DataRoad · IT Services and ConsultancyWe do IT right

Offices and Groups

Local branch of head office

Multinationals operating in Portugal with policies set in another country.

We work with head office and the local team at the same time: we follow group policy, speak the language of the people here and report in the format head office expects.

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DataRoad Account Manager

Offices and branches

Computing for Offices and Multinational Corporations

Branches of multinational companies in Portugal need a local partner who speaks the same language as head office: documentation, security standards, agreed response times and reporting in English. DataRoad is that partner — from setting up the office to the day-to-day management of technology.

Single point of contact
One contact for head office, one for the local team
Head office standards
Group security policies implemented locally
Finalised budget
Estimated annual cost, with no per-call charges
Physical presence
Someone turns up when the remote doesn’t arrive

What a branch needs but rarely finds

The head office has an IT team. The Lisbon branch has twelve staff members, none of whom are technical, and a set of requirements defined thousands of kilometres away. The problem is not a technical one — it is one of bridging the gap between two worlds that do not speak the same language nor operate in the same time zone.

Tender with a deadline

The opening date has already been set when we get the call. The network, the connections and the outlets must all be ready by that day — and the internet connection is always the one that takes the longest.

Policies imposed from outside

Disc encryption, identity management, MFA, VPN, log retention. Head office sets the policy; someone has to implement and document it locally.

Hybrid teams

Half the team at home, half in the office, meetings spanning three continents. Remote access and video conferencing are no longer just optional extras.

No on-site IT

When the switch breaks down, there is no one in the building to replace it. Someone needs to come in, and there needs to be stock available.

Sequence of steps involved in setting up an office: floor plan and network points, cabling, connections and equipment, workstations and commissioning
When fitting out an office, the only truly irreversible decision is made before the walls are closed up.

What we do

Area This includes
Office fitting-out Structured cabling, behind the scenes, Business Wi-Fi, firewalls and workstations — on a turnkey basis.
Microsoft 365 and identities Microsoft 365, email and file migrations, licence management, MFA and conditional access policies.
Cyber security Managed firewall, centralised antivirus, VPN and policies aligned with the group’s requirements.
Links Procurement and management of internet access, including redundancy and satellite solutions in areas not covered by fibre.
Daily support IT Unlimited — unlimited helpdesk support at a fixed monthly cost, with SLA in writing and through regular reporting.
The request we hear most often from head office. It’s not about any specific technology — it’s about having someone in Portugal whom they can write to in English, who replies within the agreed timeframe and who documents what they’ve done. Technology is rarely the obstacle.
An open-plan office with rows of desks, ergonomic chairs and several computer monitors, looking out over the city skyline through large windows.

A predictable cost is worth more than a low cost

A branch finalises its budget once a year and justifies it to head office. A fee-for-service billing model turns any difficult month into an unpleasant conversation with the finance department.

That is why most of the branches we monitor opt for a fixed monthly amount with a scope set out in writing: the figure does not change just because the month has been a bad one.

How we got started

1

Meeting with both sides

Head office requirements and the reality of the local team. This is where any incompatibilities are identified in good time.

2

Proposal and scope

A document setting out what is included, what is excluded, response times and the fixed monthly fee.

3

Transition

Stock-taking, access arrangements, documentation and a smooth handover from the previous supplier — with no gap in service.

4

Operations and reporting

Helpdesk, monitoring and regular reporting in the format required by head office.

Real-life cases

Reltio — Lisbon

IT maintenance and consultancy under the IT Unlimited scheme at the Lisbon office.

ReStream — Cascais

Full IT infrastructure: Wi-Fi 6, firewall and redundant satellite internet connection.

NMQ Digital — Lisbon

Complete installation of the IT network for the new office, for a group with operations in Amsterdam, Istanbul and the US.

View all DataRoad projects and news

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you communicate with head office in English?

Yes. Documentation, reports and communication with international IT teams are carried out in English whenever that is the group’s working language.

Are you able to implement our group’s security policies?

In most cases, yes. We receive the requirements document, identify what is directly applicable, what needs to be adapted to the Portuguese context, and what does not make sense locally — and we provide this analysis in writing before carrying out the work.

How long does it take to set up an office from scratch?

With the work taking place in parallel, the technical part will take between three and six weeks. The critical deadline is almost always the internet connection, which must be arranged right at the start.

What if we already have a supplier and want to switch?

We carry out the handover based on a prior inventory and documentation, so that there is no period during which nobody knows where anything is. This is the time when the most things go missing, and preparation is what prevents losses.

A chat before making a decision

Whether you’re tackling a specific problem, planning a move or simply looking for a second opinion, we always start in the same way: by understanding your situation before making any suggestions. No obligation, no jargon and no catalogues.

Book an assessment of your infrastructure

Other sectors we monitor

Further reading

Office Relocation: An IT Checklist to Ensure Everything Runs Smoothly

IT checklist for relocating premises: the lengthy deadlines that dictate everything, what needs to be decided before the work begins, the phased plan and…

IP Video Surveillance for Businesses: Design, Networking and Legal Requirements

IP video surveillance in businesses: how to define your objectives before counting cameras, what makes a good project, why network segmentation is es…

DataRoad’s IT Projects

Case studies reais

Networks, Wi-Fi, servers and security systems installed and managed by us — in hotels, clinics, offices and multinational companies operating in Portugal.

DataRoad — IT services for businesses
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