CyberDuo

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Starred Inc. We’re a wholesaler and retail brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cyber Duo?

This year, we moved our stock from an Amazon warehouse to our own warehouse. We were looking for a local warehouse to help us manage and operate our warehouse.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cyber Duo helped us install several pieces of equipment such as workstations, servers. They also provided software/hardware maintenance services too. They power pretty much everything on the tech side here, since we don’t have an in-house IT team. They come in at least once a week.

What is the team composition?

We work with 45-50 members of their team, not including warehouse staff.

How did you come to work with Cyber Duo?

Originally, we found them through a Google search. We were looking for someone local, who could visit whenever we needed them.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2019, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

While there’s no specific KPI to track their performance, everything works and we don’t have any IT or security issues.

How did Cyber Duo perform from a project management standpoint?       

We have a business manager that’s honest and does a pretty good job of overseeing communication and understanding what we need. From that perspective, they’re doing a great job.

What did you find most impressive about them?

For most companies, if you need something urgent it takes a couple of days. Cyber Duo is always available, which is pretty nice.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m not sure since I’m not technically inclined.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to do your research, compare your options, and their price points.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a property management business dealing with commercial property. I'm the office manager. Our requirements are unusual and vast because of the significant amount of data our owner houses from previous business ventures. We have many files and storage requirements.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cyber Duo?

We needed a partner to help us manage our data and files securely.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We didn’t have much in place initially. Our team was living in the Stone Age, and we didn’t even know it. They took the time to explain the intricacies of managing data, disaster recovery, and cloud storage. Most of the staff didn’t have a solid understanding of those topics or how they could benefit us. Then, their team led a migration to Outlook, which was a huge project that required the transfer of several gigabytes of information. 

Now, instead of a small, in-house storage system, we have cloud storage and disaster recovery. One time, my computer crashed, and they were able to restore it. Typically, that wouldn’t have been the case. I don’t need to worry about my data getting lost, losing a file, or getting shut out of my email anymore.

At this point, we call upon them for monthly support. They do 24/7 monitoring and contact me if they notice anything that seems out of place. We haven’t heard of anything in a while because of the new security features they implemented. They act as a watchdog for us.

What is the team composition?

We collaborated with three of their team members.

How did you come to work with Cyber Duo?

We started out working with a company that we weren’t crazy about. They didn’t seem to understand our needs. I decided to look around and discovered Cyber Duo in that process. Even though the scope of their proposal didn’t originally include everything we were looking for, they evolved it around us. Their team conformed to what we wanted and opened our eyes to things we didn’t know about. We aren’t computer or cloud storage experts, so they were able to teach us about those things.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, we spent about $5,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around 2015 and still have a monthly retainer with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

It means a lot to our team to not have to worry about our data and files. They’ve delivered solutions that we didn’t think we needed, which have later had a huge impact on our business. They do a great job and are always there for us for anything we may need. For instance, they were willing and able to transfer 20 gigabytes of old emails when my boss left his other company. It was a huge task, but now we have it in case we need that information.   

How did Cyber Duo perform from a project management standpoint?

With them, large projects were completely painless. They were always available, even giving us their personal cell phone numbers in case of an emergency. It felt like we were working with friends because they offered help no matter what we needed. We knew we weren’t going to be left in the dust because we had a problem on a weekend or after usual business hours. They were always on call, even in the middle of the night

They’re good about giving us updates, so we know where we stand with projects. Communication is key, but the cost is also a huge factor. They make sure to provide the cost of a project upfront, which helps me because I don’t like surprises.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their reliability and availability really stick out. Normally, we can’t ask partners for help after-hours, which is challenging because we don’t operate like a typical business. Their team doesn’t either, so they’re always available to help us. That’s very much appreciated. They offer my boss iPhone support, which falls outside of their scope of work. They do anything they can to help him, which he appreciates.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that comes to mind. I just wish I found them sooner.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them a chance. Challenge them, and you’ll know right away whether they’re a good fit for you or not. They really know their stuff.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a home health agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cyber Duo?

The challenge was twofold. One: Being a healthcare organization, we needed support with our compliance from a regulatory perspective. Two: We needed to put appropriate systems in place that would allow us to operate efficiently.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cyber Duo manages our security and daily IT operations. Their team set up our network. They have also strategized around the regulations such as what we need to get done, how to function efficiently given the regulations but also meet those guidelines.

What is the team composition?

Normally, we work with about three people. They also have a support team that’s always available.

How did you come to work with Cyber Duo?

I found Cyber Duo online. We interviewed about five different IT solutions providers probably. We felt that their team was the most buttoned-up and had shown us a high level of service during the interview phase. They had experience with healthcare providers, which was important given our unique needs. Then, the last quality that stood out was their confidence. Their team seemed knowledgeable and able to help us.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent about $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2019, and our collaboration’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We don’t track metrics but milestones. We’ve been able to move our internal communications online. Before, it wasn’t happening online but was more manual. Almost the entire organization has transitioned into the system, which has been one milestone. Also, Cyber Duo has been able to make sure we pass all regulations from an IT perspective. People come in every once in a whole to check-in. Around the office, their team has made sure everyone has the tools needed to do their jobs.

