- Client: Eikos Software Systems (ESS)
- Platform: Eikos project management SaaS
- Industry Sector: Energy, Software
- Delivered: Secure, workflow-led AI capabilities
- Approach: Secure-by-design product engineering and DevOps
- Governance: ISO 27001-aligned controls and auditability
Project Impact at a Glance
Secure AI innovation
AI capabilities introduced without disrupting the trusted, in-production Eikos platform.
Better access to insight
Relevant knowledge and lessons surfaced within existing workflows at the point of use.
Clear governance
Sandboxed AI, human oversight and strong controls aligned with ESS’s risk posture.
Faster delivery
AI concepts tested quickly, with successful features progressed into the live product.
The Challenge: Introducing AI Without Compromising Trust
Eikos is a mature project management SaaS platform used within safety-critical operational environments. As customer expectations evolved, ESS identified an opportunity to introduce AI-driven capabilities that could improve user experience and support better decision-making.
The priority was to achieve this without increasing security risk, compromising compliance or disrupting an established product already trusted by its customers.
- Protecting an established product:
New capabilities had to be introduced without affecting the stability of the live Eikos platform. - Applying AI to real user needs:
ESS required guided, task-specific functionality rather than a generic or open AI interface. - Maintaining security and control:
AI needed to operate within clear technical and governance boundaries, with predictable behaviour and human oversight.
The Solution: Secure-by-Design, Workflow-Led AI
Building on a long-standing relationship, Sword partnered with ESS to evolve the AI capabilities of the Eikos platform. The work combined secure-by-design product engineering with a pragmatic DevOps approach, allowing ideas to be tested quickly without weakening the controls required around a trusted SaaS product.
AI introduced without disruption
New AI features were integrated into the established Eikos platform while maintaining product stability. This allowed ESS to enhance the platform’s capabilities without undermining customer confidence in the existing service.
AI designed around user workflows
Rather than introducing a broad, open-ended AI interface, Sword and ESS embedded guided, task-focused features into existing Eikos workflows. This helps users access relevant insights and lessons where they are needed.
Security and control built in
AI operates within a sandboxed environment. Customer data is not used to train the AI, the AI has no autonomous access to systems, and outputs remain subject to human oversight. These controls support predictable behaviour and trusted use.
Rapid testing with clear governance
A lightweight delivery approach enabled AI concepts to be tested quickly and successful features to progress into production. Throughout the process, Sword maintained ISO 27001 alignment, auditability and the flexibility to accommodate customer-specific AI constraints.
Measurable Business Outcomes
Secure innovation
ESS introduced AI into Eikos without disrupting the trusted, in-production SaaS platform.
More relevant insight
Knowledge and lessons can be surfaced at the point of use, helping users work more effectively within familiar workflows.
Faster progression into production
AI ideas can be tested efficiently, with successful concepts moved into the live Eikos product through a controlled delivery process.
Clear Governance
Strong controls and oversight ensured alignment with ISO27001 and ESS’s risk posture.
"Our relationship with Sword gave us confidence from the outset. Their secure development practices go beyond compliance, and we trust them to deliver this work safely.”
John McIntosh, CISO, ESS
More Information
Sword used a secure-by-design product engineering and DevOps approach to integrate task-focused AI capabilities into the established, in-production platform. The approach prioritised platform stability, controlled testing and continuity for existing users.
AI features are developed with defined controls, auditability and human oversight. The delivery approach maintains alignment with ISO 27001 and can adapt to the specific AI constraints set by customers.
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