The Client:
Superior Systems are building servicesspecialists located in Ballarat. They provide design, construction, and projectmanagement for critical infrastructure facilities, primarily working with majortelecommunication clients and data centre companies. Their offering spans datacentre installation or expansion, fire protection, HVAC systems, electricalupgrades, and energy audits.
Their Challenges:
- The business needed to alignwith the Essential Eight, a multi-level cyber security framework developed bythe Australian Signals Directorate, to keep working with their client.
- Security gaps, resulting fromtheir existing IT provider’s reactive approach.
- A lack of IT strategy andguidance to support goals.
Our Solution:
- Alignment with the EssentialEight up to Maturity Level 3, ensuring Superior Systems could meet theirclient’s contract requirements.
- Ongoing support to maintaincompliance and manage the business’ IT and cyber security.
- A proactive approach, ITstrategy, and monthly meetings to ensure projects stay on track.
The Journey to Essential EightCompliance
When Superior Systems needed to align withthe Essential Eight framework to keep their multinational telco client, their cybersecurity journey was brought to a standstill before it even started. Theproblem? Their existing IT provider couldn’t support the process, implement themitigation strategies that would safeguard the business against cyber attacks,and bring their security posture up to standard.
From here, the only solution was to searchfor a new Managed Services Provider (MSP). While they wanted to stick with aBallarat MSP who understood local business context, they weren’t confidentthere was a company with the right capabilities close by, and shifted theirfocus to Melbourne. It wasn’t until they’d received a few proposals that theyfound Lateral Plains, who ticked all the right boxes for being Ballarat-based,credible, and able to deliver the Essential Eight implementation process.
Superior Systems had already gone through anEssential Eight audit with their telco client, which identified security gapsin their existing system. These gaps were the result of working with an ITprovider that was reactive, rather than proactive, in their cyber securityapproach. They gave this report to Lateral Plains, who progressively workedthrough the requirements to align the business to Essential Eight MaturityLevel 3, before providing ongoing support.
This managed support has been essential tomaintain the business’ security posture and compliance – which is a processrather than a one-off achievement. Marcus Walsh, Superior Systems’ ContractsManager reflects, “Essential Eight isn’t set and forget, you don’t build itand walk away. It’s an ongoing review and you’re always improving. LateralPlains have the capability to help with that rather than going here’s a box ofEssential Eight tools, we’ve implemented them, see you later. It’s not likethat at all.”
Alongside allowing Superior Systems to keeptheir client, the Essential Eight journey has provided confidence theirsecurity is under control and a competitive advantage. With Lateral Plains ontheir side, they have another set of eyes on their systems, and the right tools(including a 24x7 Security Operations Centre) to monitor for threats, reviewalerts, and decide when action needs to be taken. Marcus says, “If I knewabout the Essential Eight framework earlier, I’d have implemented it sooner ratherthan being forced to do it from a customer point of view. It makes us moresecure which helps our business, and helps with potentially obtaining newcustomers. We also get peace of mind knowing we’ve got someone like LateralPlains looking at our systems all the time, so if something does go wrong,they’re there to help straight away. They’d know there’s an issue before we do.”
A Proactive Approach and a TruePartnership
Today, Superior Systems have been workingwith Lateral Plains since 2023/2024. During this time, the MSP’s commitment to building a genuine relationship andmaking a real difference through technology has ensured the positives keepstacking up. Reflecting on how this experience has stood out from other ITproviders, Marcus comments, “The biggest difference we’ve found is LateralPlains gets to know your business and acts as a proactive partner, as opposedto a lot of other companies that are only directed by the customer. Thesecompanies don’t look at the big picture and say you’re doing x, y, and z, buthave you thought about doing this which will help you long term. Lateral Plainsgoes to that next level to assist in the operations and the security of yourbusiness. They don’t force everything onto you at once either, they do it as astaged process, so we can do it at our own speed. They’re very flexible intheir approach.” The MSP has even grown their offerings based on SuperiorSystems’ IT requirements, ensuring they could provide a complete service.
A big part of building this trustedpartnership has been monthly reviews, which keep IT initiatives on track,support transparency, and ensure the MSP can stay up to date with the business’goals and priorities. This approach has been a major benefit for SuperiorSystems, and key to the great service Lateral Plains provides. Marcus says, “Wehave an ongoing list of goals we want to achieve, and we get together andreview that monthly so we’re always moving forward and improving. I find itextremely beneficial rather than letting an ICT partner go for it and notknowing what’s happening in the background, and not having the confidencethings are getting done. It’s more of a partnership than a one way businesstransaction, so I can suggest things, and they can set my mind at ease whenthings pop up. For example, they provide training to our staff on cybersecurity threats and phishing, so our staff know what to look out for. Thismeans I don’t need to provide that separately in a personal developmentprogram. Things like that are really beneficial.”
A Supportive, Friendly Team
Another massive win for Superior Systemshas been gaining a friendly, approachable IT partner. Marcus reflects, “Ifthere’s any issues or I’m unsure of who to talk to, Luke (Lateral Plains’ CEO)will always pick up the phone and act as an extra layer to make sure the rightperson gets the message. That’s another advantage – Lateral Plains aren’t ahuge business, so they’re approachable and contactable when I really need them.Luke makes himself very available, and you can have a relationship with thewhole team rather than just whoever picks up the phone.”
Since working with Lateral Plains, SuperiorSystems has been able to count on a dependable, friendly, and capable MSP whotruly cares about the business’ long-term success and cyber security posture.This includes a commitment to forward thinking with IT strategy and a proactiveapproach, so the team can spend more time on business direction and day-to-dayoperations. When asked if he’d recommend Lateral Plains, Marcus says “Withouta doubt.”