Montae & Partners is a Dutch consultancy firm that helps organizations navigate complex challenges, including pensions, absenteeism, employee benefits, and risk management. Their clients include large employers and pension funds that place a high value on information security. For Montae & Partners, cybersecurity is not just a technical requirement. It is a vital part of earning and maintaining client trust.
Lars Huurdeman, Information Security Consultant at Montae & Partners, supports the organization’s internal security operations and oversees compliance with standards like ISO 27001. With a growing team and limited time, he needed a smarter way to embed security awareness into the day-to-day flow of work.
The challenge: Limited insight into impact and growing expectations
As a service provider to clients in the financial and pension sectors, Montae & Partners must meet strict compliance requirements. “We need to comply with ISO 27001, and increasingly also with frameworks like DORA, because our clients do. That means we are contractually required to have a security awareness program in place.”
"We need to comply with ISO 27001 and frameworks like DORA. That means we are required to have a security awareness program in place."
Before working with Guardey, the approach to awareness was scattered. “We didn’t have a structured training setup. We would share a short update during quarterly meetings or mention security in team check-ins, but that was about it.”
The biggest problem was the lack of insight into impact. “You can give a presentation and employees will say it was interesting, but you never know what actually stuck with them.” And time was always a challenge. “Everyone here is extremely busy. If you give employees a 20-minute video to watch, they are just not going to do it.”
The solution: Short challenges, shared excitement
Lars began researching security awareness platforms. “Guardey stood out because the challenges are short and to the point. It doesn’t feel like a requirement. It feels like a fun part of your workday.”
That format turned out to be a great match for the company’s internal culture. “We’re pretty competitive as a team. Features like the leaderboard really seem to work for us. Employees started talking about it and encouraging each other to join in.”
To support the rollout, Lars created weekly updates. “I’d share how many employees participated, who still needed to get started, and what the topic was that week. That helped build awareness and keep everyone engaged.”
"Even though I graduated in this subject, some questions still challenged me. But the difficulty builds gradually. The first round eases you in, so everyone can join."
The content also hit the right level. “Even though I graduated in this subject, some questions still challenged me. But the difficulty builds gradually. The first rounds ease you in, so everyone can join. And each week you learn something new.”
The result: Culture, conversation, and nearly 90% participation
Guardey quickly became part of the routine at Montae & Partners. “We reached nearly 90 percent participation. The remaining 10 percent were mainly contractors, who are often harder to reach.”
What really stood out was the internal enthusiasm. “Employees are talking about Guardey in the hallways. They ask each other about the week’s challenge and how they did. It really became part of the culture.”
"Employees are talking about Guardey in the hallways. They ask each other about the week’s challenge and how they did. It really became part of our company culture."
One team even scheduled a half hour every week to do the challenge together. “That level of motivation is great to see.”
Lars also appreciated that the platform covered more than just workplace topics. “It includes scenarios that are relevant at home too, like smart doorbells or working from a café. That makes employees more aware in their personal digital lives as well.”
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