With resourceful cybercriminals who regularly pick a fight, you will want strong allies in your corner.
With web-based services that handle sensitive customer data, IT security has been the first priority from day one in FDVhuset's history. The customers' data and FDVhuset's systems are protected by several systems, organized via several of the country's leading suppliers.
Until now, the responsibility for following up routines and systems has been in FDVhuset's own staff, but in step with the company's growth, a partnership agreement has now been entered into with the company VIKT (Vesterålen IKT AS).
- In a larger company, an IT department would probably have been established, but for a company in our situation, it is more natural to enter into a partnership such as the one we now have with VIKT. They will take care of the entirety of our security system, and will in practice function almost as a department within our company. They will be the safe player we can develop solutions with and develop further together with as a company, says general manager of FDVhuset, Eirik Johanssen.
Priority number one
- You simply upgraded your night's sleep?
- I would say that it was really good already, Johanssen laughs.
- But data security is the most important thing for a company like ours, so to know that all data contained in our systems is secure, and that our systems are up and running at all times - that means everything. You hear stories about both public and private actors experiencing intrusion attempts, with grave consequences. Therefore, it is good to know that you have the latest of the latest, and work with the best of the best. Then you sleep well at night, says Johanssen.
In growth
Located in Melbu, just a 40-minute drive from FDVhuset's head office in Sortland, VIKT can safely be considered a local partner. It is emphasized as an extra quality, both by FDVhuset's side, and by the two founders of Vikt AS, Roar Holten Steffensen and Raymond Løveng.
The two have a long career from IT operations at Aker/Norway Seafoods and Helse Nord, respectively. VIKT has been in operation since 2008 with deliveries and consulting services in both software and hardware.
The staff currently has seven employees, with an ongoing process to increase by two new ones within a short time.
Build as it should be
Data security has always been one of the company's special fields, and after they became the Norwegian representative for the security platform Cynet earlier this year, they focus even more on this part of the business.
The platform excites both themselves and more and more customers.
- Cynet has a disruptive approach to security work. It is a system that in its simplicity raises questions about why the others are so large and complicated. Cynet is built from the ground up, with all
mechanisms in one single platform. While a number of other systems have often been built up through acquisitions of others, and additions along the way that make the systems consist of several subsystems, says Roar Holten Steffensen.
On guard
Cynet contains elements of artificial intelligence, and is set up to detect unusual activity from any of the devices being monitored.
- So if someone who works at the switchboard suddenly starts to run advanced scripts into the system, an alarm will be set off that we must investigate further, and take action if necessary.
Advisor and sparring partner
They experience a large demand for better IT security.
- There is a huge increase in the cyber security threats. The pressure is so intense that if you want to be safe, you have to make the best moves and choose the best products. It requires a great understanding of the field, says Steffensen and Løveng.
They work in an industry for cyber security that is estimated at as much as six trillion dollars worldwide, where it is easy to get lost.
– - Companies that do not have their own IT departments need someone on their side of the table to take the discussions. It can be to third-party suppliers who want to sell solutions or other conditions where it is useful to have IT people inside to look at it, the two say.
- And with experience and knowledge from IT solutions in general, and the security aspect in particular, we can be a good match up against the business side for our customers. We advise our customers, so that their path choice in the short and long term is the best possible. IT and data are important tools for most people, which means that good sparring partners to see the big picture make sense.
Flexible
Cynet's business model fits all businesses regardless of size.
- The subscription is based on the number of endpoints, such as computers, servers and more. The size of the subscription thus grows with the use, without any other costs, say Steffensen and Løveng, who are of course ready to present the solution to new interested customers.
- The customers of FDVhuset can also raise their security. Our platform will fit in very well with them. Cynet has very few limitations, and we adapt it to the individual customer.