CREST - Member Directory Platform Build Project

Introduction

Delivering a Seamless Cybersecurity Member Directory Platform

The new directory serves both buyers of cyber services and CREST-accredited member companies, making it easy to search, compare, and analyse user data to support their content strategy and growth plans.

The new platform needed to move beyond a simple listing and search directory, delivering enterprise-grade search, multi-faceted filtering and comparison features to help users quickly identify the right cybersecurity provider for their needs, and demonstrate clear value to members promoting their services through CREST.

Central to the brief was a robust, automated data sync between the new directory and CREST’s CRM, Dynamics 365, ensuring member information remained accurate and consistent without manual intervention.

Relationship Length

The new website launched in March 2026

Focus

A new platform for the members directory, distinct from the main site, but with a consistent and cohesive user journey, more prominence and improved profiles and search for cybersecurity members

Visit The Site

Problem

The directory was buried alongside corporate content and stripped of the prominence it deserved
Member data was managed manually with no integration to the source of truth, Dynamics 365
Members could update their profiles on the website, but CREST staff then had to manually mirror every change in Dynamics 365
The existing solution was static and outdated, offering only rudimentary search and filtering

Solution

A standalone member directory built on a modern, flexible WordPress CMS, purpose-built for ease of use and long-term maintainability
A seamless, automated integration with Dynamics 365 that keeps member data continuously in sync across both platforms
Full self-serve capability, empowering CREST members to update their information through a Power Pages platform with changes syncing automatically
Enterprise-grade search, multi-faceted filtering, comparison and rich member profiles

Result

A dedicated, standalone platform that gives the directory the prominence it deserves, while integrating seamlessly with the main CREST-corporate site
A fully unified systems architecture with all integrations working together and sharing the latest data in real time
A modern, intuitive UI that lets users quickly search, filter and compare members and explore rich, comprehensive profiles
A scalable platform, easily manageable by the internal team and built to grow with CREST’s expanding membership

The Challenge

CREST’s existing member directory was embedded within its main corporate WordPress site, sitting alongside corporate content and lacking the prominence and functionality expected of a global professional membership directory.

Without an integration to Dynamics 365, all member data was maintained manually and independently in WordPress, creating duplicate records, an ongoing risk of inconsistency and a significant administrative burden on internal staff every time a member’s details changed.

Search and filtering on the existing directory were limited to basic taxonomies with no faceted search, dynamic refinement, or comparison functionality. Member profiles were rudimentary, making it difficult for users to quickly determine the correct provider for their specific needs.

Member self-service was equally constrained. Profile updates made on the website did not flow back to Dynamics 365, so internal staff had to key every change in a second time. Combined with the absence of any meaningful analytics on profile views, filter usage, or public enquiries, CREST lacked both the operational efficiency and the insight needed to manage and grow its directory effectively.

Our Approach

We began with a Discovery Phase to audit the existing directory, member data flows, and the required integration between WordPress and Dynamics 365. Establishing the right data foundations was critical before designing the user experience.

Working alongside CREST’s Dynamics 365 partner, Seversys, we implemented WPConnectr to connect WordPress with Power Automate, which in turn synchronised member data from Dynamics 365. Power Pages was configured to give members secure self-serv access to manage their profiles, creating a fully connected ecosystem and eliminating manual updates.

With the integration in place, we focused on the front-end experience. Member profiles are dynamically populated from Dynamics 365, ensuring information remains accurate and up to date. Advanced search and faceted filtering make it easy for buyers to navigate CREST’s 500+ member organisations.

To measure platform performance, we worked with CREST’s data team to capture and export analytics, including profile views, search activity, enquiries and comparisons. This provides clear insight into user behaviour and helps demonstrate the value the directory delivers to members.

Results

The project delivered a dedicated, standalone directory platform that gives CREST’s member network the prominence and functionality it deserves, integrating seamlessly with the main corporate site while operating independently of it.

For end users, the result is a modern, intuitive experience that makes finding, evaluating, and engaging with CREST-accredited members faster and easier than ever before. Buyers of cyber services can search and filter across 500+ member companies with precision and explore rich, comprehensive profiles, all powered by data that is always accurate and up to date.

For CREST, the internal team can now manage and extend the directory independently, without relying on external development support, and the scalable architecture is built to handle ongoing membership growth smoothly.

Visit The Site

Why This Story Matters

Every organisation has a core offering that deserves to be front and centre, accessible, discoverable and easy to engage with.

Too often, that offering gets buried within a broader website, undersold by a poor user experience, or held back by the limitations of the platform it sits on. This project is a reminder that giving your most important content the prominence it deserves isn’t just a design decision; it’s a strategic one. It directly impacts how effectively your audience can find what they need and take action.

When systems are properly integrated and information flows freely between them, the reliance on manual input is removed. Teams are freed to focus on what actually matters, elevating the offering, rather than just maintaining it.

A well-integrated digital infrastructure isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for any organisation that wants to improve its technical, operational and commercial efficiency to grow its business.