IT Meeting
Information Technology
June 2025
Testing
Information Technology Division Report
First Half of 2025
IT Meeting Agenda
1
Strategic Meeting 2023 - 8 December 2022
2
Strategic Meeting 2024 - 4 December 2023
3
Brainstorming Session
4
Other Matters
5
IT Cost and Spending for 2024
Strategic Meeting 2023 - 8 December 2023

Uncompleted Strategies for 2024
1
Microsoft Office 365 Apps
Expand Apps for remaining Business Basic users.
2
Microsoft 365 Backup Solutions
Backup and restore Microsoft 365 to ensure business continuity.
Item 2: Microsoft 365 Backup Solutions
CURRENT
We are backing up Tax Compliance Filing Room at the cost of RM500+ per month
Item 2: Microsoft 365 Backup Solutions
PROPOSED
Reviewing the 2 options, back up with Veeam or Synology C2
Reviewing Option 1: Veeam Data Cloud
Benefits:
  • Branded
  • Unlimited storage
Cons:
  • Rigid licensing structure
  • Expensive to scale
Reviewing Option 2: Synology C2 Backup
Benefits:
  • Open pricing
  • Unlimited Users
  • Efficient deduplication tchnologies
Cons:
  • US/EU data centers only
  • Taiwanese company
Item 2: Microsoft 365 Backup Solutions
1. Veeam Data Cloud for Microsoft 365 Licensing Rules
Exchange Online
A license is required for each user mailbox (personal or online archive). Shared and resource mailboxes are backed up without a license.
OneDrive for Business
User licenses must align with matching email accounts. A single license cannot cover separate users' email and OneDrive accounts. OneDrive (without "for Business") is not supported.
SharePoint Online
Each user accessing protected SharePoint sites requires a license. One Veeam liceRusers do not need licenses.
Microsoft Teams
A license is required for each active team member with a paid Teams license in Microsoft 365.
Minimum 10 Licenses to start with.
1 user = RM200 per year

If, 1,000 users = RM200,000 per year
2. Synology C2 Backup
DECISION
Approved to subscribe Enterprise Plan on 19 March 2025
2. Synology C2 Backup
Cost distribution for each offices
Cost distribution for KL offices
Strategic Meeting 2024 - 9 December 2024

Uncompleted Strategies for 2025
1
Microsoft 365 Backup
Brought forward from Strategic Meeting 2023.
2
Sharepoint Cloud Space
3
CCH Cloud Space
4
AI
Item 2: Sharepoint Cloud Space

To-Do: To Present in HOD Meeting
Sharepoint Cloud Space left 2.16 TB as at today (11 March 2025)

Remedy action need to be taken.
Click here
Tenant entitlement = 1,000 Gb per tenant
Sharepoint each paid users entitlement is 10Gb per users
Item 3: CCH Cloud Space

Added another 2TB storage on 1 March 2025
Estimated Cost: US$150 × 4.50 = RM675.00
Before 1 March 2025
After 1 March 2025
Item 4: AI
Brainstorming Session
Discussion 1:
Should we maintain the Klang Server?

Decision Made on 19 March 2025 - To relocate back the server from Klang to KL
Servers in KL Office
1
Autocount On Prem for CBO
2
HR2000 Payroll for GMS
3
Superior Tax Software
4
Active Directory
5
File Server
Brainstorming Session
Discussion 2:

Currently, Microsoft 365 charges are combined into a single invoice for Crowe KL Tax Sdn Bhd.
Should we consider splitting the Microsoft 365 billing into separate entities?
Other Matters
A1. Workflow Apps - Weaver

05/05/2025 - Meeting with Mineo Xu
Agenda:
  • Schedule meeting with Kelvin to evaluate module functionalities in detail
  • Optimize costs - Request revised quotation with minimized entrance fees
  • Defer API integrations implementation
  • Reduce number of user licenses
  • Remove non-essential modules from package
A1. Workflow Apps - Weaver
A. Core Modules
B. Customised Modules
C. Project Phases
  1. Organization Management
  1. Information Portal Management
  1. Human Resources Management (HRM)
  1. Report Management
  1. Announcement System
  1. Mobile Office
  1. Multilingual Management
  1. Meeting Arrangement
  1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  1. Project management
  1. Timesheet
Phase 1 - CRM + Project Management
Phase 2 - Timesheet
Phase 3 - API + Integration
A2. MBRS
Meeting was held on Monday, March 24th, 2025 to discuss the implementation and collaboration of MBRS services across Audit, IT and CBO division.
A. IT Division (Andrew)
B. Audit Division (Elvina)
C. CBO Division
  1. Installation of Azure VPN and CCH software for Esther Chan, Yvonne Lee & Goh Wei Keat
  1. CCH license deployed and activated to Esther Chan, Yvonne Lee & Goh Wei Keat
  1. CBO Folder is created in CCH Server
  • Prepare the TB for the 3 test cases
  • Create MBRS CBO Binder on the server
  • Sync the binder from CCH - CBO Server
  • Check out the work papers from the binder
  • Do TB-Link in the MBRS Excel file
  • Bind the binder as MBRS Master Binder Template and to re-use
Status: Completed
Status: Completed
Status: WIP
A2. MBRS
Workflows and implementation steps were crafted as follows:
Implementation - 1st Year
  • CBO to create a binder from the MBRS master binder template
  • Add Audit Staff PIC as Binder Staff Member
  • Audit Staff PIC will use Import TB from engagement to import the TB into CBO binder
Implementation - Subsequent Years
  • Auditors will give the final TB for import
  • CBO import the TB given into CBO Binder
A3. Crowe Wealth Management Project
A4. Cybersecurity Review
A5. Hardware Refresh
A5. Hardware Refresh - Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) System
UPS Failure Incident
Complete loss of internet connectivity occurred on Friday, 27 June 2025, due to damaged UPS hardware.
Operational Impact
Significant disruption in operations on June 30th and July 1st, 2025 due to internet outage during that time.
Recommended Action
  1. Replace the current UPS system
A6. Review on the renewal of WithSecure Endpoint
A7. Increase Azure VPN Users

Staff and License Statistics
Microsoft 365 & WithSecure License
CCH License as at 23 March 2025
1. Crowe KL
509
CCH license utilised
490
Total license available for KL
2. Crowe Ipoh
32
CCH license utilised
30
Total license available for Ipoh

IT Cost and Spending for 2024
IT Spending for year 2024 - RM1,566,482.37
Azure Subscription for Audit KL, Audit Ipoh and Crowe KL Tax
1
Audit KL CCH
- RM117,932.16
2
Audit Ipoh CCH
- RM7,087.50
3
KL Tax Backup
- RM2,358.49
Microsoft 365 for KL & Ipoh