In the London financial sector, two metrics define digital success: speed and security. For Titan Financial London, an asset management firm operating out of the City, their digital presence was failing on both counts. Their existing site was not only sluggish—averaging a four-second load time—but it also lacked the robust security architecture required to handle confidential investor inquiries and high-stakes data.
They turned to Custom Coded Websites to develop a platform that could meet the rigorous demands of the financial world while providing a seamless user experience for their global clientele. Here is how we delivered a fast, secure, and future-proof solution using Django.
The Challenge: Speed is Money, Security is Everything
Titan Financial faced a dual-threat problem that is common among professional service firms in London’s Canary Wharf and Square Mile districts:
- The Performance Gap: High-net-worth individuals have zero patience for slow websites. Every second of delay was causing potential investors to lose confidence in Titan’s operational efficiency.
- The Security Deficit: Operating in a highly regulated environment means that "standard" website security isn't enough. They needed a platform that could resist sophisticated brute-force attacks and ensure data integrity.
- SEO Underperformance: Because the site was built on a bloated template, it was invisible to search engines for high-value terms like "London Asset Management" and "Bespoke Portfolio Strategy."
The CCW Solution: Hardening the Core with Django
Our co-founders, Charlie Shortman and Louie Long, knew that a "skin-deep" redesign wouldn't solve Titan’s problems. We proposed a ground-up build using the Django framework, specifically chosen for its "Security-First" philosophy and its ability to handle complex data models at high speeds.
Engineered for Speed: Sub-Second Performance
Charlie Shortman optimized the backend to prioritize "Time to First Byte" (TTFB). By utilizing PostgreSQL with custom indexing and implementing a multi-layer caching strategy, we reduced server response times significantly. We eliminated all third-party dependencies that were slowing down the previous site, replacing them with lightweight, hand-coded Python modules. The result was a site that loads in under 0.8 seconds, even with high-resolution financial charts and data-heavy reports.
Enterprise-Grade Security Protocols
Security is baked into every line of code we write at Custom Coded Websites. For Titan Financial, we implemented several advanced layers of protection:
- CSRF & XSS Protection: Leveraging Django’s built-in defenses to prevent cross-site request forgery and scripting attacks.
- Encrypted Lead Capture: All contact and inquiry forms utilize 256-bit encryption, ensuring that investor data is never exposed in transit.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): We built a custom administrative portal that requires 2FA for all staff, ensuring that the firm's internal data stays private.
The "London Professional" Interface
Louie Long designed a frontend that communicates authority and precision. Using a minimalist, high-impact aesthetic, the new site reflects Titan's position as a leader in the City. We focused on technical SEO from the start, ensuring that the site’s architecture was perfectly readable by Google’s crawlers, allowing Titan to climb the rankings for localized search terms across Shoreditch, Westminster, and the City.
The Results: Performance That Inspires Confidence
The launch of the new platform transformed Titan Financial’s digital reputation:
- Load Time: Reduced from 4.2 seconds to 0.7 seconds.
- Investor Inquiries: A 45% increase in lead generation within the first 60 days, attributed to the faster, more professional user experience.
- Security Audit: The platform passed an external third-party security audit with zero vulnerabilities found.
- Green Core Web Vitals: The site now sits in the top 1% of the financial sector for performance, accessibility, and SEO metrics.
Why "Custom" is the Only Choice for Financial Services
In an era where cyber threats are evolving daily, relying on a generic web builder is a risk London firms can no longer afford. A custom Django build from Custom Coded Websites provides the peace of mind that comes with knowing your site is an unshakeable fortress, not a fragile template.
When you work with us, you work directly with the developers. No juniors, no outsourcing—just high-grade engineering designed to help your business win in the world’s most competitive markets.