mistake, Total Chaos

How Egnyte Helped a Surrey Firm Regain Control After a SharePoint Meltdown

After a serious data leak exposed confidential HR files to the entire company, a Surrey-based recruitment firm realised their reliance on SharePoint and OneDrive was putting their business at risk. From lost files and storage limits to unclear permissions and internal fallout, the situation spiralled fast.

LAN Support stepped in with Egnyte Advanced File System – a secure, scalable solution that gave the team full visibility, weekly permissions reports, and up to 10TB of storage.

The result? Peace of mind, restored trust, and what the client now calls “SharePoint for grown-ups.”

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Client profile

Industry Recruitment
Company size 30 employees
Location Surrey, UK
Previous IT Setup Microsoft 365 Business Standard with SharePoint
Plan Chosen LAN Support Business Premium Plan with Egnyte Advanced File System (AFS)
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0 hours

Downtime

4 hours

Time to recover

100%

Client Satisfaction

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1

The Challenge: A data management mess

A Surrey-based recruitment firm with 30 staff was struggling with Microsoft’s OneDrive and SharePoint. Despite their popularity, these platforms had become a source of frustration and risk for the business.

The team experienced:

  • Lost data due to sync issues and unclear versioning
  • File path length limitations that disrupted workflows
  • Storage constraints that slowed down operations
  • Unclear file permissions, exposing sensitive data

  • The tipping point came when an internal incident revealed that everyone in the company had access to the HR folder, including confidential employee records. The breach wasn’t malicious, but it sparked rumours, internal tension, and ultimately led to disciplinary action and dismissals.

    “We were shocked. Sensitive HR files were accessible to everyone, and we had no idea. It caused real damage to trust and morale.”

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    The Realisation: Lack of Visibility and Control

    As the situation escalated, the leadership team began investigating how the leak occurred. Was it a trusted employee? A security flaw? Eventually, they discovered that a shared folder had been misconfigured, giving unintended access to multiple users. This incident made it clear: their current system lacked the visibility and control needed to manage sensitive data securely.“We weren’t just dealing with a tech issue, we were dealing with a people issue caused by tech. We needed a solution that gave us clarity and control.”

    3

    The Solution: Egnyte Advanced File System (AFS)

    LAN Support introduced the firm to Egnyte Advanced File System (AFS) a secure, enterprise-grade platform designed for businesses that need robust file management, compliance, and visibility.

    Key Features Implemented:

  • Granular access controls with group and individual profiles Weekly permissions reports emailed to the leadership team
  • Audit trails to track who accessed what and when
  • Up to 10TB of storage, eliminating previous limitations
  • Centralised file management with real-time collaboration
  • The transition was smooth, and the team quickly embraced the new system.“Egnyte is SharePoint for grown-ups. We finally know who has access to what, and we sleep better because of it.”

    4

    Why It Worked: A hollistic solution

    Egnyte AFS worked because it addressed every pain point the firm had experienced:

  • Weekly reports and audit logs gave leadership full oversight
  • Sensitive folders were locked down with precise permissions
  • 10TB of storage supported their growing data needs
  • No more file length issues or sync errors, just smooth collaboration
  • “It’s not just about preventing mistakes, it’s about empowering our team to work confidently and securely. LAN Support didn’t just fix our tech, they helped us rebuild trust in our business.”

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    The Outcome

    • No further data breaches since implementation
    • Improved internal trust and accountability
    • Streamlined file access and collaboration
    • Confidence in compliance and data governance
    • A happier, more secure team environment
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    Key Takeaways

    • Tick Icon Visibility and control are non-negotiable when handling sensitive data
    • Tick Icon Egnyte AFS offers enterprise-grade file management with simplicity and power
    • Tick Icon A proactive MSP can turn a crisis into a catalyst for smarter, safer operations
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