How did Cyber Duo perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been good so far. Cyber Duo set up a remote server. We’ve used control messaging apps. Their team implemented a secure, which means we’re HIPPA compliant.

What did you find most impressive about them?

More than anything, they have provided a really good level of service. I’ve never had to wait for more than a couple of minutes for a reply. When we’ve given them a call, Cyber Duo will get somebody to solve the problem whether in person or over the home.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Fortunately, we haven’t had any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend Cyber Duo.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a moving service for both local and long-distance moves. We receive dozens of calls and inquiries through our website on a daily basis. We also partner with real estate agents, contractors, and lawyers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cyber Duo?

Our website went down, and when I contacted the developers about it, discovered that our website had been attacked. So, I needed someone to help me secure my site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They secured my site and installed firewalls that would protect the server and block the old target. Now that everything is running smoothly, they’re going to monitor my site moving forward. Every hour matters, and I need my site to be up and running.

What is the team composition?

At the beginning of the project, I met one person and explained what the issue was. After that, I worked with a project manager and a security engineer.

How did you come to work with Cyber Duo?

I got a referral from one of my friends who had used their services before.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $21,000, and have been quoted $1,000 per month for their ongoing monitoring service.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in May 2019 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The website runs smoothly and perfectly. I told my internal developers to perform a light hack, and they said everything is black. Now I feel safe knowing my site is secure. I’m excited to subscribe to their monitoring service.

How did Cyber Duo perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager walked us through everything step-by-step. Our workflow is very smooth, so I’m satisfied. If I have questions, their team answers the phone in a few seconds. They finished the project in less time than they told me they would, and they did it for a reasonable price.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service is stellar. If I called another company, I don’t think I’d speak directly to their team as quickly as I do now. Cyber Duo also breaks everything down so I can understand it. When I spoke to other companies about the same issues, I was confused by what they described to me. I’m not an IT person, but Cyber Duo’s team communicates well enough that I know what they’re doing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I cannot think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You will definitely be satisfied with the quality of their service.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Respondent 1: I’m the CFO of Jhaveri Corporation, we’re manufacturers and wholesalers of diamond jewelry.

Respondent 2: I’m the president of Jhaveri Corporation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cyber Duo?

Respondent 2: We have an enterprise system program and we needed to integrate it into the rest of our operation, which is where Cyber Duo came into play.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Respondent 2: For this project, Cyber Duo connected our enterprise system with the other application programs we had at the time, including one for marketing and a client facing view. They installed a VPN (Virtual Private Network) system so we could connect to our servers, even when we were on the road.

Right now, we’re switching from local based servers to cloud-based ones, so they’re doing that for us too. They also installed a VoIP system for us. Basically, they’ve been able to everything we’ve needed involving our computer system.

What is the team composition?

Respondent 2: We work with Kevin (Founder &CEO, Cyber Duo), Victor (CTO, Cyber Duo), and Vic (Security Architect, Cyber Duo).

How did you come to work with Cyber Duo?

Respondent 2: We actually began working with Kevin at a different company and continued to work with him after he started Cyber Duo.

How much have you invested with them?

Respondent 2: We’ve invested $10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Respondent 2: We began working together in 2016, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Respondent 2: We’ve been online and operational with Cyber Duo’s help, which is all that matters to us. They’re very quick to respond to any problems that we run into, such as internet or computer outages.

Respondent 1: When we’re traveling for work, I can call them even in the middle of the night and get a response. Their immediate response is what I’m most impressed by.

How did Cyber Duo perform from a project management standpoint?

Respondent 2: They’re great at coming up with new programs or suggestions to make us more effective. I value our relationship because I’m not a very tech-savvy person, and they’ve brought that to our company.

Respondent 1: With scheduling, whenever they give us a time or deadline, they’re always there. I really appreciate the advance notice they give us regularly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Respondent 2: While I can’t speak to their competition, since we haven’t shopped around a lot for providers, I can say Kevin and his team are much better at managing our needs than the previous personnel we were assigned. They’ve brought suggestions that have improved our overall efficiency.

Respondent 1: We’ve been happy and wouldn’t even consider looking elsewhere.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Respondent 2: Again, I don’t have enough technical expertise to give a valid answer. To my knowledge, no.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Respondent 2: We’ve been very happy and if anyone asked me for advice, I would recommend them because they’ve done good by us.

Respondent 1: It would be a very good decision if they chose to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the controller and part-owner of a trading company that’s been in business for 40 years. We act as brokers for garments, fabrics, and other products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cyber Duo?

