If you’re a Managed Service Provider (MSP), you know that managing your clients’ cybersecurity goes far beyond setting up firewalls and antivirus software. One of the biggest vulnerabilities in any organization is human error—employees unknowingly clicking on phishing emails, falling for scams, or mismanaging sensitive data. The challenge? Educating users on cybersecurity without spending endless hours on admin tasks or customizing training for each client.
Sound familiar? You're not alone.
In this post, we'll dive into how Ascend Business Technology, a growing MSP based in Australia, used usecure to streamline and automate human risk management (HRM) across their client base. This case study serves as a perfect example of how MSPs can leverage automation to tackle human risk efficiently, all while maintaining scalability and delivering value to clients.
MSPs Face Unique Challenges in Managing Human Risk
Managing security awareness for clients can often feel like a never-ending uphill battle. As an MSP, you’re probably juggling multiple clients, each with unique needs. The more clients you take on, the more administrative work piles up—manual setup for security awareness programs, handling phishing simulations, and endless reporting.
You want to grow your business, but as you scale, so does the time spent managing these critical yet time-consuming tasks. Here’s where the real challenge lies: How do you effectively manage human risk for multiple clients without drowning in admin work?
Ascend Business Technology, like many MSPs, was grappling with this exact issue.
The Turning Point for Ascend Business Technology
Ascend, an MSP offering IT consulting, cloud services, was on a mission to “do the right thing” by providing best-in-class solutions to its clients. However, as Ascend's client base grew, so did the risks associated with human error in cybersecurity.
Jason Roper, the founder of Ascend, knew that even well-configured IT systems could fall victim to something as simple as one phishing email. His priority was clear: protect his clients from these risks while maintaining efficiency within his small team.
But Ascend faced a familiar MSP pain point: the more clients they onboarded, the more laborious it became to manage their security awareness programs manually.
90% of MSPs view automation as a crucial technology, according to Kaseya's 2023 MSP Benchmark Report, citing its ability to improve efficiency, enable them to take on more clients, and increase revenue.
Jason needed a solution that would not only scale across hundreds of end users but also minimize the administrative burden on his team. Enter usecure.
How usecure Simplified Human Risk Management for Ascend
What attracted Jason to usecure was its automation—a true game-changer for MSPs. With usecure’s AutoEnrol and AutoPhish features, Ascend was able to completely automate the security awareness training and phishing simulations for its clients.
Let’s break down how usecure helped Ascend overcome their challenges:
- Automated Enrolment and Training (uLearn): Ascend was able to automatically enroll new users into the usecure platform and immediately kick off monthly security awareness training sessions. No manual input. No time wasted. Users received short, engaging video courses covering the essential security topics.
- Automated Phishing Simulations (uPhish): Ascend activated AutoPhish, allowing the platform to send randomized phishing emails based on real-life scams to end users. This meant their clients’ teams were consistently exposed to practical, real-world phishing simulations without any extra effort from Ascend’s side.
- Customizable Reports (Report Hub): usecure's Report Hub automatically generated and sent custom reports to both Ascend and their clients, detailing how each user was performing on phishing tests and security training. Clients were able to see progress and address any weak points, while Ascend remained hands-off but informed.
- Seamless Integration: With Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace integration, Ascend could sync clients’ user directories directly into usecure, making onboarding new clients and users a breeze.
The Results: usecure Effortlessly Scales HRM Over Hundreds of End Users
For Ascend, the results spoke for themselves. By leveraging our intelligent automation, Ascend was able to train hundreds of end users with minimal admin work. Here are the key benefits they experienced:
-
Minimal Setup, Maximum Impact: our solutions drastically reduced the time Ascend needed to spend managing client security training programs. Once AutoEnrol and AutoPhish were configured, the system essentially ran itself.
-
Increased User Engagement: The short, monthly training sessions combined with phishing simulations helped boost engagement among users, leading to a higher level of security awareness across their clients.
-
Scalability without Admin Overhead: As Ascend onboarded more clients, the platform's flexibility allowed them to scale their human risk management programs without needing to hire additional staff or increase their workload.
-
Cost Efficiency: With flexible monthly billing, Ascend only paid for active users, ensuring they weren't overspending on unused seats. This was crucial for maintaining profitability as they scaled.
What Can Other MSPs Learn from Ascend’s Experience?
Ascend’s success shows that MSPs don’t have to compromise between efficiency and effective security training. With the right tools in place, you can scale your human risk management solutions without increasing your administrative burden.
If you’re an MSP facing similar challenges—whether it’s managing a growing client base or struggling with manual security training—here are a few takeaways:
-
Automate where you can: Automation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. Our tools and solutions allow you to automate tedious but essential tasks like user enrolment and phishing simulations, saving time and reducing errors.
-
Focus on scalability: Look for platforms that grow with your business, such our platform's ability to seamlessly integrate with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. This ensures that as your client base expands, your workload doesn’t.
-
Provide value through reporting: Your clients want to see results. Custom reports not only keep them informed but also demonstrate the effectiveness of your services. It’s an easy way to provide transparency and build trust.
-
Test the platform for free: Before committing, test out the platform using a Not-for-Resale (NFR) license. This allows you to experience how automation and other features work firsthand within your own MSP environment.
Ready to Automate Your Human Risk Management?
Ascend’s journey with usecure is a clear example of how MSPs can effectively tackle human risk with the right platform. With automation, scalability, and user engagement at the forefront, usecure provides a comprehensive solution to help you protect your clients while growing your business without sacrificing time or resources.
If you’re looking for a way to simplify your human risk management processes, consider giving usecure a try. You can grab a free NFR license to see how it can fit into your MSP model.
Read the full case study here.
