{"id":66622,"date":"2023-04-28T16:12:29","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T08:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/version-2.com\/?p=66622"},"modified":"2024-09-13T16:31:20","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T08:31:20","slug":"why-security-mindset-for-small-medium-companies-is-critical-to-business-success-talk-with-cutec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/version-2.com\/en\/2023\/04\/why-security-mindset-for-small-medium-companies-is-critical-to-business-success-talk-with-cutec\/","title":{"rendered":"Why security mindset for small-medium companies is critical to business success: talk with Cutec"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A discussion with Mark Rowland, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Cutec, about how they solved client problems using NordLayer and what to expect for next cybersecurity’s major challenges and possibilities.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Cutec<\/a> is a Managed Service Provider (MSP) and IT support company from England. Operating in the industry for 25 years, a 20-employee expert team supports a range of small and medium clients across the UK. Whether an organization has a staff of just a few or hundreds of people, Cutec’s role is to consult companies with technical focus and accuracy to fill in the vacancy of an internal IT person for the client.<\/p>\n\n

\n\n\n\nThe consultancy firm fills in the IT management and knowledge gap, which is a recurring issue for many businesses, especially smaller organizations Cutec gets to consult. However, conversing with different clients revealed another concern \u2014 there\u2019s no cybersecurity mindset. <\/picture>Mark Rowland<\/strong>, a Co-founder and Managing Director at Cutec, shares his insight on how crucial security awareness is for business continuity.\u00a0<\/picture>\n\n<\/div>\n

Business case: decentralizing single-site infrastructure<\/h2>\n

The client has been with Cutec for about 6 years \u2014 during this time, the company of 30 people expanded to an almost 300-employee organization. And as this financial services provider grew into a country-wide company, it started facing security challenges.<\/p>\n\n

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\u201cAs for a managed IT service provider, it is important to be there for your client when they need you. It\u2019s our responsibility to support branches dotted around different parts of the UK \u2014 online presence becomes a necessity over physical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\nClick to tweet<\/span><\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n

Being contained in one place and managing 20 people is relatively easy. However, the client business model involved advisors spread all over the country. Combine it with rapid growth during a short time and data sensitivity due to the nature of financial services \u2014 the need to protect databases, CRM, and phone systems was critical.<\/p>\n

The foundational elements for security were there: the client had two-factor authentication, password management, and fixed IP in place. It\u2019s secure enough for 20 people sitting in one office, but not if numbers jump to hundred users in dozen cities \u2014 circumstances urged for an extra layer of security.<\/p>\n

An increasing number of VPN connections to internal applications started causing connectivity issues and quickly bogged the network. This was the turning point for Cutec to find a better solution for a VPN route that would ensure security.<\/p>\n\n

Close-up on the solution<\/h2>\n

One of the available options for the client was to get much more powerful broadband for the HQ office, install hardware firewalls, and achieve the wanted level of security for an outrageous expense bill.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the solution would bind everything to one location. From a disaster management perspective, it\u2019s not sustainable for business continuity \u2014 if the power is cut off, the internet goes down, and all employees get disconnected despite their location.<\/p>\n

The alternative was getting a NordLayer subscription. Although it meant paying per user license, it offered what the company needed \u2014 a fixed IP address that provided much-needed flexibility and stability.<\/p>\n

Choosing NordLayer allowed upgrading and downgrading the number of member accounts as the staff comes and leaves and, most importantly, eliminating the dependence on the HQ office \u2014 if the power got cut off, server design allowed carry-on working.<\/p>\n

Sorting out the inconvenience of in-house security<\/p>\n\n

\n\n\n\nDeployment and maintenance of the on-premise solution meant a lot of man-hours. It included a remote connection to a client’s PC and setting up their VPN connection.\u00a0<\/picture>\n\n<\/div>\n

NordLayer, on the other hand, provided a simple solution. The MSP had to connect to the Partner Portal and add the user, so they could complete the setup themselves \u2014 click the welcome link to install the VPN.<\/p>\n\n

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\u201cThe solution setup was fantastic as we looked at a massive project and a big headache. Rolling out NordLayer VPN connection to 300 people was achieved in four days. And out of 300 members, we had only five people calling for help, but that’s because they were cautious, not because they didn’t know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\nClick to tweet<\/span><\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n

It\u2019s worth mentioning that the client has no one in-house with the knowledge and expertise on cybersecurity. In this case, Cutec is an advisor and a guide for organizations\u2019 cybersecurity strategy, closely collaborating with a single point of contact on-premise, the Technology Director, to help steer the business away from cyber threats.<\/p>\n\n

Expert insights: take on SMBs security<\/h2>\n

The client scope Cutec works with is usually small-medium sized businesses without internally dedicated IT staff. Better to say SMBs have little understanding of cybersecurity. There\u2019s a persistent tendency for a slow but inevitable change in the business mindset:<\/p>\n\n