Winning Partnerships Can Be Key To Launch Success

Written by: Annette Densham, Executive Contributor

Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.

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Forging strategic partnerships can be the key to unlocking growth, innovation, and making a real difference. The journey from startup to recognised force in any industry is not a solo job. Connecting and collaborating with other people in the same industry can and does elicit many benefits, that means everyone is a winner.

Taminda Pollé, founder of Cyber IS, clicked launch on the cybersecurity business to ensure that the people side of cybersecurity is an organisation's number one asset, not its number one threat. “When the pandemic hit and cyber threats on Australian private and public companies increased, my clients started asking me for cyber help. There was a lot of miscommunication, fear and overwhelm. I've been in the IT industry for 20 years, so I decided to start Clan Cyber Dot Digital,” she said.

“Despite having worked in IT for 20 years, we constantly need to recertify to stay on top of the changes in the industry. It's a complex, ever-evolving space, and we knew that if we were to specialise in cybersecurity, we needed to form solid connections with other people in this space.

“Most people think cybersecurity is purely technical, and it is, but at the heart of a solidly protected business is human behaviour. That’s a business's best defence against cyber threats. Our speciality is designing bespoke implementation roadmaps that deliver the highest level of cyber risk prevention. We knew that we also needed to partner with industry businesses who provide the technical aspect.”

For Cyber IS, technology partnerships were integral to their launch strategy. Taminda said one of the earliest steps in the journey was to establish strategic technology partnerships. “We joined forces with leading cybersecurity software providers to integrate their cutting-edge solutions into our services. This enabled us to offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art protection to our clients,” she said.

“Reaching out to 6Clicks, an AI-powered GRC platform specifically built for advisors and business, we saw a match made in heaven. They have the technical expertise that’s in synergy with our approach. Together, we are both focused on making the world of cybersecurity, reducing risk and ensuring compliance.”

Taminda said cybersecurity is a multidisciplinary field, so partnering with experts in various domains allows Cyber IS to offer holistic solutions. “It ensures that our services are not just effective, but also aligned with industry best practices,” she said.

Another key partnership is with industries at risk of cyber attacks. “We knew that in our start-up phase, we had to pick industries that aligned with our mission and goals. A key element of what we do is empower and educate women in business, not just about the job opportunities in cybersecurity, but those working in businesses responsible for a lot of confidential data and information,” Taminda explained.

“We narrowed our list to focus on the accounting industry. We met an incredible accountant – Sonia Gibson from Accounting Heart, who was forming Accounting Innovators Australia to work with women in the industry. Not only can we share our important messages about cybersecurity to this group, but we also work with Sonia as her cybersecurity partner to augment her service offerings.”

Another powerful strategic partnership is with government cyber bodies. Taminda said cybersecurity requires multiple accreditations, including ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, Internal Auditor, Lead Implementer, Essential Eight and IRAP. “Having our finger on the pulse at the highest level means we can always meet industry requirements,” she said. “It also means we have a seat at the table.

“There are not many cybersecurity businesses that specialise in small business, like we do, so making ourselves known to regulators and lawmakers is important to ensure that the voices of small businesses are heard at the highest level.”

Small businesses face unique challenges as they strive to grow and establish themselves in competitive markets. Business partnerships and collaborations are one way to help share the load, open doors to new markets, scale quickly, and share complementary skills and expertise.

One effective strategy to overcome these challenges is to form business partnerships. These collaborations bring many benefits that can significantly contribute to the success and sustainability of small businesses. 

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Annette Densham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Multi-award-winning PR specialist Annette Densham is considered the go-to for all things business storytelling, award submission writing, and assisting business leaders in establishing themselves as authorities in their field. She has shared her insights into storytelling, media, and business across Australia, UK, and the US speaking for Professional Speakers Association, Stevie Awards, Queensland Government, and many more. Three times winner of the Grand Stevie Award for Women in Business, gold Stevie International Business Award, and a finalist in Australian Small Business Champion awards, Annette audaciously challenges anyone in small business to cast aside modesty, embrace their genius and share their stories.