Bright Visuals’ Path to Secure Creative Operations

How benchmarked uncovered nine critical gaps — and built a realistic, right-sized cybersecurity roadmap for a global creative studio.

these businesses trust in benchmarked to stay secure, compliant, and in control

9 Security Gaps

Bright Visuals had no dedicated IT staff — just 30+ SaaS tools and mounting risk.

Cyber Gaps - High Risk

From shared admin passwords to zero endpoint protection, Bright Visuals was exposed.

Access Unsecured

Creative teams thrive in fluid systems. But that doesn’t mean ignoring security. We translated Bright Visuals’ scattered IT into structured, scalable protection.

How we uncovered nine critical gaps at Bright

Bright Visuals is a dynamic, globally active film production company working across advertising, architecture, music, and art. While highly creative and agile, the company had no dedicated IT personnel, relying instead on best-effort internal management for infrastructure and cybersecurity. Their digital operations were spread across over 30+ commercial SaaS tools, multiple entities (Bright Visuals, Shine, HumanHue), and a loosely coordinated endpoint environment.

The Problem #1

Lights, Camera… Cyber Risk

Despite using solid commercial platforms like Google Workspace, Synology NAS, LastPass, and Shopify, we identified major gaps in Bright’s IT posture:

  • No multi-factor authentication (MFA) or zero-trust architecture
  • No formal access management or endpoint protection
  • Shared administrator credentials

The Problem #2

Creative Powerhouse, Security Blindspot.

Furthermore, we uncovered:

  • No disaster recovery or patch management system
  • Unclassified data across shared Google Drive folders
  • Unsecured physical and virtual access to production assets

Bright needed a scalable, cost-effective roadmap to mitigate these risks — without slowing down the creative work that drives their business.

The Solution

COBIT-aligned IT and security assessment

We conducted a COBIT-aligned IT and security assessment that covered:

  • Asset inventory of 50+ employee devices (MacBooks, iMacs, mobile phones)
  • Application landscape review (30+ tools across creative, collaboration, and admin)
  • Workflow evaluation of onboarding, project sharing, client communication
  • Identification of nine specific cybersecurity risks, ranked by impact and likelihood

The Solution

Customized Protection Plan

From this, two tailored solution options were created:

  1. Core IT Hardening Plan
    • Enabling MFA, password rotation policies, and IAM tools
    • Implementing EDR and antivirus on all endpoints
    • Introducing data classification with DLP tooling (Microsoft or Google stack)
  2. Full Enterprise-grade Security Suite
    • Includes privileged access management (PAM)
    • Cloud-based patch automation
    • Disaster recovery and advanced network protection

A total cost of ownership (TCO) was developed for each option, paired with a light, achievable rollout plan — focusing on impact first, then scale.

The Results

Clear, prioritized security roadmap delivered
9 security vulnerabilities mapped and mitigated
Recommendations aligned to team size, budget, and technical maturity
Introduced Microsoft Entra ID, Defender for Endpoint, and DLP tools
Enhanced onboarding/offboarding, file-sharing, and device control

Testimonial

“Matt and the Benchmarked team have been a game-changer for Bright. Their expertise keeps our business and client data secure, giving us peace of mind. With their proactive approach, we can focus on growth without worrying about IT security. Highly recommend!”

Creative Chaos, Organized

From fragmented tools to operational clarity — how we created visibility across 30+ SaaS platforms and digital processes.

Complete IT Clarity

Mapping 30+ tools across creative, admin, marketing, cloud, AI, and communication categories

Access Protection and Business driven implementation

Connecting tools to business workflows (e.g., Notion → Project management, Mailchimp → Marketing

Centralized IT Management

Aligning all applications with departments and business entities (Bright, Shine, HumanHue)

Cost Optimization

Analyzing licensing costs, user count, and support burden

The Results

Key outcomes included:

25% monthly IT savings

From software consolidation, unused licenses, redundant systems, and legacy maintenance

Secure Access and Company Data

Implemented SSO and MFA while securely managing Bright's infrastructure

100% Business Continuity

Previously, Bright was not protected against worse case scenario. We implemented systems and procedures to ensure business continuity

Frequently Asked Questions

Got concerns? Let’s address those
Why should I trust benchmarked with our IT when we’ve gotten by fine without dedicated IT so far?

Because ‘getting by’ isn’t the same as being safe. Most breaches don’t happen because a company is reckless — they happen because no one noticed the gaps. Bright Visuals was operating creatively and efficiently, but their shared admin credentials, lack of MFA, and unsecured production assets made them a prime target. We don’t fix what isn’t broken — we show you what is quietly broken and risky, even if it hasn’t failed… yet. We also collaborate with existing team and existing infrastructure, and adapt to only gaps identified within budget constraints. We are a true partner, not another service.

Aren’t tools like Google Workspace and LastPass already secure enough?

Yes — if configured and integrated accross all applications correctly, maintained properly, and backed by clear policies. But without multi-factor authentication, role-based access, or data classification, these tools become potential liabilities.

