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Community Futures Highwood is a federally funded nonprofit organization based in Okotoks, Alberta, supporting rural entrepreneurs across the Foothills and Vulcan County region. As part of the national Community Futures network, which includes 267 offices across Canada, Community Futures Highwood provides services such as business planning, cash flow support, programming, and loan financing to small businesses in rural communities.
With sensitive data to protect, the organization requires secure, reliable technology while operating within the realities of limited nonprofit funding.
The Challenge: When an IT Services Provider Becomes a Liability
Before partnering with Pure IT, Community Futures Highwood faced persistent issues with their previous IT provider. According to Ursula Sherwood, Executive Director at Community Futures Highwood, the decision to make a change came down to trust and accountability.
“They were not delivering what they said they would deliver, and they were overcharging. Their contract practices were questionable, and their support was lacking.”
The organization was tied into multiple overlapping contracts with misaligned end dates, making it costly to leave at any point. At the same time, technical issues were frequent, response times were inconsistent, and staff often found themselves resolving problems on their own.
Core systems, including SharePoint, were not configured properly and there was growing concern about whether cybersecurity requirements were being adequately addressed.
The Turning Point: Switching to Pure IT for Transparency, Fit, and Real Value
As a federally funded nonprofit, Community Futures Highwood is required to evaluate multiple IT vendors. Pure IT stood out not because they were the cheapest, but because they were the most transparent and offered the best overall value.
“They were very upfront and personable – a ‘what you see is what you get’ approach. They weren’t the cheapest, but they were the best value for what we were looking for.”
With limited funding and strict security obligations, the Okotoks-based organization needed an IT partner that could balance cost-conscious decision-making with strong cybersecurity and dependable support. Pure IT demonstrated flexibility, clarity, and a clear understanding of the nonprofit environment.
The Solution: Secure Systems, Knowledgeable Support, and Proactive Planning
After transitioning to Pure IT, the focus shifted to building a stable, secure foundation and a clear plan for the future. This included…
- Properly Configured Systems & SharePoint Setup
Pure IT worked closely with the team to restructure and properly configure SharePoint, ensuring it aligned with modern security practices and practical workflows.
“It was properly explained to us how it should be set up. That made a huge difference.”
- Cybersecurity Services & 24/7 Monitoring
With sensitive data involved, robust security was essential. Pure IT implemented stronger security controls and 24/7 monitoring to protect critical systems. Cybersecurity awareness training was also introduced and quickly became beneficial to the entire team.
“At first I didn’t see the value in it. Now I absolutely love it! It’s made a huge difference. I’ve learned more, my team has learned more, and I believe it was one of the factors that helped us obtain proper cybersecurity insurance. We can show that we’re actually doing our part.”
This training helped demonstrate due diligence and supported the organization in securing appropriate cyber insurance coverage.
- Responsive, Knowledgeable IT Support
Support quality improved immediately.
“Response time is usually amazing — often within an hour or two. And the people actually know what they’re doing. That’s been a HUGE improvement!”
- Technology Planning & Budgeting Support
Pure IT also helped eliminate uncertainty around IT spending. Paul from Pure IT worked closely with Ursula to build a clear, practical IT budget – providing visibility into costs and avoiding unexpected expenses throughout the year.
For nonprofits operating within fixed or limited funding, advance IT budgeting is essential. It prevents surprise costs and allows organizations to plan responsibly while meeting security and compliance requirements.
“It was fantastic. Pure IT sent me a detailed budget for the next fiscal year that I was able to use for budgeting.That never happened with our previous provider.”
The Results: A Long-Term Partnership Filled with Confidence, Clarity, and Peace of Mind
Since partnering with Pure IT, Community Futures Highwood in Okotoks has experienced:
- Faster, more reliable IT support
- Properly configured collaboration tools
- Stronger cybersecurity and monitoring
- Cybersecurity training for staff
- Support meeting cyber insurance requirements
- Clear, predictable IT budgeting
Most importantly, the organization now has confidence in its IT partner.
Pure IT: Leading IT Services That Support Organizations That Support Their Communities
For mission-driven organizations balancing limited funding, strict security requirements, and community impact, having a transparent and proactive IT partner matters. Pure IT continues to support Community Futures Highwood with secure systems, responsive service, and thoughtful technology planning, so their team can stay focused on supporting rural entrepreneurs in their service region.
