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We’re excited to offer two powerful devices from Microsoft’s award-winning Surface range to the South African market. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 for Business and the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 for Business are designed for the modern workplace, with built-in security from chip to cloud.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it would address the growing demand for Surface products in South Africa. In July, the company confirmed that the Surface Laptop 3 and the Surface Pro 7 would be sold locally.
“As with previous Surface devices, we have delivered best-in-class upgrades for our new additions to the family, to ensure that individuals and organisations have access to the optimal performance they need to achieve more in the office, classroom, or out in the field,” explained Vithesh Reddy (Consumer and Channel Marketing Director, Microsoft South Africa) at the time.
The Surface Laptop 3 and the Surface Pro 7 are now available to consumers via selected retailers, and to commercial organisations via selected partners. BUI is proud to be an authorised Surface reseller in SA, and to provide business editions of both models to enterprises nationwide.
“Microsoft has put security and performance at the heart of its Surface collection,” says BUI Managing Director Ryan Roseveare. “The Laptop 3 and the Pro 7 are popular devices that deliver the power, speed, and mobility prized by on-the-go professionals, as well as the functionality required for comprehensive device management and protection,” he continues.
“As more and more businesses move to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives, the demand for robust, secure, enterprise-level productivity tools continues to grow. The Surface for Business devices available through BUI are geared for modern workplace communication and collaboration, and they are compelling solutions for companies that need to cater for evolving teams of on-site and remote staff,” Roseveare adds.
The Surface Laptop 3 for Business is a powerhouse fuelled by the latest 10th Generation Intel® Core™ processor. Available in two sizes (13.5″ and 15″) and featuring a vibrant PixelSense™ Display touchscreen, this lightweight and easy-to-carry laptop boasts Windows 10 Pro (64 bit) out of the box, Fast Charge capability (80% charge in around 60 minutes), and Windows Hello sign-in.
Surface Laptop 3 for Business key specifications at a glance:
Interested? Download the Surface Laptop 3 for Business brochure.
The Surface Pro 7 for Business blends versatility and flexibility in a high-performance 2-in-1 device with the unplugged power (up to 10.5 hours of battery life) and the processing speed required to support the pace of modern business. In tablet mode, it becomes a handheld studio or a portable workstation. And when combined with the Surface Pro Type Cover keyboard (sold separately), it delivers a full laptop experience.
Surface Pro 7 for Business key specifications at a glance:
Interested? Download the Surface Pro 7 for Business brochure.
Roseveare believes Microsoft’s commitment to innovation shines through in the Surface for Business range. “The Surface Laptop 3 and the Surface Pro 7 are prime examples of the multi-functional machines that people are exploring for everyday productivity. Microsoft has balanced user concerns like performance and compatibility with enterprise concerns like security, manageability, and ease-of-deployment to create these truly sophisticated devices, which BUI is excited to showcase to South Africa,” Roseveare concludes.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 for Business and the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 for Business can be ordered now through our sales teams. Surface Pro Type Cover keyboards in Black, Charcoal, Poppy Red, and Ice Blue (pictured above) are also available. The expected lead time is 8-10 weeks. Terms and conditions apply.
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Need help setting up Microsoft Teams? Keen to learn more about workplace security? Explore our workshops.
We’re thrilled to announce that we won the Modern Workplace Partner of the Year Award, the Azure Infrastructure Partner of the Year Award, and the Security Partner of the Year Award at the 2020 Microsoft South Africa Partner Awards last night (30 September). BUI was also named as a finalist for the Consulting Services Partner of the Year Award. Congratulations, BUI team! This is an amazing achievement after a year of unprecedented challenges in the face of COVID-19.
Microsoft SA’s awards ceremony was conducted virtually for the first time, as part of the company’s commitment to local lockdown protocols. Held annually, the Microsoft SA Partner Awards recognise and celebrate Microsoft Partners for their performances and achievements. Judging takes place across numerous categories after intensive reviews of the award submissions, and trophies are usually presented at a gala dinner in Johannesburg. Last night, Microsoft SA Managing Director Lillian Barnard (pictured above) acknowledged the different digital format as she welcomed more than 350 attendees to the online celebration.
“I really would have loved the opportunity to meet you all in person,” said Barnard. “This is an exceptional moment in history, and over the past several months all of us have been put to the test. However, the innovation and responsiveness of our partner community has helped many organisations survive,” she continued, highlighting the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and thanking partners for their commitment, passion, and energy.
For Managing Director Ryan Roseveare, the Modern Workplace Partner of the Year trophy is an important acknowledgement of our unwavering focus on customer needs. “The term ‘workplace’ took on a different meaning this year as companies grappled with the demands of doing business under lockdown. BUI was quick to respond, and to provide innovative solutions that enabled customers to move entire workloads to the cloud and to shift entire workforces to remote desktops, efficiently and securely,” he explains. “I’m thrilled with this accolade, but prestigious honours like this would not be possible without the dedication of our people. They work very hard to create value-driven Microsoft solutions for our customers.”