In case of Bright Visuals, these were not integrated, meaning no centralised access management. Remember, Last Pass is only centralized password manager not access manager.

We don’t sell fear — we show you how misuse or neglect of otherwise good tools can silently increase your risk.

Are you just going to give us a long list of expensive tools to buy?

No. In fact, one of our goals is to help you avoid wasting money. We presented Bright Visuals with two right-sized options based on their team, budget, and risk tolerance. Our assessment often highlights tools you don’t need or aren’t using well — which can lead to cost savings, not just new spending.

At Bright, they were able to reduce cost by 35% while also improving their infrastructure and cybersecurity systems.

Will this slow down our creative team or disrupt our projects?

Quite the opposite. Bright’s creative workflow was preserved and even improved. We focused on lightweight rollout plans, better onboarding/offboarding, and more consistent tool usage — which reduced friction in day-to-day work. Our goal is to protect creative teams without turning them into IT managers.

Why do we need to classify our data or map our tools? We know what we use

You think you do — until you look deeper. Bright Visuals was using 30+ SaaS tools, but no one had a full view.

That led to waste, duplicate tools, poor security, and slower onboarding. Once we mapped their application ecosystem and data usage, it was clear where they could streamline, protect, and save money.

Visibility is power. And it should be continuous – its almost a full-time to job. But we implement automations and dedicated team at a fraction of a cost, so you can focus on business, while we manage that for you.

Can’t we just hire a full-time IT person to fix all this?

Sure — but a single hire can’t match the speed, breadth, or objectivity of a focused external assessment.

benchmarked delivered a full security audit, app rationalization, and roadmap within weeks, not months. We don’t replace your IT team — we give you the clarity they’ll need to be effective, whether internal or outsourced.

Isn’t this overkill for a creative company? We’re not a bank.

Exactly — which is why our approach isn’t overkill. We don’t give you enterprise-grade bloat you don’t need.

Bright Visuals got a realistic, scaled plan that aligned to their actual workflows, risk profile, and business goals — not a Fortune 500 checklist.

What if we don’t implement your roadmap?

You’ll still walk away smarter. Even without execution, you’ll gain clarity on your risks, tools, and options. But we design everything for action — including budget ranges, effort levels, and timelines — so it’s doable, not just theoretical.

What makes Benchmark different from other IT consultants?

We don’t just install tools or throw jargon at you. We specialize in fast-moving, tool-heavy, creative environments — and we speak the language of both risk and design.

We turn invisible vulnerabilities into visible, actionable choices — and we don’t waste your time.

We do it-as-a-service, end-to-end, with implementation. We are a perfect blend of speed, price performance, de-risk. We don’t leave you with “strategy document”, but we guide and implement measures for you.

On the other hand, if you have capacity and internal teams, we work with them, not causing additional overheads. We are all about being lean.

Sounds nice, but where’s the proof this made a real difference?
  • 9 critical vulnerabilities were closed

  • Secure onboarding/offboarding now exists

  • Creative work continues uninterrupted

  • IT chaos is now mapped and managed

  • The CEO called it “risk translated into business decisions.

This isn’t fluff — it’s functional change, with clear outcomes.

Why choose us

At benchmarked, we specialize in connecting; IT data, financial structure, and strategic impact. Our methodology bridges the gap between spreadsheets and executive decisions by:

Going beyond surface-level audits

We don’t just tell you to cut costs — we show you where, how, and with what trade-offs, all grounded in your operational reality.

Diving deep into cost structures, contracts, and utilization

Implemented SSO and MFA while securely managing Bright's infrastructure

Translating raw IT data into actionable business insights

IT cost optimization isn’t about cutting corners — it’s about making sure every dollar spent serves a purpose.

Case studies.
Hear what others have say.

4.9

All chances are you'll impressed too.

5.0

Many thanks Mat. Really appreciate your team's hard work over the last few months. This has not been an easy task.

Dr. S.Iyabo Tinubu-Karch
CEO Sidra Medicine

4.5

RMI being ISO 27001 and 14001 certified. These certifications are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaborative efforts of everyone.

Claire Todd
QHSE Manager, RMI

4.3

Thank you for your outsdanding work without any setbacks.

Devid Palcic
CEO Robotina

Start Your Journey

We’re not just financial auditors. We’re your IT cost transformation partner. We help you gain full visibility, cut waste, and align every riyal with value.

from

900 EUR/month

Time is money. Save both. Book a Free Strategy Call With Our Experts.
Guaranteed 20-30% IT Cost Savings - Stop wasting money on unused licenses and over-provisioned cloud services.
Complete Clarity – Track every SaaS subscription, cloud resource, and software license in real time.
Streamline and optimize IT services, cybersecurity, compliance and vendors, with oversight
Full Mapping of IT OPEX (Apps, Infra, Licenses)
Discovery of Hidden or Duplicated Costs
License & Vendor Optimization
Quick Wins (low-effort savings initiatives)
No lock-in. Fixed fee. Zero risk.