How Cythera Revolutionized IT Management and Threat Response for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

Founded in 2018, Cythera is a leading managed security services provider specializing in next-generation cybersecurity solutions for the small-to-medium enterprise market in Australia. By partnering with clients to automate patching, ensure compliance, and deliver digital forensics and threat protection services, Cythera stands out for its commitment to efficient incident response and cost-effective cybersecurity solutions.

The Australian Essential 8 is an assessment framework consisting of eight security controls that, when deployed appropriately, can significantly reduce the likelihood of a breach in an organization’s environment. These controls include patching of operating systems and applications, hardening of applications, and Microsoft Office macro controls.

The Essential 8 is recommended so businesses across the country can uphold strong cybersecurity practices and mitigate potential risks effectively. Cythera collaborates with its clients to align with the Australian Essential 8 principles by automating patching, enforcing compliance standards, and operating a Security Operations Center (SOC) for them.

• How to reduce time to remediate after a vulnerability is discovered: Cythera knew its customers would remediate more quickly if they could replicate policies and scripts across workspaces.

• How to report and improve visibility into environments: Traditional solutions can be ugly when looking at large amounts of endpoints, Cythera says, so clear reporting is necessary.

Cythera discovered Automox approximately four years ago while grappling with the challenges of patching workstations outside the corporate network. The company was thrilled by Automox’s capacity to patch operating systems and applications and deploy security measures efficiently across various platforms.

Cythera was particularly impressed by Automox’s automation capabilities, which streamlined its processes, saving time and reducing costs, making Automox a valuable asset in the company’s cybersecurity management efforts.

To learn more about Cythera and how the organization works with Automox to position itself as an international IT Hero, listen to the IT Heroes podcast episode featuring Cythera's Craig Joyce.

Cythera leveraged Automox to efficiently manage patching and vulnerability remediation, enabling its team to swiftly address high-severity vulnerabilities in a customer’s environment within a week. The quick turnaround not only demonstrated real value for the customer but also showcased Cythera’s ability to proactively enhance their clients’ security posture.

Craig Joyce from Cythera highlighted this success, saying, “We deployed Automox and within the space of a week, we’d removed all those high-severity vulnerabilities out of their environment.” Joyce emphasized the tangible impact Automox had on bolstering the client’s security measures.

By utilizing Automox, Cythera significantly improved its ability to assist customers in achieving compliance with the Australian ASD Essential 8 assessment framework, showcasing its dedication to robust cybersecurity practices.

Automox’s automation-driven approach not only ensured compliance but also led to substantial cost savings and increased operational efficiency for Cythera and its clients.

Through the use of Automox Worklet™ automation scripts for software distribution and patching and the use of the policy engine for asset isolation and patch testing, Cythera industrialized the compliance process effectively, demonstrating the broader applicability of the ASD Essential 8 principles beyond Australia.

A third significant benefit for Cythera was the enhancement of its proactive vulnerability management capabilities. This led to a substantial improvement in incident response efficiency. By leveraging Automox’s automation features and policy engine, Cythera stayed ahead of emerging threats and swiftly remediated vulnerabilities, ultimately reducing its customers’ exposure to cyber risks.

Joyce highlighted this advantage, stating, “With Automox, we were able to proactively manage vulnerabilities and respond to incidents efficiently. This proactive approach allowed us to address security gaps swiftly, significantly minimizing our clients’ potential for exploitation by threat actors.”

Additionally, the integration of incident playbooks and automation workflows empowered Cythera to expedite response actions such as disabling compromised accounts or isolating systems for forensic analysis. This streamlined process not only saved valuable time but ensured a consistent and effective approach to “handling security incidents across its customer base.

By utilizing Automox to automate tasks like PowerShell command execution and threat hunting, Cythera optimized its incident response procedures, enabling the company to detect and mitigate threats promptly while maintaining operational efficiency.

The integration of the Automox platform with Cythera not only streamlines patching and compliance processes, it also empowers Cythera to proactively manage vulnerabilities and enhance incident response efficiency.

Craig Joyce’s endorsement of Automox’s streamlined services, emphasizing the platform’s effectiveness with a simple yet powerful statement — “it just works” — highlights the company’s dedication to providing reliable and efficient cybersecurity solutions in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.