From “Good Enough” IT to SEC-Ready Cybersecurity

How CapSouth Wealth Management partnered with Alles Technology to modernize infrastructure, strengthen compliance, and eliminate cyber risk

For many registered investment advisors, technology infrastructure evolves gradually, sometimes even reactively, until regulatory pressure or cyber risk forces a more intentional approach. For CapSouth Wealth Management, that inflection point came as the firm matured from its investment-centric roots into a modern RIA with increasing regulatory exposure and data-security responsibilities.

Founded in 2001, CapSouth is approaching its 25th anniversary in 2026. What began as a four-person firm has grown to more than 20 employees, along with the operational complexity, compliance scrutiny, and cybersecurity expectations that come with scale. “We didn’t really have a strong approach to IT in the early days,” said Marshall Bolden, President of CapSouth Wealth Management. “But as we moved more into the cloud, it became very clear that infrastructure was a major risk point.”

Like many RIAs, CapSouth initially relied on a local managed service provider (MSP). The relationship lasted more than 15 years and covered basic needs, such as server maintenance, permissions, and some protections, but it lacked a critical aspect, which was wealth-management-specific regulatory expertise. “They were fine at keeping the lights on,” Bolden said. “But they didn’t understand SEC expectations, compliance obligations, or what cyberprotection really needed to look like for an RIA.”

Five years ago, CapSouth made its first attempt to move to a more RIA-focused provider. While that firm brought greater awareness of regulatory requirements and cyber risk, execution quickly became an issue. “They were slow to respond and ultimately weren’t the industry experts we thought they were,” Bolden explained. “That’s when we knew we needed to look again.”

CapSouth began evaluating alternatives roughly 15 months ago, prioritizing deep industry expertise, audit readiness, and proactive cyber defense. During due diligence, one factor stood out above the rest, which was peer feedback. “We spoke with other RIAs already working with Alles Technology, and that was a turning point,” Bolden said. “They talked about how protected they felt, how Alles supported them through SEC cyber exams, and how confident they were in their controls.”

Several Alles clients reported completing SEC audits without cyber-related findings, a critical signal for firms without an in-house cybersecurity expert. “That peace of mind mattered,” Bolden said. “My biggest fear as a firm leader is having to explain a data breach to clients. That’s the nightmare scenario. We needed to know that it was locked down.”

Since switching to Alles, CapSouth has seen a clear shift from static IT maintenance to active, evolving cyber risk management. Alles implemented strong system protections, including application whitelisting, threat blocking, and continuous monitoring. Just as importantly, the firm delivers consistent day-to-day support and audit preparation, ensuring CapSouth remains defensible under regulatory scrutiny.

“No news is good news on the cyber front,” Bolden said. “And with Alles, that’s exactly what we get—fast response times, issues resolved quickly, and strong vigilance against threats.” Within the first year alone, Alles has already introduced system upgrades and refinements, adapting CapSouth’s environment as regulatory expectations evolve.

One of the key differentiating aspects of the partnership has been Alles’ forward-looking posture, particularly around emerging SEC requirements. “They’re already preparing us for pending legislation and upcoming changes,” Bolden noted. “They’ve made technology enhancements ahead of time to improve monitoring and protection, instead of waiting for rules to go live.”

Looking back, Bolden sees CapSouth’s journey as a cautionary tale for advisory firms relying on generic IT providers in an increasingly regulated environment. “If you’re not comfortable with your IT and cyber provider, you really don’t know how you’ll fare with the SEC,” he said. “That uncertainty alone should push firms to reassess.”

“Alles is hands down the best technology and cybersecurity partner we’ve ever worked with,” Bolden said. “They understand the client experience, they understand the tools, and they understand the regulatory reality RIAs live in every day.”