Dennis te Pas, system administrator at Wopereis Group, manages the IT for ten companies across six locations. From the headquarters in Doetinchem, around 150 workstations and network environments are centrally managed. When Dennis started a year and a half ago, one thing was clear: “I didn’t want to take on this challenge alone. Harbers ICT was the logical choice as our external IT partner.”
Together with Harbers ICT, a strategic IT roadmap was developed. “I set the direction, Harbers ICT helps with execution. This ensures our IT environment grows with the organization.” All locations were fully inventoried — from workstations and network equipment to software licenses. This documentation forms the foundation for daily management and future projects.
Switching to an HPE MSA storage solution was a key step. Previously, local server storage had reached its limit. “By decoupling storage from the server, we gain flexibility, scalability, and better availability,” Dennis explains. The central storage is fast, expandable, and ideal for SMEs. All servers were replaced with powerful, modern models, significantly improving performance.
Cyber threats are increasing in number and complexity. That’s why the network was completely redesigned. Previously, all connections ran through a single central firewall, which posed risks. “It felt like one big open network. That’s no longer acceptable,” says Dennis.
Using network segmentation, virtual networks (VLANs) were set up. The guest network is now fully separated from the production network. “Visitors can no longer accidentally or intentionally access critical systems. That gives peace of mind.” New Aruba switches and a Check Point Next Generation Firewall ensure secure and efficient communication between segments.
Each site is now equipped with its own Next Generation Firewall, connected via fast site-to-site VPN tunnels. These firewalls offer much more than traditional filtering: they recognize traffic types, block viruses, spam, and unknown threats using threat emulation and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS).
“Not every location needs access to the same systems. Thanks to custom firewall rules, we define exactly who can access what. What employees don’t need, they can’t reach—reducing the risk of incidents.”
In addition to fixed workstations, technicians and salespeople use mobile devices like tablets. These require a different approach to management and security. Dennis is currently exploring Microsoft Intune: “It allows me to manage updates and settings centrally, without users noticing. That improves reliability and security.”
FollowMe printing is also on the roadmap. Print jobs are only executed when the user identifies themselves at the printer. This prevents sensitive documents from being left behind and simplifies print management.
The collaboration with Harbers ICT is intensive and hands-on. “An engineer visits every month to implement improvements together. I like to stay informed myself, but if I get stuck, I know I can count on Harbers ICT.”
“We’ve made huge strides in performance and security. The foundation is now solid. The next step is optimizing workstations and user experience.”
With growing demands for performance, security, and centralized management, a future-proof IT environment is more important than ever. Harbers ICT supports organizations like Wopereis Group with smart, scalable, and secure solutions that align with today’s ambitions and tomorrow’s.
Want to learn more? Contact us without obligation and discover what we can do for your organization.
