The Oulu-based technology company Proventia invests in cybersecurity, risk management, and modern digital work – all developed together with Tietokeskus. The partnership has made Proventia’s information management more proactive and strategic.
When the collaboration with Tietokeskus began in 2021, Proventia was undergoing major change, and the need for external expertise was clear.
“We’d reached a point where we couldn’t continue as before. We needed a comprehensive partnership and better visibility across our entire ICT environment,” says Kaisu Kivioja, Proventia’s Director of Development.
Information security as part of strategic leadership
The first step in the cooperation was to assess the state of Proventia’s ICT infrastructure and identify development areas in the Office 365 environment. At the same time, a systematic effort began to strengthen information security and risk management.
“Information security is never finished. It requires continuous development and foresight,” Kivioja notes.
One concrete initiative has been to raise staff awareness of cybersecurity threats. Attack simulations and training sessions organised by Tietokeskus have made everyday work safer.
“It’s not enough to just warn about threats. The goal is that employees can recognise them and know how to respond.”
Security development is monitored regularly: weekly and monthly meetings cover, for example, attack statistics, while strategic reviews examine the bigger picture.
“Information security isn’t a separate function – it’s integrated into everything we do. Our management is strongly committed to it, and its importance is widely understood throughout the organisation,” Kivioja says.
The new NIS2 cybersecurity directive has also been tackled systematically. Using tools provided by the National Cyber Security Centre, Tietokeskus and Proventia carried out a comprehensive analysis that guided concrete improvements.
Cloud, Copilot and shared workspaces – the everyday of modern work
The collaboration has also focused on developing modern knowledge work. A key element has been the utilisation of cloud services.
The use of Microsoft Teams continues to evolve, with new features and structured approaches introduced to make project work smoother. Unified channel and folder structures have made information easier to find and collaboration more efficient.
“Changes that may seem small at first can make work significantly more streamlined.”
This spring, Proventia started a Copilot pilot project. It has already brought practical benefits to daily work – from information retrieval and translations to communication support.
“Copilot has a lot of potential, but we should also remember the Power Platform tools that are already part of Microsoft licences. Together with Tietokeskus, we recently held a workshop for key business stakeholders, and in just a short time participants came up with plenty of great ideas for using these tools and Copilot agents in practice.”
“This is a great foundation for continued development. Our goal is to improve productivity smartly and cost-effectively – but most importantly, in ways that feel meaningful for our people.”
Development consulting raised ICT management to a new level
A major milestone in the partnership was the introduction of development consulting. Here, ICT management isn’t just reactive – it’s proactive and strategic.
“It’s a completely different world compared to traditional IT partnerships. Now we have a roadmap, clear goals, and regular development meetings where we look at the big picture,” Kivioja explains.
Development consulting has included ICT development days, where Proventia’s business and future needs are reviewed. These sessions lead to concrete roadmaps for future initiatives.
“We’ve achieved a lot together. We’re now on much firmer ground, even though our starting point wasn’t bad to begin with.”
A true partnership based on people
According to Kivioja, one of the best aspects of working with Tietokeskus is the genuine, people-focused approach.
“Tietokeskus experts know how to connect with people. If something isn’t clear, they explain it in a way I can really understand – and that’s not something to take for granted.”
Having a Tietokeskus office in Oulu has also made a big difference. Device replacements and support situations are handled smoothly, and help is always nearby when needed.
“We wanted a partner who knows us and keeps both feet on the ground. It’s worked out really well,” Kivioja says with appreciation.
The partnership continues to evolve alongside Proventia’s business, ICT environment, and information security needs. The direction is clear, and the foundation is strong.
“Change is the normal state of the world. Together with Tietokeskus, we’re well prepared to meet it.”
