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Cyber Security Uplift Across a Multi-Branch Business

An automotive group with 12 branches and 450+ employees had outgrown its security posture. Controls were inconsistent across locations, with no unifying framework, while the business held sensitive data for 60,000+ customers. MethodWerx anchored the uplift to the Essential 8, designing a scalable framework that lifted compliance by 40% within six months.

Client
Confidential Automotive Group
Industry
Automotive
Engagement
Cyber Security Uplift — Essential 8

Executive summary

An automotive group with 12 branches and 450+ employees had outgrown its security posture. Controls were inconsistent across locations, there was no unifying framework to set expectations, and the business held sensitive data for more than 60,000 customers.

MethodWerx anchored the uplift to the Essential 8, giving the business a recognised, measurable benchmark. The framework was designed to apply consistently across all branches and scale with growth, with uplift priorities set by risk rather than convenience.

The engagement delivered a 40% uplift in Essential 8 compliance within six months, established a consistent security posture across all 12 branches and 450+ employees, and materially better protected the data of 60,000+ customers — with ongoing measurement so leadership could track maturity and report to the board.

The challenge

  • Security posture outgrown by a business spanning 12 branches and 450+ employees
  • Controls inconsistent across locations
  • No unifying security framework to set expectations
  • Sensitive data held for more than 60,000 customers
  • Uplift needed to be practical, measurable and able to scale with growth
Controls were inconsistent across locations, with no unifying framework, and the business held sensitive data for 60,000+ customers.

The approach

01

Baseline against the Essential 8

Baselined the current security posture against the Essential 8 and prioritised the gaps by risk.

02

Design a scalable framework

Designed a framework covering controls, policies and responsibilities across IT, vendors and leadership — built to apply consistently across all branches and scale with growth.

03

Sequenced branch rollout

Rolled the framework out across all 12 branches, sequenced to deliver the highest risk reduction earliest.

04

Ongoing measurement

Embedded ongoing measurement so leadership could track maturity and report to the board.

The offering

Security baseline

  • Security posture baselined against the Essential 8
  • Gaps identified and prioritised by risk
  • A recognised, measurable benchmark for the uplift

Security framework

  • Controls, policies and responsibilities defined end to end
  • Coverage across IT, vendors and leadership
  • Consistent application across all branches

Branch rollout

  • Rollout across all 12 branches
  • Sequenced to deliver the highest risk reduction earliest
  • Designed to scale with business growth

Measurement & governance

  • Ongoing measurement embedded into operations
  • Leadership visibility of security maturity
  • Board-ready reporting on compliance progress

Outcomes delivered

40%

Uplift in Essential 8 compliance within six months

12

Branches with a consistent security posture

450+

Employees covered by the framework

60,000+

Customers whose data is materially better protected

Essential 8

Recognised, measurable security benchmark

Embedded

Leadership and board visibility of maturity

Business impact

Executive leadership & board

  • A recognised benchmark for security performance
  • Ongoing measurement and board-ready reporting
  • Clear, risk-based priorities for continued investment

IT & security teams

  • Consistent controls, policies and responsibilities
  • A framework that works across IT, vendors and leadership
  • Risk-prioritised gaps instead of an undifferentiated backlog

The organisation

  • Materially better protection for 60,000+ customers' data
  • A security posture that scales with growth
  • Consistent protection across every branch

Why MethodWerx

Cyber security uplift is most effective when it is anchored to a recognised benchmark, prioritised by risk and measured continuously. MethodWerx brings:

  • Essential 8 baseline and maturity assessment
  • Security framework design across controls, policies and responsibilities
  • Risk-prioritised uplift planning
  • Multi-branch and multi-site rollout
  • Vendor and third-party security alignment
  • Board-level measurement and reporting

By anchoring the uplift to the Essential 8 and sequencing delivery by risk, the automotive group achieved a 40% compliance uplift within six months and a consistent, scalable security posture across all 12 branches.

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