Action1

ThreatAware, a cybersecurity intelligence platform, was facing a challenge in providing a comprehensive endpoint management solution to its customers. The platform, which helps both internal IT departments and managed service providers streamline cybersecurity management, connects to multiple security systems, pulls valuable data from them, and surfaces critical alerts for all those systems in one aggregated view. However, the integration of endpoint management into this single pane of glass was a missing piece. ThreatAware customers, who were using Action1 to manage updates and software on their endpoints and provide IT support, requested that ThreatAware integrate its platform with Action1 to provide a more extensive endpoint management offering.

Essential Tech Support, a managed service provider (MSP) based in Baltimore, Maryland, was facing significant challenges with its existing remote monitoring and management (RMM) software, Syncro. The company, which provides technology support for schools, churches, and nonprofits, had five technicians managing 250 Windows endpoints and several thousand other devices. The Syncro software was proving to be too cumbersome, particularly due to its heavy reliance on scripting. This would have necessitated the hiring of a dedicated scripting expert, an additional cost for the company. Moreover, patch management was a complex process, requiring the team to create numerous workarounds to ensure all necessary patches were installed on the devices. The CEO and co-founder, Ian Holub, began searching for a more efficient and user-friendly alternative to Syncro, having previously tried Kaseya and Zoho without success.

The Pantry Catering, a family business based in Middlesex, UK, was facing a significant challenge as their business expanded. The number of PCs that the IT team, led by IT Manager Peter Boden, needed to manage and secure was increasing. This growth made it increasingly difficult for the team to efficiently deploy software to the machines and keep them properly updated and patched. The team was in need of a comprehensive platform that could streamline their daily IT routine. The solution had to be easy to use and effective, as the team was small and did not have a lot of free time to configure a complex tool and learn how to use it.

Angeles Community Health Center (ACHC), a nonprofit organization providing medical, dental, and behavioral health care services, was facing a significant challenge in managing software deployment across its 150 staff members spread across four locations. The IT Director, Mike Straffin, was tasked with the responsibility of managing all the organization’s computers and ensuring efficient deployment of software applications and updates. The existing manual approaches, such as Group Policy, proved to be ineffective, leading to a pressing need for a more efficient solution. The urgency for a solution escalated when Mike received a request to deploy WebEx to all machines within a short notice of two days.

Bearzi Salesian Institute, an educational organization based in Udine, Italy, faced a significant challenge when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a shift to remote learning. The institute, which includes a primary school, secondary school, technical institute, and training center, relies on approximately 160 laptops and other machines for instructional purposes. With the onset of remote learning, these devices were taken home by teachers, creating a complex situation for the IT team. The team found it increasingly difficult to manage these devices effectively and provide remote assistance to users. The geographical dispersion of the devices and the need for remote troubleshooting and maintenance posed a significant challenge to the IT team.

In October 2021, the Federal Trade Commission issued amendments to the Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information (Safeguards Rule) under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), which required auto dealerships to enhance their information security, including automated patch management. CARR Auto Group, a family-owned business that sells and services Chevrolet, Subaru, Buick, and GMC vehicles, was faced with the challenge of complying with these updated regulations by June 9, 2023. The system administrator at CARR Auto Group, Matt Lutjen, was struggling to keep all endpoints updated with the latest security patches, a task that was proving to be difficult and time-consuming. As the sole person responsible for everything from basic desktop support to server and network security, he was using WSUS for patching, which did not provide a way for him to ensure updates were deployed successfully or to obtain visibility into endpoints. This led to him spending 15 hours per week outside of work to keep all PCs updated, a process that was inefficient and left the company open to security vulnerabilities.

carwow, an online marketplace for buying and selling cars, operates a hybrid work model with over 400 employees worldwide. This model means that many of its endpoints are remote most or all of the time. The company's IT team faced the challenge of ensuring all devices complied with Microsoft’s security baseline and promptly remediated any settings that deviated from the recommended configuration. A key concern was preventing users from having local administrator rights on their devices, a common method attackers use to gain control of machines and deploy malware. Their existing mobile device management (MDM) system, Intune, could not automatically enforce these crucial security policy settings for remote devices. Instead, the IT team had to manually perform all necessary fixes, a process that was both time-consuming and labor-intensive. The search for a cost-effective tool that could provide visibility into endpoint configurations and streamline policy deviation remediation led them to Action1.

