Michael Argast and his relentless mission to secure small businesses 

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In the constantly developed cyberspace security world, there are giants who build a few, then there are visions like Michael Arjast, who are building for many.

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As part of the CCN Cyber ​​Champions series, where we shed light on the foundations of cybersecurity in Canada and their companies, we are happy to bring the story of Kobalt.io, a company based in Vancouver that deals with one of the sectors that suffer from lack of services and risk in cybersecurity: small and medium -sized companies (SMBS).

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Kobalt.io is not just a company, it's important. At the heart of that, his founder did not start building another emerging, but he could not resist the call to solve a problem that no one else seems to be ready to treat.

From semi -retirement to startup

When Argast participated in the establishment of Kobalt.io in 2018, he was not a guest of a dream to be a technical businessman. In fact, Argast had already had a “semi -retired” after an impressive profession in security giants such as Sophos and was wandering in a lifestyle called Sky North.

Then came a call from a friend of a colleague and colleague in technology, Steve Monford, who encouraged Argast to meet experienced investors: Boris Wertz from Version One Ventures and Pankaj Agarwal, both deeply firmly firmly in the startup system in Canada. Their stadium was simple: Small and medium -sized companies were crushed through the scene of the increasing cyber threat, and no one was building a kind of development and accessible security support at reasonable prices.

“I didn't want to run a company again,” Arjast laughs. “But I could not stop thinking about the security break of small companies.”

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Why Kobalt.io? Name goal

Cobalt's name was not an accident. It is inspired by the concept of “blue team” in cybersecurity (defenders), the blue color, and the idea of ​​strength through consistency, the brand represents everything that the company represents.

“Kobalt revolves around clarity, reliability and protection,” says Arges. “We are here to be the security team that small companies can rely on.”

In the name, “.” From the first day, Kobalt.io was built with sympathy for small business owners, and people who go away, operations and survival, and often without a single custom security resource.

The first brutal year – and penetration

Starting startups often exonerate grinding, but the first year of Kobalt was shiny.

The team started trying to build a dedicated safety monitor using open source tools such as flexibility, but they soon found themselves burning a lot of capital and time.

Enter a pivotal decision: partnership with Splink. The decision came with differentials, including a tremendous shift in the team's structure and the business model. But it was the turning point that allowed Kobalt to expand its services without drowning in development cycles.

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By the end of that first year, they had 15 customers paying and formulating the traction that determines their path.

A giant market is hiding in sight

Today, Kobalt.io serves more than 750 small and medium -sized companies in North America and abroad. The company provides virtual ciso services, the development of the safety program, the willingness of compliance, and the monitoring around the clock throughout the week, all of which are designed on the facts of small and medium -based companies budget and time.

The problem they are huge. More than 40 percent of electronic attacks target small companies, but most of these organizations do not have resources, talents or awareness to defend themselves. They were arrested in a dangerous medium land: very small to attract full -time security teams, but they are too big to fly under the radar of the threats.

“It is not a technical problem. It is a people, a practical and a photographer of resources. We build a repetitive and reliable way to solve it.”

Depends on the task, people focus

The only thing that stands out around Kobalt.io is a culture of care. Whether it is on a starting starting company of 10 people or helps to meet the rapidly increasing technology requirements, Kobalt's approach is based on sympathy and education.

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“The most difficult part for most small and medium companies is the start,” says Arges. “We help them take this first step, then the next and the next. It is not a matter of perfection overnight, but rather a fixed progress.”

Kobalt model is also deeply developed. By uniting the basic elements of the security program and providing them as a management service, the company can support hundreds and in the end thousands of customers without prejudice to quality or allocation.

Leadership in Canadian values, competing for a global stage

As a Canadian founder, Argast is excited to push the cyberspace in Canada forward. It is also realistic about the country's challenges. “In Canada, we are careful. We often apply the adoption of a new technology, and this includes cloud and cybersecurity,” as noted. “But great security enables innovation. It helps companies grow, win larger deals and expand faster.”

Kobalt.io is a living evidence of it. Thanks to its roots in Vancouver and customers through multiple industries from health technology to e -commerce to financial services, the company explains how the Canadian company can flourish in one of the most competitive markets in the world.

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Advice for the next generation of Internet champions

Argast is not only a company building; It directs the next wave of cybersecurity. His biggest advice? The network is unabated and depth.

“Most of the functions of cybersecurity are not published. You must be part of society, attend events, volunteer, and get your name there,” urges. “And don't try to be a general expert. Choose an area like discovering threats, compliance or hacking test and goes deeply at the level of the obsessed. This is how it will stand out.”

Looking to the future: expanding with influence

Kobalt.io has no interest in chasing Unicorn's position for addresses. Instead, the company focuses on the laser scaling. As the SMB market and cybersecurity risks continue to rise, the opportunity to help thousands, even tens of thousands, from companies to secure their future is very real.

“We want to be the virtual security team for the continent,” says Arjast. “Not only in technology, but in manufacturing, health care, financing and retail – everywhere.”

Why Kobalt.io is a real internet hero

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In CCN, we believe in the celebration of builders who make a real difference. Kobalt.io exactly delivers cybersecurity at the institution level for companies that need more than others but cannot bear it. In a world obsessed with delightful technology and billion dollars assessments, Kobalt.io reminds us that the real influence comes from solving difficult problems and ignoring with integrity, creativity and care unabated.

Contact Kobalt.io: https://kobalt.io
Follow Michael Argast on LinkedIn: Linkin.com/IN/Michalalargast

This section is supported by Dynamix revenues. Revenues Dynamix provides innovative marketing solutions designed to assist IT and companies with prosperity in the Canadian market, as it offers visions and strategies that drive growth and success through the information technology spectrum of institutions.

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