WatchGuard Delivers Robust Security to Support Drainline’s Expanding Infrastructure Operations
Challenge
Drainline, a rapidly growing highways utilities company, faced increasing cybersecurity demands as their business expanded. Specialising in drainage infrastructure for roads and railways, the company’s work includes large contracts in East and West Sussex, Surrey, and other UK counties, often involving critical national infrastructure such as key water supply pipelines and highway drainage.
This work required Drainline to meet stringent security standards, especially when collaborating with high-profile clients. Drainline needed robust, enterprise-level cybersecurity solutions to meet these demands, while also ensuring scalability to support their rapid growth.
The challenges intensified when their previous IT provider, a small local firm, struggled to keep pace with the company's increasing complexity, remote workforce, and contractual obligations to their clients.
Solution
Drainline turned to a different local MSP, which rapidly introduced them to WatchGuard’s comprehensive suite of unified cybersecurity products and solutions. The initial focus was ensuring secure remote access for employees needing to connect to their high-profile client’s systems. The new MSP, a Silver WatchGuard partner, recommended WatchGuard’s T80 firewall and VPN solution, which allowed network traffic to be routed through a single IP address, crucial for compliance with their client’s security requirements.
Sam Bull Community CSR and recruitment manager at Drainline said: “We've implemented a range of robust security products from WatchGuard, and we are really confident with the features and the performance. Without this level of security, we wouldn’t have been able to work with our high-profile industry clients. The level of security and support provided by WatchGuard through our MSP has proved crucial to our growth and meeting the strict guidelines our clients require."
WatchGuard Total Security Suite has provided enhanced protection, including AI-powered malware protection and enhanced network visibility.
Additionally, WatchGuard’s AuthPoint multi-factor authentication (MFA) ensured secure access for employees working on sensitive contracts.
Recognising the importance of endpoint protection, the MSP later upgraded Drainline’s system with WatchGuard’s EPDR (Endpoint Protection Detection and Response) to replace their previous solution. The transition was smooth, further strengthening Drainline’s defences against zero-day threats and adding an extra layer of protection for their ever-growing remote workforce.
Results
By leveraging WatchGuard’s security solutions, Drainline is now better able to secure high-value contracts with their major clients, where strict cybersecurity protocols are mandatory.
The company’s ability to meet these requirements has reassured both new and existing clients that Drainline’s systems are protected against cyber threats.
The implementation of key WatchGuard products has also assisted with Drainline’s growth, allowing it to scale their operations with confidence. Over the past few years, Drainline has expanded significantly, growing from 30 employees to over 260, with the necessary technology infrastructure to support further expansion.
The partnership with its local MSP and WatchGuard has been pivotal, providing ongoing support and ensuring Drainline’s cybersecurity posture remains aligned with industry standards, including their annual Cyber Essentials certification, which the MSP completes on Drainline’s behalf.
The flexibility and ease of use of WatchGuard’s enterprise-grade security solutions have been essential in this success, allowing Drainline to operate with the confidence of a secure digital environment.