How Ambico Uses Blackpoint to Secure & Scale a Regulated Energy Brokerage
Every managed service provider (MSP) understands that landing a client in a highly regulated industry like finance or energy is a high-stakes opportunity. Clients in these industries demand more than just IT support; they’re seeking bulletproof security, 24/7 monitoring, and a clear, auditable path to compliance.
Managing endpoints? Easy. Becoming a trusted security partner for a business that answers to governing bodies like the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the United States’ National Futures Association (NFA)? Much different.
Here’s how Ambico Services, a London-based MSP, built a fortress of security and compliance for its new client, Arrow Energy Markets, by partnering with Blackpoint.
The Partner & The Client
Ambico is a London-based MSP that specializes in providing proactive and cost-effective IT services to the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) segment.
Its client, Arrow, is a leading independent brokerage in the global shipping and energy markets. Founded over 30 years ago, Arrow is an international player with a presence across 17 countries, specializing in everything from shipbroking to energy derivatives and financing.
When Arrow Energy Markets Launched, it began with a clean slate and a critical decision: how to build the IT and security framework from scratch.
Arrow Chose Ambico for Expertise & Scalability
Arrow’s leadership knew that building an internal IT and security team to manage a global, regulated brokerage was a massive undertaking.
“We decided on an MSP so that we had expertise readily at hand from day one, up to date advice, and technology,” Matthew Buxton, Head of Technology & Data at Arrow, says. “All staffing and HR issues weren’t our primary concern, and we could scale up as we grew with minimal internal effort.”
The choice of which MSP came down to trust. Arrow chose Ambico services, he explains, because of the MSP’s “good reputation in the market, and I’ve spent time with their Technical Director, Jon Blanks, in the past. They felt like a comfortable fit for us.”
The Compliance Non-Negotiable
Ambico’s team immediately understood the assignment. This wasn’t just about setting up laptops and cloud services for Arrow.
“We’re a regulated industry, and so we have certain security and compliance non-negotiables,” Buxton says.
As a result, Ambico knew it needed a security partner that could deliver on two fronts:
- A 24/7 SOC: True, eyes-on-glass security that could investigate and neutralize threats around the clock.
- An In-Depth Compliance Engine: Tools to prove security posture rather than just claim it.
This is where Ambico brought in Blackpoint.
24/7 MDR with a Robust Compliance Portal
“We were suggested Blackpoint as they not only provide 24/7 manned response to cybersecurity risks, but also have an in-depth compliance portal which we can lean on to cover the work required to be compliant from a regulatory perspective,” Buxton says.
By deploying Blackpoint’s managed detection and response (MDR) platform, Ambico instantly elevated Arrow’s security posture from a clean slate to a 24/7 protected environment.
The impact was immediate. “We immediately were pleased with the visibility and clarity Blackpoint offered, allowing us to ensure we were secure and compliant,” Buxton notes. “The response from the team each time there has been an event to investigate has been excellent.”
For Ambico, this meant the MSP could confidently assure its new client that any threat would be handled — and fast.
“As a new company, there aren’t metrics to compare with, but we’re delighted with the speed of response to even the smallest investigation,” Buxton says.
Turning Compliance from Burden to Asset
In a regulated environment, the security response is only half the battle. The other half is reporting — and this is typically where MSPs and clients drown in manual, time-consuming tasks.
Ambico leveraged Blackpoint’s compliance tools to automate the entire process for Arrow.
“The automated reporting and compliance tools allow us to cross-check and report on our environment with a minimal amount of internal resources being used,” Buxton points out. “Blackpoint has been excellent at reporting and highlighting where we need to work to meet our compliance and regulatory reporting.”
The proactive, automated approach to compliance became a cornerstone of Ambico’s service delivery. It’s now providing a clear, strategic pathway to fully automated compliance.
The Tangible ROI: A Significant Drop in Cyber Insurance
So, how do you prove a security program is working? The proof for Arrow Energy Markets came in the form of a significantly reduced cyber insurance quote.
It’s a massive, tangible win for any MSP. Ambico proved that their client was secure.
“We were able to get a reduced cyber insurance quote due to the pathway Blackpoint set us on and the certifications that Ambico ensured we had to prove our seriousness to security,” Buxton says.
By using Blackpoint, Ambico demonstrated a mature, actively-managed security posture, turning what’s often a major business expense (cyber insurance) into a competitive advantage.
A Partnership Built on Trust & Security
Finding a partner who fully understood its high-stakes environment was initially difficult for Arrow. “We’re always aware of risk,” Buxton lays out. “It has historically been difficult to find partners who understand and share our requirement to be as secure and compliant as possible.”
With Ambico and Blackpoint, they found that partnership.
For Ambico, Blackpoint provides the 24/7 SOC and compliance engine it confidently needs to serve regulated clients, allowing them to focus on high-level strategy and relationships. For Arrow, the result is efficiency, compliance, and peace of mind.”
As Buxton puts it: “Without doubt, it’s a great peace of mind to know that [Ambico and Blackpoint] are working together on security.”
Ready for a 24/7 SOC that protects your business and clients at every moment? Get a demo with Blackpoint.