Leveraging technology

The past year was marked by ongoing growth for the Microsoft and Oracle Business Solutions teams with a number of important key wins for the implementation of ERP solutions.  Both Microsoft and Oracle are global alliance partners of PwC.

With regards to Microsoft Business Applications technologies, we continue to invest considerably on the D365 Finance and Operations, D365 Business Central, Microsoft Power Platform and Integration services as well as Sharepoint. The highlight of the past year was the successful implementation of the Microsoft D365 Finance and Operations Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and PowerBI Data Warehouse solution at Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA).  During the year we have also mobilised our teams on other new local ERP projects within the financial services, retail and construction sectors. We have also deployed some of our experienced resources on international projects, assisting and providing Microsoft expertise and solutions to other PwC offices within the network. 

Following our acquisition of Megabyte in 2023, the past year has focused on integrating the Oracle Business Applications within our service offerings. Through the support of PwC’s network, we have continued to build up our service offering and over the past year we were successful in securing two big wins for the implementation of Oracle Fusion Cloud Suite.  We also continue to support a number of large client organisations locally with Oracle on-premise Enterprise Business Suite applications. Given the robustness of Oracle’s Enterprise Performance Management solutions we have also been actively exploring how to leverage such systems for groups of companies to carry out financial consolidations and close.

We have a team of software developers to maintain and innovate several highly specialised bespoke software solutions at a number of high profile clients.  Notwithstanding the shift towards cloud based off-the-shelf solutions, we note that demand for specialised niche bespoke solutions always remains.

All ERP, CRM and bespoke solutions require the effective organisation, consumption and interpretation of data.  Over the past year our Data Analytics and Emerging Technologies team worked hard to implement the Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence solution as part of the wider Microsoft D365 Finance and Operations ERP implemented at MITA.  We have also successfully built a similar solution for a Business Central implementation project.  

With regards to emerging technologies, we have implemented Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions for our clients to automate and streamline several processes.  Furthermore, with the strong focus on Gen AI, we have also assisted a number of clients to define and develop use cases for the introduction of Microsoft CoPilot.

Over the past year, our Cyber Security & Privacy team has experienced significant growth, enhancing its core services in governance, risk, and compliance, and threat and vulnerability Management. The team has also focused on expanding its implementation and managed services, particularly through the Acronis and Microsoft alliances. These efforts have strengthened our capabilities and positioned us to better support our clients in navigating the complex threat landscape.

The local cyber security scene has been heavily influenced by the upcoming Network and Information Security 2 (NIS2) Directive. In the latter half of the year, we observed significant activity across sectors impacted by this new legislation, with many previously unregulated organisations viewing this new compliance challenge as an opportunity to enhance their operational resilience. This shift has driven a proactive approach to regulatory adherence, underscoring the importance of robust cyber security measures.

The team has also been highly active with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), set to become fully applicable in January 2025. Through our client interactions, we have identified key concerns such as third-party risk management, the identification of critical or important functions, and the implementation of comprehensive ICT risk management frameworks proportional to the financial institution’s size and complexity. In collaboration with PwC’s EMEA DORA team, we have developed valuable service offerings to support our clients on this long-term journey.

Working closely with the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre in Malta (NCC-MT), we have been actively involved in driving interest into the national community for cyber security professionals and interested entities. In addition, we have also been conducting various threat assessments, red teaming exercises, and social engineering simulations across the public and private sectors as the importance for robust security testing programmes continue to increase. We anticipate these trends and market needs will continue to proliferate in 2025, driven by increasing regulatory pressures and the lower barrier to entry for malicious actors due to the rapid evolution of GenAI technologies.

Over the past year, our IT Managed Services offering has also witnessed significant growth whereby we have been assisting numerous businesses with enhancing their operations through expert, cost-effective IT support. By outsourcing these essential tasks to us, businesses have minimised downtime, improved security, and kept pace with evolving technologies, all while avoiding the high costs of in-house teams. Our scalable solutions have allowed clients to seamlessly adapt to changing needs, contributing to their growth and success.

PwC Digital Services Malta became a Gold Partner of Acronis, one of the leading providers of cyber protection solutions. Offering an easily scalable and comprehensive cyber protection solution from a single platform, Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud integrates backup, disaster recovery, cyber security, and endpoint management, providing robust protection while streamlining business operation. By continuously upskilling our in-house experts, we ensure they are equipped with the latest knowledge and tools to tackle evolving cyber threats. As we expand our client base, we remain committed to providing top-tier service, leveraging both our expertise and Acronis' solutions to meet the growing challenges of data security.

Through our HPE Platinum Partnership, we continued to deliver advanced IT solutions that drive greater efficiency, performance, and innovation for our clients. We have implemented a state-of-the-art storage infrastructure at a major manufacturing plant, transforming its data management capabilities. The new system is designed to handle vast amounts of critical data generated from production lines, sensors, and logistics operations with enhanced efficiency and reliability. 

Furthermore, we have successfully deployed a robust server infrastructure and archiving backup solution for one of the leading local banks. The server infrastructure was designed with high availability and redundancy in mind, ensuring seamless banking operations with minimal downtime. It includes cutting-edge hardware, virtualisation technologies, and secure data centres that can scale as the bank's needs grow.