NewPoint Business Group Enhances Security and Efficiency with WatchGuard
Challenge
NewPoint Business Group, a technology solutions provider based in Rocklin, CA, has always prioritized having top notch security for its technology stack. According to Noah Kreider, founder of NewPoint Business Group, “My philosophy has always been to get best-in-class products for the different layers of my security stack. I would never arbitrarily use multiple products from the same vendor just to make life easier for me and my staff.” Each year, the company conducts a comprehensive review of its stack to ensure optimal performance. During the most recent review, a significant challenge became apparent – an overwhelming number of alerts from multiple products, making it difficult to manage them efficiently. This issue prompted the company to reevaluate its security stack to find a more effective solution.
Solution
In its search for a new cybersecurity vendor, NewPoint Business Group focused on key criteria to ensure the best fit for its needs. “From individual products, we looked for best-of-breed with the vendor having a very good technical reputation,” stated Krider. Additionally, seamless integration with ConnectWise was a critical requirement, along with a preference for centralized management capabilities.
After a thorough evaluation, WatchGuard emerged as the top choice. “The firewalls and the EPDR met the key criteria. The monthly model flexibility through Pax8 was key, along with the ability to be able to purchase a hardware firewall in a subscription model!” explained Krider.
The decision to choose WatchGuard was driven by its strong industry reputation and the benefits of its centralized management capabilities. “The overall reputation of the company was the initial draw for me. Once I tested the products, the value of the central management and the plug-in to ConnectWise made the decision for me,” Krider noted.
The implementation process was smooth, with employees quickly adapting to the new security solutions. “Overall, getting up and running with the products went well. There were a couple times I needed support and was easily able to get it,” he said.
NewPoint Business Group initially implemented WatchGuard firewalls and later expanded its portfolio to include access points and Endpoint Detection and Response. “We started with firewalls and then added APs and EPDR. MFA is coming soon, and we’re very interested in Advanced EPDR and ThreatSync,” Krider shared. The company continues to explore additional WatchGuard solutions to enhance its security posture further.
Results
WatchGuard’s solutions have effectively addressed NewPoint Business Group’s primary challenge – managing an overwhelming number of alerts. “There are multiple ways the WatchGuard products have helped alleviate our major pain point, and provided us with additional benefits that were not expected! The efficacy of both the Firebox firewalls and the Endpoint Detection and Response products has been tremendous as individual products doing their respective jobs,” Krider emphasized.
Beyond individual product effectiveness, the WatchGuard Cloud Management Console has significantly improved operational efficiency. “Although I had never prioritized using common vendor products just for central management, their console has made our lives much better. We can now prioritize and pinpoint alerts like we never could have done previously. And their plug-in to ConnectWise was the icing on the cake!”
WatchGuard has not only streamlined security management but also simplified overall security operations. “WatchGuard has helped us make good security easy!” Krider concluded.
Through its partnership with WatchGuard, NewPoint Business Group has successfully enhanced its cybersecurity posture, improving both efficiency and security outcomes.