The city of San Gabriel, with a workforce of about 300 employees, was struggling with its IT support and security management. The IT department, consisting of only three people, was responsible for a wide range of tasks from basic desktop support to server and network security. However, they faced significant challenges in keeping all endpoints updated with the latest security patches, a crucial task for cybersecurity. The tool they were using, WSUS, did not provide them with the ability to control patches or gain visibility into endpoints, increasing the risk of dangerous vulnerabilities going unnoticed. As a government agency, they were mandated by federal laws to ensure security, including for the police and fire departments. The shift to a remote work model further complicated matters, necessitating a tool that could function effectively regardless of device location. Additionally, the IT team was considering a remote support tool as driving to various locations to troubleshoot issues was time-consuming.

Crossroads of America Council, a non-profit organization serving 35,000 youth and adult volunteers in 26 counties in central Indiana, faced a significant challenge when the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to look for ways to cut costs. Nat Baker, the Business Data Analyst for the council, had to take on IT responsibilities in addition to his primary job. Managing the organization's technology was a full-time job in itself, and with over 50 endpoints to manage, Nat needed a smarter, more efficient way to handle IT operations. The challenge was to find a cost-effective solution that could automate and streamline the management of the organization's IT infrastructure.

A multinational hospitality company, with thousands of hotels worldwide, was struggling with maintaining up-to-date software across all its corporate computers. The company's IT security policy required all software, including OS and third-party apps like Adobe Reader, Chrome, and Java, to be updated to the latest versions. The central IT office used vulnerability assessment technology to monitor each hotel's adherence to this security policy. However, the local IT teams found it challenging to promptly patch detected flaws using only WSUS. The process was time-consuming, increased the risk of human errors, and was particularly challenging for devices that employees took home. To overcome these issues, the company began searching for a cloud-based patch management solution.

Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe, a restaurant chain with 22 locations across TX, OK, and NC, faced a significant challenge in managing its IT operations. The restaurant’s IT infrastructure included a data center and 200 endpoints scattered across the central office and remote locations. The company needed better visibility and control over its corporate endpoints to ensure the success of its restaurants. The existing system involved multiple applications and utilities, which made it difficult to manage. The company needed a secure, reliable tool that could provide access to remote locations, support the restaurants, and meet compliance standards.

The Arthur Companies, a diverse agribusiness operating in North Dakota and Idaho, faced significant security challenges due to the ineffective patch management of its devices spread across 20 locations. The company's three-person IT team struggled to keep all devices updated with the latest security patches using ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus, which proved ineffective for off-network devices and those not joined to the company domain. Consequently, 20% of the company's devices were not properly patched, significantly increasing security risks. The urgency to find a solution escalated when the FBI released a security alert warning of a likely increase in ransomware attacks on the agricultural sector, with unpatched vulnerabilities being a primary attack vector. A security event could cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars and disrupt the global supply chain, affecting food producers worldwide.

Yonder, a technology partner that helps organizations create modern digital businesses, faced a significant challenge in managing its endpoints. With over 300 employees working from home or in one of its three European offices, the company's endpoints were unevenly and dynamically distributed. This made it difficult for the IT team to keep them updated with the latest security patches and manage them effectively. Their previous patching system, WSUS, required endpoints to be in the same network to deploy updates, which was not feasible with remote workers. This led to delays in patching critical vulnerabilities and put the organization at compliance risk, as timely software updates are required by regulations that Yonder has to adhere to. The IT team needed a new patch management solution that would work regardless of where their devices were located and provide visibility into all workstations.