WEBROOT CUSTOMER CASE STUDY » METAFORE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Metafore Maximizes Client Protection
with Webroot SecureAnywhere®
Business Endpoint Protection
BACKGROUND
Metafore Technologies Inc. has been delivering information technology solutions to private and public sector
organizations of every size for more than 30 years. As one of Canada’s leading IT solution providers, Metafore
designs, supplies, installs and supports IT infrastructure solutions that contribute to improved productivity
and overall business performance.
AT A GLANCE
THE CHALLENGE
Supporting a broad range of clients from modest SMBs to sprawling enterprises, Metafore can serve as a fullservice MSP or a conventional reseller, depending on the specific needs of each customer. With a team of over
1,000 associates and operations throughout Canada (as well as access to a network of 1,200 IT professionals
that includes consultants, solution architects and technicians), the depth and breadth of the company’s
capabilities is exceptional.
Vertical » IT Solution Provider/VAR
Client Executive » Mitchell Franczuk
Year Founded » 1982
Metafore has typically functioned in a reseller capacity when called upon to deliver antivirus protection, so
it was not unusual when one of Metafore’s major clients (with 3,000 plus users) approached the company to
recommend an upgrade to their antivirus solution. Client Executive at Metafore Mitchel Franczuk recalls, “They
were quite unhappy with their existing AV product, so we connected them with two leading vendors and the client
began their internal evaluation process.”
Franczuk is highly attuned to the challenges that security solutions present: “When it comes to antivirus,
it’s very personal, IT must be happy with what the vendor can provide to them. Security is obviously the
main thing, but the ease of use, ease of implementation and ease of management are becoming much more
important to clients. Of course, we’re dealing with time. More and more companies are putting increased
responsibilities on their IT departments, so it’s no surprise that managing antivirus can be extremely painful
for a lot of companies.”
Copyright © Webroot Inc. » December 2014
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CASE STUDY METAFORE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Indeed, an antivirus-related issue arose for Franczuk’s client during its testing
phase: “They were doing the study of the other two AV vendors...and then they had
an incident. One of the client’s financial partners recommended Webroot because
of its security capabilities. Metafore hadn’t dealt with Webroot before because it’s
very new to the Canadian market, it was pretty much unknown to us. We connected
with Webroot and just started the evaluation as an add-on for the client, they still
continued the comparison between the two initial AV vendors.”
THE SOLUTION
That evaluation process yielded unanticipated results for both Franczuk and his
client. “Webroot provided the easiest implementation,” Franczuk marvels. “The
client actually was pleasantly surprised because they were expecting issues. But
it was a smooth rollout. Remember, they’re dealing with over 3,000 connections so
they needed something seamless and easy to implement. With lots of other vendors
it can take 30 minutes or more per machine to remove the old solution and install a
new one. With Webroot, we’re talking about under a minute.”
Did Webroot SecureAnywhere® Business Endpoint Protection offer more than
just speedy deployment?
“The client was extremely happy with the smooth
implementation, but Webroot’s superior protection was the
primary attraction. Wherever Webroot was providing us
security, it was catching viruses that the other vendors didn’t.”
Mitchell Franczuk, Client Executive, Metaforce Technologies Inc.
“We don’t push clients to one vendor or another,” continues Franczuk. “We allow
them to test and basically see how the antivirus works in their environment first
before making a change. Usually people don’t switch from vendor to vendor if
they’re not having problems. We’ve had clients dealing with Trend or Symantec
or Kaspersky for many, many years, and they’ve been happy. Then something
happens, either the support or the software doesn’t provide what the client
requires. Then they start looking at other options.”
Has Metafore’s “seeing is believing” approach been an effective way to introduce
Webroot to its customers? “I had a couple of situations with some of my older power
clients, they’d grown dissatisfied with their AV solution. I asked them to download the
Webroot trial for comparison. Once they did that it was a very quick and easy decision.
“When the renewal came up for their other antivirus products, they
switched to Webroot because they were happier with it. Pretty
RESULTS
Franczuk cites the web-based Webroot management console as an essential feature:
“It makes management so much easier, especially for clients who have multiple
facilities and who need to deploy in distant locations and manage remotely. One client
we’re dealing with right now has almost 50 locations throughout Canada. We’re talking
about one assigned IT specialist who, because of Webroot, can perform all of the AV
management along with his many other IT tasks. He loves it.”
While Webroot has proved very popular with his larger clients, Franczuk is quick to
point out that it is particularly suited to SMBs. “Webroot is extremely easy to use,
it’s very friendly,” he explains. “Many SMBs have an IT staff that might only be one,
two, three, or four people. The AV administrators at these companies need a solution
they can deploy and forget about it. Install it, make sure it works and then don’t be
bothered. SMBs also like the lightweight footprint on endpoints, it’s almost nonexistent, so no end user complaints about AV-related slowdowns.”
To be sure, Franczuk understands the reluctance of some customers to replace
their antivirus protection. “When it comes to reinstallation or reimplementation of
an AV solution, lots of clients think they don’t have the time or staff to undertake
it. So they just sort of grit their teeth and suffer along with the security they have
because hey, maybe it isn’t all that bad, and it would be such a huge hassle to
switch to another vendor.”
“And that’s a shame, because changing to Webroot is so simple. But the most
important thing, clients who have switched are getting fewer infections, better
performance and are spending a lot less time managing antivirus. Of course, in
some cases switching can be driven by an urgent business necessity. A nasty
CryptoLocker infection was the reason one of our clients turned to Webroot, which
quickly cleaned it up.”
Although Webroot is a relatively unfamiliar security vendor in Canada, Franczuk
believes that hands-on experience with SecureAnywhere™ Business Endpoint
Protection will quickly change that: “We tell clients, ‘Try the new player.’ The response
we’re getting after they’ve tested it is, ‘It works. We’ll go for it. We’ll make the
purchase and try it for a year.’ I think they will stick with Webroot after the year is up.”
Summing up Metafore’s business philosophy, Franczuk states, “Our approach is
consultative in regards to what we do. We provide options. Relationships with our
vendors are extremely important, but ultimately the security of our client’s data is
the most important thing. We have some great associations with other antivirus
vendors but our primary goal is offering options that will provide the client the best
possible product and support on the market.”
much everybody who’s tried it has switched, in my experience.”
Mitchell Franczuk, Client Executive, Metaforce Technologies Inc.
About Webroot
Webroot is bringing the power of cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) to Internet security with its suite of Webroot SecureAnywhere® offerings for consumers and businesses, as well as offering its security intelligence
solutions to cybersecurity organizations. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Colorado, Webroot is the largest privately held Internet security organization based in the United States – operating globally across North
America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.
We offer local support by real Webroot employees around the world, in your time zone, and in over 60 languages. Webroot cares about total customer satisfaction, and we’re never more than a click away.
For more information and to keep up on the latest news in the Webroot® Channel Edge® Reseller Program, visit: webroot.com/us/en/partners/reseller, or follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/WebrootChannel.
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Copyright © Webroot Inc. » December 2014