At a glance:
A London local authority partnered with MTI to strengthen its cyber security capability without the cost and complexity of building a large specialist team internally.
Through MTI’s Cyber as a Service model, the organisation gained 24×7 managed security operations, access to specialist cyber expertise and a structured approach to reducing cyber risk – helping to improve security visibility, reduce the operational burden on internal teams and provide greater confidence in its overall cyber security posture.
Industry:
Public Sector
Solution:
Cyber as a Service
Key outcomes:
Stronger cyber resilience with access to 24×7 monitoring and specialist expertise.
Company Profile
A London local authority delivering critical public services to thousands of employees across a complex technology environment.
Its infrastructure and architecture function oversees multiple disciplines spanning architecture, cyber operations, networks, databases and infrastructure, supporting a broad and business-critical technology estate.
The Challenge: Building cyber capability with limited internal resource
Like many local authorities, the organisation faced a growing and increasingly complex cyber threat landscape without the internal capacity required to manage it effectively.
With limited in-house cyber expertise, its technology teams were dealing with an increasing volume of security information and alerts. This made it difficult to prioritise activity, clearly understand risk and focus resources where they would have the greatest impact.
At the same time, the organisation wanted to improve cyber security reporting, governance and overall maturity, while specialist cyber skills remained challenging to recruit and retain.
Building the required capability internally would have meant significantly expanding the cyber team, bringing considerable cost and recruitment challenges.
The organisation needed an alternative that could provide the breadth and depth of specialist expertise required while working as an extension of its existing team.
To build this internally we’d have needed a significantly larger cyber team. The cost was considerable, and realistically, hiring and retaining that level of specialist resource would have been extremely challenging.
The Solution: Cyber as a Service
MTI implemented a phased Cyber as a Service model designed to progressively strengthen the organisation’s cyber security capability.
The engagement began by establishing stronger security foundations and improving visibility across the environment before expanding into managed security operations and a broader Cyber as a Service capability.
The solution included:
- Microsoft Sentinel
- 24×7 Managed SIEM
- Microsoft Security XDR Suite
- Threat intelligence and incident response
- Managed Microsoft Defender XDR
- Vulnerability management
- Third-party risk management
- Penetration testing
- Secure Web Gateway
- Virtual CISO and governance reporting
A key focus was helping the organisation prioritise and act on what matters most. Rather than leaving internal teams to manage large volumes of security data and alerts, MTI provides the expertise and context required to identify risk and take appropriate action. Richmond & Wandsworth Council C…
This gives the organisation access to specialist cyber capability across multiple disciplines while allowing its internal technology teams to remain focused on their core responsibilities.
The Results: Stronger cyber resilience with reduced operational burden
Through its partnership with MTI, the organisation has moved from a position where building a fully resourced cyber function internally was neither practical nor affordable to operating with a mature, continuously improving cyber security capability.
Significant cost savings
The Cyber as a Service model provides access to a broad range of cyber security capabilities without the cost associated with building and maintaining an equivalent specialist team internally.
Improved security posture
Continuous monitoring, improved visibility and access to specialist expertise have helped strengthen the organisation’s overall cyber security posture.
Clearer executive reporting
Monthly managed service reporting gives leadership a clear, high-level view of progress and cyber risk without overwhelming stakeholders with technical detail.
Stronger cyber security culture
Cyber security has become more embedded across the organisation, with greater awareness and more proactive engagement from employees.
Reduced cyber risk
Improved security awareness and a structured approach to identifying and responding to threats have helped reduce organisational cyber risk.
Access to specialist expertise
The organisation can access specialists across multiple areas of cyber security when required, helping address capability gaps without relying solely on recruitment.
Reduced operational burden
Internal teams no longer need to manage the same volume of security alerts and tooling, allowing them to focus more of their time on infrastructure responsibilities.
Greater leadership confidence
Continuous monitoring, specialist support and clearer reporting provide leadership with greater visibility and assurance around how cyber risk is being managed.
Why the London authority chose MTI
The organisation selected MTI for its ability to combine deep technical expertise with a UK-based 24×7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) and a collaborative, relationship-led approach.
Key factors included:
- Proven experience – more than 35 years delivering enterprise IT, data centre, cloud and cyber security solutions and services.
- UK-based 24×7 SOC – providing continuous monitoring, rapid response and access to security analysts.
- Depth of expertise – access to subject matter experts across multiple cyber security disciplines.
- Collaborative approach – working alongside the organisation’s existing teams rather than operating in isolation.
- End-to-end cyber capability – spanning security operations, governance, third-party risk and strategic advisory.
Together, these capabilities enable MTI to operate as an extension of the organisation’s internal team, providing both the capability and confidence needed to manage evolving cyber risk.
