building a home, you lay the electrical wiring before installing and painting the drywall. Going in reverse order is illogical and would create unnecessary complications. Similarly, when growing your business, you want to have processes in place that prevent extra work and mitigate risk, especially when it comes to IT.
With a blueprint it’s much clearer what you need to do first. As your business grows, you need a plan that lays out the foundations of your growth and addresses new requirements, risks, challenges and opportunities. Without network security and IT built-in, your growth fizzles out like a dust devil.
I offer up two client cases as examples. Each illustrates the challenges and opportunities they faced with growth and underscores why using the 3 pillars of security early in their plans was key to their success.
Improved Security Empowered a Defense Contractor to Seek Bigger Contracts
We started working with a defense contractor in 2014, ensuring the company was compliant with the government’s rigorous data security requirements. As a direct result of our work together, the company had the confidence to bid on and win big contracts that were once out of their league, fueling their growth. In the past year, the contractor has grown from 35 to 50 employees, is opening a second location and further growth is projected.
Failure to meet ever-evolving regulatory requirements would quickly result in a suspension of their Authorization to Operate (ATO), which means forfeiting their existing contracts and exclusion from bidding on future ones.
To ensure the contractor maintains compliance, we:
- Conducted a point-by-point evaluation of the government’s data security requirements
- Met with our client to explain the implications, costs and risks
- Developed appropriate solutions while our client remained focused on fulfilling the contract and growing the organization
Our strategic role as their managed security provider has empowered the company to bid on ambitious contracts without worrying about how they will scale up their IT and network security.
Doubling in Size Increased this Insurance Company’s Exposure Risk
Since 2006 we have supported the continual growth of a home insurer. In 2016 they reached a milestone of 50 employees, and since then they have doubled in size.
Due to the rapid growth, they quickly realized their success required them to re-evaluate their network security and they worked with VersaTrust to do it. Specific concerns included:
- Greater exposure to cyberattacks as a result of increased size and visibility
- More scrutiny from the Texas Department of Insurance, provoked by their larger portfolio
- IT disruption posing increased threats to their brand and reputation
Likewise, as they surveyed the regulatory landscape, they recognized that government guidelines would evolve into compliance requirements over the next 24 months.
We recommended managed security services. This helped them quickly double down on their risks with the confidence that, not only did they have tighter security, but they had access to ongoing strategic advice based entirely on our objective evaluation of their costs, risks and benefits. That’s why, when we determined that the on-premises location of their servers was their highest risk factor, the conversation was immediately a trust-based discussion about budgeting, timelines and logistics to move them to a more secure solution.
An Easy Way to Include Security in Your Growth? An Assessment
Remember, it’s ideal to wire a home before you install the drywall. Your home needs electricity, and if it doesn’t have wiring, the sooner you address it, the better. The same goes with whatever network security needs you have for your growth. Sooner is better than later; later is better than never.
Understanding how your network security and IT can impact your company’s growth starts with a comprehensive assessment from a trusted IT partner – one who brings knowledge of the advantages you can gain through IT security and how to leverage those as part of your growth strategy.
VersaTrust has the expertise of an on-staff Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and the depth and experience to identify your vulnerabilities and devise cost-effective solutions to secure your company’s future and growth.
How is your IT security going to foster or hinder your growth? Find out with an assessment from the experts. Contact us at (817) 595-0111 or online today to get started on your security assessment.
