The Partnership Selection Challenge
We evaluated multiple vendors against a structured matrix. Every candidate was scored on what matters to our SME clients: technical depth, MSP-friendly commercials, Microsoft 365 integration, and pricing that works for businesses with 50 to 500 employees.
We didn’t rely on data sheets. We engaged directly with each vendor, asked tough questions about weak spots, and challenged their marketing promises against what they actually deliver in practice. The benchmark remained constant: will this help us provide enterprise-grade protection to SMEs without the enterprise-grade overheads?
Huntress stood out for a straightforward reason. They’ve built their entire model around the 99% of businesses that don’t have enterprise resources. Their focus targets actionable protection rather than just alerts, giving clients value without requiring an internal security operations centre.
The Commercial Model That Changes Everything
Traditional vendors push MSPs into per-client minimums or fixed bundles. Huntress offers pooled licensing. We’re one client to them. Our SME clients sit underneath our partnership umbrella.
More importantly, they provided not-for-resale licenses so we could deploy everything internally first. We tested the platforms, learned the workflows, experienced the realities of implementation. Then we rolled it out to clients with confidence built on hands-on experience, not brochure promises.
This matters because we can now speak from experience rather than theory when consulting with clients about their security requirements.
Technical Validation: Zero Issues Found
When we connected our Office 365 tenant to Huntress ITDR, the comprehensive scan revealed zero security issues. The platform analysed sign-in logs, checked for malicious mailbox rules, reviewed application permissions across over 800 registered apps, and validated our security configurations.
Zero issues. Not because we got lucky, but because we’ve maintained security best practices across our environment for years. The third-party validation confirmed we’re doing our job correctly.
The integration itself took minutes. A global admin authorisation created an enterprise application within our Entra ID tenant, and automated scanning began immediately. For clients, this means extremely easy deployment with immediate security visibility.
Compliance and Market Context
For UK SMEs, GDPR compliance remains front and centre. Policy management and audit trails must be rigorous. Usecure’s policy management capabilities combined with Huntress’s security information and event management provide the audit data required for regulatory compliance whilst enhancing overall security posture.
The Human Firewall Integration
The strategic vision behind combining Huntress and Usecure creates what we call the Human Firewall: layering people and technology into comprehensive protection.
Huntress monitors for threats continuously whilst Usecure reduces human error through training, phishing simulations, and policy management. The policy management piece proves essential for regulatory compliance, keeping company policies current, accessible, and auditable.
Together they close the loop. Technology flags issues, training fixes behaviours, and policy management ensures governance. No single vendor provides all three sides of this solution triangle.
The feedback loop between human behaviour and system monitoring creates effectiveness that standalone solutions can’t match. When Huntress spots patterns like repeated credential misuse, we tailor Usecure’s training to address specific vulnerabilities. If someone fails a phishing test, the system automatically points them to targeted training addressing that particular weakness.
Follow-the-Sun SOC Coverage
One capability we didn’t have before: 24/7 security analyst coverage across global time zones. Huntress’s Follow-the-Sun SOC means when incidents require attention, analysts around the world can investigate and respond immediately. We’ve configured notification settings to integrate with our Trusted Response Centre™, completing the escalation circle.
Measurable Outcomes
Huntress delivers faster incident response, containing issues before they become breaches. Usecure reduces phishing clicks and policy violations, statistically lowering incident rates. Together this translates into fewer downtime hours, avoided breach costs, and clear return on investment.
We always establish baselines before beginning security awareness training. Phishing test results before training provide measurable comparison points. Clients can see the improvements in their security posture quantified through reduced susceptibility rates.
Partnership Strategy as Service Expansion
These partnerships demonstrate a strategic approach to service development. Rather than building everything internally or committing to single-vendor limitations, we’re leveraging best-of-breed solutions through strategic partnerships.
This accelerates our service portfolio expansion whilst ensuring we deliver proven capabilities rather than experimental offerings. We’re not replacing our expertise with vendor solutions. We’re enhancing our internal capabilities through partnerships that share our SME focus.
The result: enterprise-grade security accessible to businesses that need it most, delivered by a team that understands SME realities.
