Case Study
Breaking Down Security Barriers to Close Million-Dollar Deals
THE CHALLENGE
THE Solution
The Result
• SOC 2 Type II certification
• GDPR alignment ahead of enforcement date
• EU-US Privacy Shield certification
“The auditor had been doing this for more than 20 years and said he had never seen someone so well prepared.
What normally takes three days, Essendis got through in one day — the fastest audit and approval the bank had ever done.”
— Georgia Ouren, VP of Customer Success, AgilityHealth®
After struggling through security audits and reviews, Dave Paul and Georgia Ouren of AgilityHealth® were burnt out, frustrated and overwhelmed. The breaking point came when AgilityHealth®, an enterprise business agility enablement platform, had its first million-dollar deal with one of the biggest financial institutions in the world on the line — they knew they needed help.
“This was a make or break deal,” said Dave, solutions architect at AgilityHealth®. “We needed someone who understood what was being asked of us and who could advise and consult so we could be compliant,” added Georgia, vice president of customer success.
That’s when AgilityHealth® turned to the cybersecurity experts at Essendis.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING SECURITY AUDIT EXPERTS
When trying to sell to enterprise prospects , such as financial institutions or healthcare providers, a security review is a critical part of the sales cycle. Being able to complete security questionnaires and in-person audits in a timely manner, while demonstrating operational and security program maturity, can be the difference between winning the business or not.
When looking for a security partner, AgilityHealth® wanted someone who could take the entire audit and review process off their plate and allow them to focus on other aspects of the business.
“To pass security audits, it takes more than someone who knows security well,” Dave said. “It takes someone who builds relationships and can work with prospects. It's not just about smarts, it's about personality."
And that’s exactly what the Cybersecurity Advisory team at Essendis, offered.
Former auditors themselves, the Essendis cybersecurity team brings a unique perspective to the security audit and review process. They know what questions will be asked and why, and how to work with prospects to meet requirements.
When it came time for an on-site audit with the bank considering AgilityHealth® for a million-dollar deal, Essendis was ready.
"The auditor had been doing this for more than 20 years and said he had never seen someone so well prepared," Georgia said. "What normally takes three days, Essendis got through in one day — the fastest audit and approval the bank had ever done.” The client signed a three-year contract up-front.
“To pass security audits, it takes more than someone who knows security well; it takes someone who builds relationships and can work with prospects. It's not just about smarts, it's about personality."
— Dave Paul, Solutions Architect at AgilityHealth®
