Rebuilding after a cyberattack: HS Building Inspections

When a cyberattack hit two websites managed by a previous provider, HS Building Inspections turned to Graphic Detail to take over. The immediate issue was getting the business back online, but it was also a chance to reconsider whether the sites it had been relying on were doing what the business needed.

HS Building Inspections provides building inspections, thermal imaging and electrical inspection services. Manager Graham Walton says the company decided that rather than restore two separate websites, it made more sense to bring them together into one site.

“After a cyberattack affected two of our websites, we decided to rebuild them as one consolidated site. We also realised that our previous provider could not deliver the solution our business needed.”

The new website needed to do more than replace what had been lost. HS Building Inspections wanted a reliable platform that made it easy for customers to understand its services, make contact and book, while providing a stronger foundation for organic search.

For Graham, avoiding further disruption was also a priority.

“After the major disruption caused by the cyberattack, our priority was to minimise any further loss of time or business. We also wanted a robust website that would generate enquiries and assist the business to recover.”

Unlike many other service providers, Graphic Detail delivered everything they said they could without overpromising.

Graham Walton, Manager, HS Building Inspections

An existing relationship

HS Building Inspections had worked with Graphic Detail for a number of years, so the company was already familiar with the business when the website project began. While we had worked with them on other services, the affected websites were hosted and managed by another provider.

Graham says that history was one of the reasons HS Building Inspections chose Graphic Detail for the rebuild.

“We had engaged Graphic Detail for a range of services over many years, and they had consistently delivered a professional service. Their responsiveness, attention to detail and understanding of our business gave us confidence that they could manage the website project effectively.”

That understanding also reduced the amount of time HS Building Inspections needed to spend managing the project itself.

Graphic Detail handled the server transfer, website build, content and on-page SEO, while HS Building Inspections was able to concentrate on the business.

“We didn’t need to have a lot of input because we had complete confidence in Graphic Detail’s handling, strategy and delivery of the project,” Graham says.

Knowing when to change direction

Graphic Detail initially began rebuilding the existing HS Building Inspections website. As the work progressed, however, the team identified underlying problems with the original site that would continue to affect its performance.

Rather than continue investing in a compromised foundation, Graphic Detail recommended changing direction.

“During the rebuild, it became apparent that the original site had so many faults, flaws and deficiencies that it would always struggle to perform and rank well,” Graham says.

“Graphic Detail recommended a stronger platform that would ultimately perform better, and at a lower build cost to us.”

For Graham, this was an example of the value of having a website company prepared to reconsider the original brief when the evidence suggested a different approach.

A stronger foundation

It is still early to measure the new website against longer-term search and lead-generation goals, but enquiries have already begun coming through.

More significantly at this stage, Graham says HS Building Inspections now has a website that better represents the business and provides a foundation for its online marketing.

Since launch, Graphic Detail has continued to work with HS Building Inspections rather than treating completion of the website as the end of the project. This has included further work on the company’s Google presence, other marketing platforms and ongoing website refinements.

For Graham, however, one of the main measures of the project was whether Graphic Detail delivered what it said it would during a period when the business had already experienced considerable disruption.

“Unlike many other service providers, Graphic Detail delivered everything they said they could without overpromising.

“Their attention to detail, clear communication and professional advice were invaluable during a stressful time for our business. We appreciated their reliable, supportive approach throughout the project, and HS Building Inspections would not hesitate to recommend them to any business seeking a professional and dependable service provider.”

About HS Building Inspections

HS Building Inspections provides building inspections, thermal imaging and electrical inspection services. Its team includes NZiBi Registered Building Inspectors, ITC Certified Thermographers, Master Electrical Inspectors / Electricians.