The client

Lamex Food Group is a leading international supplier of food products, specialising in frozen, ambient and chilled goods. Operating since 1966, Lamex Food Group has a worldwide network with over 300 representatives operating from 23 offices in 21 countries. 

Lamex plays a vital role in the food supply chain, providing high-quality products to customers worldwide. As a large, multinational organisation, Lamex requires robust IT infrastructure to support its rapid growth and diverse business needs. 

The challenge 

As Lamex expanded, its existing IT systems needed to keep up with the demands of a growing global business.  

Lamex approached Arc to help optimise its IT infrastructure with compliance and cybersecurity. With operations spread across multiple locations and diverse time zones, Lamex needed reliable IT partners who can provide proactive support and ensure seamless connectivity across its expansive network. 

The solution 

Working with specialist partners such as Mimecast, Sophos and Cloudflare, we support Lamex with services including:  

  • Extended Detection and Response (XDR) 
  • Managed Detection and Response (MDR) 
  • Privileged Access Management (PAM) 
  • User and Access Management (UAM) 
  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) 

We also deliver a quarterly consultancy service that as acts as a cost-effective way to upskill internal staff and ensure Lamex is always using the most up-to-date security solutions.  

On-demand IT support also means that internal IT staff are freed from time-consuming troubleshooting. With the speed at which cybersecurity threats evolve and new technologies are developed, it would be a significant investment to hire experts and upskill staff in response. Outsourcing that expertise for a pre-agreed cost is a sustainable way to ensure that expertise is present.  

The results 

Lamex has benefited from our flexibility, as well as our team’s recommendations and support. 

Our managed IT services enabled Lamex to enhance operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and improve overall system performance. By providing proactive support and future-proofing their IT infrastructure, we’ve helped Lamex achieve greater business agility and productivity. 

George Leventis, Group IT Director, said: “Just before the pandemic, we were aware of a lot of companies in the food business being hit by ransomware. We’d already implemented Arc’s recommendations and we weren’t affected at all. On a day-to-day basis, we’re consumed with the internals and our customers – we don’t always have the time to look into these things. Instead, we take Arc’s advice and procure their recommendations if they say it’s imperative to the business. 

“With Arc, we know we can go to our main contact and get the lowdown on what the latest security issues are and what the best practices are. We regularly meet with the Arc team to get an update on the latest trends and technology advances; they come into our offices and have question sessions – we find that more cost-effective rather than having to hire a team of skilled personnel.” 

Our partnership with Lamex has also been pivotal in supporting their growth and helping them stay competitive in a fast-paced, global market. Not only can Lamex’s clients expect the highest levels of security, but Lamex is also a market leader in terms of compliance; this makes them an attractive prospect for new business, as well as fostering loyalty from existing clients.  

“Having an MSP like Arc in your back pocket allows us to keep our in-house IT department small, so there’s cost savings there that enables money to be invested in other products.”

Michael Crane, Global IT Infrastructure Manager at Lamex Food Group

There are two major ways that having Arc taking care of Lamex’s compliance and security requirements is key to the company’s continued success and growth.  

Michael Crane, Global IT Infrastructure Manager, said: “Both suppliers and customers of ours send us questionnaires on compliance. They ask how secure we are, what we spend on security, our turnover – and we have to tick those boxes. One client sends us these questions annually and, if we can’t meet their criteria, they’d take their business elsewhere. That’s where this partnership with Arc really comes into it, because (we’ll take the questions to them) and they say: ‘We’ve just implemented this new product that meets this requirement’. 

“For example, we were hit by a Russian hacker who sent over a million emails in the space of four weeks. They were attempting a dictionary attack (a type of cyberattack intended to gain unauthorised access to a system or account by trying a large number of likely passwords or passphrases). But because we’d implemented Mimecast as an email filter through Arc’s recommendations, every single one was deflected. 

“Having an MSP like Arc in your back pocket allows us to keep our in-house IT department small, so there’s cost savings there that enables money to be invested in other products. Then there’s the other side – because we’ve implemented Arc’s recommendations, we haven’t lost millions in revenue due to hacks; we’re a $2 billion-turnover business, and it’s integral to business growth not to have money drop out and have to make extra sales to cover the losses.”