WithYou and Kocho: A Cyber Essentials Plus success story
Kocho partnered with leading drug, alcohol, and mental health charity, WithYou, to help them achieve Cyber Essentials Plus and embed stronger, lasting security across its 1,800 strong workforce and UK-wide operations.
When Cyber Essentials Plus became essential
In early 2024, WithYou faced a pressing challenge. New funding requirements meant that achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification was vital to secure contract renewals and continue delivering life-changing services.
WithYou partnered with Kocho to help plan and manage the programme, working together to overcome technical, cultural, and organisational challenges.
Watch WithYou’s Director of Transformation, Effie Simmons share the story:
00:18:02
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Clearing the path to progress
With only a few months to complete the work, the combined team needed to overcome some ‘essential’ hurdles:
- A mixed Google and Microsoft estate, with Chromebooks and Windows devices managed separately
- A small IT team of four people supporting more than 1,800 users in 50 remote sites
- Low to moderate digital confidence among a portion of frontline staff
- Cultural barriers to enforcing compliance with devices and password policies
When two teams work together magic happens
Kocho worked side-by-side with WithYou’s IT team to plan and deliver a sustainable security transformation that would not only achieve certification but also strengthen security and resilience across the organisation.
Key areas included:
- Building a unified Microsoft Entra identity platform, with single sign-on extended across key systems
- Deploying Microsoft Defender and strengthening conditional access and device compliance
- Providing 24/7 managed security services and third-line support
- Supporting cultural change through staff engagement, communication, and cyber awareness
This journey has transformed how our organisation approaches security. Thanks to Kocho, Cyber Essentials Plus is no longer a scramble, but part of how we work.
Effie Simmons
Director of Transformation, WithYou
What changed and what got better
Partnering with Kocho, WithYou achieved Cyber Essentials Plus certification in June 2024, delivering significant operational improvements:
- A seamless, secure single sign-on experience for staff
- A 25% improvement in Microsoft Secure Score within six months
- Fewer helpdesk tickets and better device compliance
- Stronger alignment between IT policies and organisational guidelines
- Improved staff awareness and more secure information sharing
- A stronger partnership between Kocho and WithYou’s internal team
This was never JUST about passing an audit
Today, Cyber Essentials Plus renewal is far simpler and more sustainable for WithYou.
The charity continues to work closely with Kocho to build on this success, with further initiatives underway to strengthen cyber maturity, improve partner access security and maintain safe, seamless services for staff, partners and clients alike.
