This case study explores the cybersecurity challenges faced by 1-Fix, a leading IT services provider in Reading and Wokingham, and how adopting Heimdal's Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) service transformed their operations. Not traditionally focused on cybersecurity, 1-Fix found its clients increasingly vulnerable to persistent threats and overnight attacks. By integrating Heimdal's solution into their service stack, they significantly reduced their operational burdens and enhanced their clients' security posture.
Cybersecurity challenges
1-Fix’s primary cybersecurity challenge was handling sophisticated, persistent threats that often went undetected for long periods, especially out of business hours. Without a dedicated cybersecurity team, they struggled to investigate and mitigate incidents effectively. Often, these attacks were discovered after significant damage had already occurred, requiring extensive time and resources to understand the breach and implement corrective measures.
Another significant issue was the time-consuming and fragmented nature of managing multiple security tools. 1-Fix initially used a variety of disparate solutions to cover their security needs, which not only complicated management but also delayed response times to potential threats.
Transition to Heimdal
The company's shift to Heimdal began with the adoption of Heimdal's third-party patching and DNS filtering tools. As Heimdal expanded its offerings to include MXDR services, 1-Fix evaluated and eventually integrated these solutions into their operations.
One of the most significant benefits of this transition was the consolidation of various security functions into a single platform. This centralisation streamlined operations, reducing the need to log into multiple systems and allowing the company to rely on Heimdal’s security team for continuous monitoring and incident response.
The impact
The decision to roll out Heimdal's MXDR service to all clients resulted in a substantial reduction in 1-Fix’s operational workload. Prior to Heimdal, managing security alerts and responding to incidents were manual, labour-intensive processes that drained resources and left room for errors. By outsourcing these functions to Heimdal, the company significantly decreased the time spent on routine security tasks, enabling their team to focus on other critical areas of IT support.
The Heimdal team also provided critical support during a significant security incident where a persistent threat actor was detected within a client's network. The Heimdal solution identified the suspicious activity and provided detailed logs and a remediation report, which were instrumental in communicating the issue to the client and executing a network rebuild. This incident highlighted the value of having expert oversight and a robust incident response plan, which Heimdal's services delivered.
Transforming breach and incident response
Before adopting Heimdal, breach and incident response was a highly manual process that required the entire team’s involvement, often leading to resource strain and delayed resolutions. The lack of specialised cybersecurity expertise meant that every incident was a challenge, requiring external help and extensive internal effort.
With Heimdal, 1-Fix could rely on its security team to provide the expertise and rapid response needed to handle incidents effectively. This change not only improved response times but also provided peace of mind, knowing that their clients' networks were being monitored around the clock.
Assurance and confidence
“Implementing Heimdal's managed service has brought a new level of confidence to both the company and our clients. I sleep sounder at night, knowing that Heimdal's security team proactively monitors and manages persistent threats and overnight attacks. This proactive approach has drastically reduced the frequency and impact of security incidents.” Craig Atkins, Managing Director, 1-Fix Limited
Conclusion
By partnering with Heimdal, 1-Fix transformed its approach to cybersecurity, shifting from a reactive, resource-intensive model to a proactive, managed service model. The consolidation of security tools, combined with expert oversight from Heimdal’s security team, not only improved operational efficiency but also significantly enhanced the security of their clients.