Much of our business revolves around information management. We’re reliant on computers and our technology systems. For a while, we had a partner managing our IT. We outgrew them, so we were looking for someone else to step in.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

As our IT partners, they fix any arising problems, update our systems, and protect us from viruses or cyber attacks.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked directly with three of their team members. My staff in Montreal have likely engaged with an additional 1–2 people on their team. Specifically, I collaborate with Kevin (Founder & CEO, Cyber Duo) and Victor (CTO, Cyber Duo).

How did you come to work with Cyber Duo?

My business partner found them online. They had good reviews, so we decided to reach out to them for an interview. We spoke to Kevin 2–3 times before decided to proceed.

How much have you invested with them?

We pay their minimum monthly fee. Throughout our partnership so far, we’ve spent under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2019, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Everything they’ve completed has been successful and delivered quickly. They respond to us quickly, which made the transition from our other provider easy. The scope of their work is quite large, and they’ve been able to handle everything. 

How did Cyber Duo perform from a project management standpoint?

Their response time was pretty much instantaneous, and they understand everything we need to fix. They’ve also given me portal access, so I can access every computer in my company if I need to.

While I was initially worried about the transition between service providers, it was unbelievably seamless and smooth. Their services were such an improvement compared to our previous situation. There’re no issues because they’re always available when we need them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They get things done correctly with incredible efficiency. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re totally satisfied with everything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Work with them—they’re wonderful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a home and kitchen goods importer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cyber Duo?

We had email issues, viruses, and problems with accessing our data from outside the office. We only had internal servers and a slew of IT challenges, so we hired Cyber Duo to help us out.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cyber Duo is in charge of our full IT infrastructure. They take care of our emails, our work stations, as well as any issues or concerns. They’ve also helped us migrate from our servers to the cloud, so that all our international offices can access data easily versus us having to email everything out to everybody.

Furthermore, Cyber Duo conducts site surveys and has even migrated our network cabling from a T1 line to fiber lines. All work is done both onsite and off-premises. Our executors and accounting team require special hand-holding and help with discreet project work.

What is the team composition?

I’m not aware of how many members are on the team. My main point of contact is Kevin is their CEO.

How did you come to work with Cyber Duo?

They were referred to us by the people that used to handle our IT infrastructure before Cyber Duo.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2014, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Since they’ve migrated our emails to the cloud, we’ve had zero downtime. Cyber Duo also improved our overall business performance since we now don’t have to worry about any IT issues. They take care of every aspect of our IT infrastructure. We also appreciate how they make sure everything is done right from the start so that it’s less likely for problems to come up.

How did Cyber Duo perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication has been excellent. If we have any questions, we just have to call them to get help. Cyber Duo is very receptive and gets back to us in a very timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They brought us zero downtime, which is extremely important for us, as well as a sense of security. If there are any critical issues, we know that they’ll always be there to help us solve them immediately.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everyone can improve, but that’s not for me to say in Cyber Duo’s case.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should communicate properly and do a thorough analysis of what their company needs to accomplish. Once that’s defined, make sure that Cyber Duo sets everything up right from the beginning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an attorney at a firm that provides legal services for businesses, including company formation, financing, IP licensing, and M&A.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CyberDuo?

We needed help with IT support and cybersecurity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CyberDuo handles all our IT needs, including email, software maintenance, and setup. The team also manages our cybersecurity needs, such as backups, firewalls, and other security measures.

What is the team composition?

We work with about three teammates from CyberDuo.

How did you come to work with CyberDuo?

I found CyberDuo through an online search. I found Kevin to be very personable. During our introductory meeting, I felt that the services his team could provide would more than meet our needs without significant oversight. I believed the team could deliver the peace of mind I was seeking.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with CyberDuo in two years ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

CyberDuo provides speedy response times and thoughtful answers to questions about IT and security. The team's work provides me with more time to work for my clients and not worry about IT and security concerns. Everything has been addressed without issue.

How did CyberDuo perform from a project management standpoint?

CyberDuo's project management is excellent. The team delivers on time and responds well to our needs. We communicated via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

CyberDuo is friendly, responsive, and part of our team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren't any.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work as a project engineer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CyberDuo?

We hired CyberDuo for cybersecurity assistance. We were in the midst of changing up our IT department and wanted to improve our security.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected them based on reviews. Like other companies, we also chose them based on affordability.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

CyberDuo built us firewalls and encrypted our data. This took a number of months to complete since we stored a lot of documents and other data.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with three entry level IT specialists and one senior specialist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

CyberDuo for the time being made sure that no one would try to override our systems. They also scanned our IT software for any vulnerabilities and problems that might comeup in the future.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective. We were always able to reach someone.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Someone was always to get back to us, whether it be to answer a question or give us advice within an hour.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Some sort of discount. We had to pay in full for everything.