Thanks to their open-minded and forward-thinking approach, Securitas Netherlands emerged as a pioneer in adopting innovative technologies. A notable example is their early implementation of SD-WAN. “Transitioning from an MPLS solution to SD-WAN was a daring move, especially as it preceded the technology’s major breakthrough that began around 2018. It exemplifies the spirit of innovation within the Netherlands and our company”, says Vanden Haesevelde. “Moreover, it underscores the mutual trust between Securitas and Colibri Consulting, as we opted to follow their advice.”

Over the years, Colibri Consulting has evolved from a trusted advisor to a managed service partner, enabling Securitas Netherlands to concentrate on their core business.

The collaboration between Securitas Netherlands and Colibri Consulting dates back to 2015 when the security company sought a trusted advisor who could challenge their mindset and think along. With a plethora of specialized and complex solutions, including video surveillance systems and alarm receivers, Securitas Netherlands required a network beyond the standard. Thus, they engaged Colibri Consulting to assess the market and find the optimal tools for maintaining their competitive edge.

“First, we identified our crown jewels, such as the control room or SOC. It is imperative for this room to remain redundant and operational without any interruptions”, says Ken Vanden Haesevelde. “Our client contracts stipulate the maximum allowable downtime per month for our systems. Exceeding this could result in severe claims and significant financial losses. To build a solution capable of meeting our demands, we required a partner with exceptional levels of quality, expertise and rapid response times.”

Ken Vanden Haesevelde

Today, they rely on Colibri to oversee the management of their office network and control room in Geldrop. Securitas Netherlands now operates on a highly available network, harnessing proven technology from best-in-class vendors for a range of data center and office solutions. This includes IPSec, (SD-)WAN, LAN, next-gen firewalling, load balancing and VPN. For the latter, Colibri established a VPN platform that automates and expedites the configuration process for Securitas’ clients.

Furthermore, Colibri Consulting implemented a shared internet solution for Securitas Netherlands and Belgium. This enables Securitas to establish itself as a licensed operator that purchases bandwidth from a provider but maintains full control over its internet connection. Not only is this crucial for ensuring the network’s high availability, it also helps the company reduce costs. “Our multi-vendor, multi-country and multi-network solution is among the achievements we are most proud of in our collaboration with Colibri Consulting”, says Vanden Haesevelde.

“Colibri Consulting’s unwavering commitment is a primary reason why Securitas Netherlands has chosen them as our main networking partner”, says Ken Vanden Haesevelde. “They consistently offer suitable solutions, even when facing challenging situations. Colibri Consulting is remarkably flexible, which sets them apart from conventional partners bound to rigid best practices. Their vendor-agnostic approach holds significant value for Securitas Netherlands, especially as more and more technology choices are driven from above. Colibri’s experts excel at assessing the feasibility of a solution, even when it is not their preferred choice. They support all major vendors as well as emerging technologies.”

”Colibri Consulting’s small team of experts are seasoned veterans in their area of expertise and highly efficient in getting the job done.

Ken Vanden Haesevelde

"Whether it’s network architecture, troubleshooting, remote monitoring or operational management, we have challenged them numerous times and they never failed to deliver. That’s why we continue to involve them in future projects, such as the implementation of a cutting-edge network access control solution. We can say with confidence that Colibri Consulting is the ideal partner for our managed network services.”