Case Study by Hugo Evans - IT Platforms and Security Manager, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Our Background
With nine offices across Australia and some 850 staff, Sparke Helmore Lawyers is a national firm servicing an enviable client base of Australian and global corporations across insurance, government, financial services, technology, mining, construction and property sectors. Over the years, we have engaged a number of organisations to assist us in the cyber security space. With a significant pipeline of work in play, we decided to streamline our service provision and consolidate providers.
The Goal
We wanted one security provider to help us with a range of projects, from regular Penetration Tests and Security Audits through to specialist Consulting Services. We also wanted to be able to pick up the phone and call that supplier for expert advice, as the need arises.
The Selection
We went through an exhaustive process to find the right supplier to suit our organisation. We spoke to many potential providers, including some internationals. We found that many of the global suppliers promoted the typical managed services approach, but lacked the desire to truly understand our requirements. We were looking for a deeper level of engagement. More than just a security compliance exercise, we wanted to continually improve our security posture with expert guidance and validation. At the other end of the spectrum, most of the smaller businesses lacked the depth of knowledge we were looking for.
After a thorough assessment of The Missing Link’s capability, we reached the conclusion that the fit was right for us. The Missing Link was small enough to offer personalised service but had the depth of expertise we needed. In addition, they offered a tailored program of services along with access to experts across multiple domains.
Our Relationship
Right from the start, The Missing Link has been responsive, timely and really easy to work with. Issues are resolved quickly because we can speak directly to someone who has the appropriate expertise.
Impressively, The Missing Link goes beyond their remit. Recently, we contacted them to make an enquiry on behalf of a client who had reported a cyber incident. Within hours, assistance was rendered—it was a great result for our client, which reflected well on us and on The Missing Link.
The Missing Link has worked hard to help us understand our maturity level and get us on the path to continual improvement. Helping us validate that the controls we implement are providing value for money is central to this.
We very much value The Missing Link’s flexible approach. The security landscape is changing so quickly, we don’t know what challenges we will face tomorrow, let alone next year. As priorities shift, so do our requirements of our security provider. The Missing Link has been very adaptive to this dynamic.
