Scaling Cybersecurity Through AI, Integrations, and Transparency

"Cybersecurity is fundamentally human," said Geoff Haydon, Chief Executive Officer at Ontinue. "On one side, people are often the weakest link in an organization’s defences, as evidenced by the prevalence of phishing attacks. On the other side, a strong cybersecurity posture depends on the expertise and collaboration of skilled professionals across multiple disciplines. It’s this intricate balance of human vulnerability and human ingenuity that defines the challenge – and the solution – of modern cybersecurity."

Solving Human-Based Cyber Security Challenges at Scale

As a managed services partner, achieving scalability is always a challenge – especially in cybersecurity, where it demands expertise across a vast and ever-evolving landscape of attack surfaces and threat types. "Scalability has always been the biggest hurdle in our industry," reflects Geoff Haydon, CEO at Ontinue. "From day one, we recognized that overcoming this challenge was essential. Today, we’re leveraging AI and automation in ways that were once unimaginable. By integrating AI at the core of our operations, we empower both our analysts and clients to focus on the situations and tasks where human ingenuity is needed most."

Another challenge in the managed security industry is that it is highly complex and one of the most fragmented markets. "Customers don't know how to compare the various offerings available – and they may even have redundant products in their security ecosystem. As every provider tries to differentiate its service from the others, the problem worsens," says Geoff. Ontinue's approach to this challenge: Simplification by doubling down on a platform-based approach.

Creating a Simple and Transparent Service

To simplify its service, Ontinue focused on deep integration with Microsoft's technology ecosystem. By aligning with tools and platforms like Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Sentinel, and Microsoft Teams, Ontinue ensures its services fit naturally into customers' existing workflows. 

"The Microsoft environment is ubiquitous," Geoff explains. "By being Microsoft-centric, we reduce complexity for our customers. They don't need to juggle multiple solutions or worry about overlapping capabilities. Instead, we streamline their cybersecurity landscape, making it leaner and more effective."

This approach also fosters greater transparency and collaboration. Ontinue's use of Microsoft Teams for client communication ensures customers have real-time visibility into what's happening in their environment. "Transparency is critical for credibility and trust," Geoff says. "Trust is everything in cybersecurity," Geoff asserts. "We're not just here to sell a service. We're here to build relationships, educate our customers, and shape the future of how cybersecurity can be delivered."

Redefining Cybersecurity with Swiss Quality Standards at the Core 

With roots in Switzerland, the company embraces a meticulous approach to cybersecurity, ensuring every solution is robust and reliable. This Swissness has led to exceptional results, including high customer retention rates and a growing portfolio of services, like mitigated vulnerability management and IoT protection. Looking ahead, Ontinue aims to further expand its AI capabilities and develop innovative offerings like phishing protection, with plans to launch in 2025.

For the team behind Ontinue, this venture represents a rare opportunity to redefine how cybersecurity services are delivered. "It's incredibly rewarding to not only protect our customers but also influence the way an entire industry operates," Geoff says. "At the end of the day, it's not just about stopping attacks – it's about preventing them in the first place and empowering CISOs and their teams to stay one step ahead so they can focus on other business priorities."