Technical Director Willem Malan is equally pleased with this recognition, especially as we continue to pursue a cloud-first strategy. “We’re actively expanding our already strong professional environment with additional competencies to further support our customers through digital transformation. By focusing on change management, we can ensure that end-users are fully prepared to leverage cloud-based productivity tools like Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams, wherever their workplaces may be located,” he says.
BUI achieved the highest infrastructure-related Azure consumer revenue in FY2020 and was the first SA Microsoft Partner to launch a Cyber Security Operations Centre powered by Sentinel. Last night’s Azure Infrastructure Partner of the Year victory was particularly special, says Roseveare. “We’re cloud enthusiasts as well as cloud advocates,” he explains.
Helping customers to modernise and secure their operations with Azure is a real passion for everyone here at BUI, concurs Malan. “Our success stories are built on a foundation of service excellence. We all understand the importance of delivering relevant Azure solutions that work for our customers, and that align with their strategic business vision, and that ultimately enable them to serve and support their own clients using a scalable and incredibly powerful cloud platform.”
Roseveare and Malan are delighted to see BUI take home the Security Partner of the Year Award for the second year in a row. “This accolade speaks to our central philosophy,” says Roseveare. “Security is at the heart of our business and we make it a core part of design, deployment, and management projects for our customers. By harnessing Microsoft’s robust security tools, we can empower organisations to proactively protect their critical assets.”
Security is an ongoing concern for local enterprises, says Malan. “South Africans experienced a surge in coronavirus-related cybercrime this year, and while the pandemic certainly increased the frequency of malicious attacks, it’s important to remember that the threat is constant. We are committed to leading from the front with modern security solutions. BUI specialists are highly skilled and best-in-class, and this recognition from Microsoft is well-earned and well-deserved.”
Our trophy haul last night marks the latest achievement in a banner year for our company. Since the beginning of 2020, BUI has celebrated its 20th anniversary, been named Microsoft’s Country Partner of the Year for South Africa, become the first local Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Services Provider, and attained Microsoft’s new Adoption and Change Management Advanced Specialization.
“I’m extremely proud of Team BUI,” concludes Roseveare. “They have helped our customers to stay online, to keep connected, and to remain secure throughout the extraordinary circumstances of this year, and I know they will carry the same passion forward as we look ahead to the future.”
Thank you for making these achievements possible, everyone!
Have you educated your staff about cybersecurity? Join us for the Creating Your Human Firewall webinar on 15 October and see how to transform your employees into cyber defenders!
When was the last time you conducted a pen-test? Sign up for our Evolution of Penetration Testing webinar on 16 October to explore new ways to protect your digital estate.
BUI is proud to announce its commitment to Cybersecurity Awareness Month, held annually in October, by signing up as a Champion organisation and joining a growing global effort to promote awareness of online safety and privacy.
This year, Champion organisations include technology companies Cisco, Kaspersky, McAfee, and Palo Alto Networks, as well as industry heavyweights like General Motors.
The Cybersecurity Awareness Month Champion programme is a collaborative effort among businesses, government agencies, tertiary education institutions, associations, and non-profit organisations and individuals committed to the 2020 Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme of “Do Your Part – #BeCyberSmart”. The programme aims to empower individuals and organisations to own their role in protecting their part of cyberspace.
The overarching message of this year’s theme – “If You Connect It, Protect It” – dives into the importance of keeping connected devices safe and secure from outside influence.
More than ever before, connected devices have been woven into society as an integral part of how people communicate and access services essential to their well-being. Data collected from these devices can detail highly specific information about a person or business which can be exploited by threat actors for their personal gain. Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to shed light on these security vulnerabilities, while offering guidance around simple security measures to limit the risks for commonly used devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
This year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month will feature four main focus areas:
If everybody does their part – by implementing stronger security practices, raising community awareness, educating vulnerable audiences, and training employees – then our interconnected world will be safer and more resilient for everyone.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month continues to build momentum and impact with the ultimate goal of providing everyone with the information they need to stay safer and more secure online. The initiative, which is led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) of the United States Department of Homeland Security, is in its 17th year.
Visit staysafeonline.org for more information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2020, and follow BUI on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for daily cybersecurity resources! Throughout October, we will be sharing tips to help you and your teams be safer and more secure online.
Join our own Wayne Nel and Cyber Risk Aware CEO Stephen Burke for an exclusive live webinar on Thursday 15 October 2020.
Creating Your Human Firewall will show you how to transform your employees into cyber defenders. Reserve your seat!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve earned the new Adoption and Change Management Advanced Specialization from Microsoft!
Introduced in April 2020, this niche specialization is reserved for top-tier Microsoft Partners with both the deep-level expertise and the experience to support and empower customers as they embrace organisational change.
“We’re always focused on meeting our customers where they are in terms of digital transformation, and these engagements involve so much more than just the deployment of technology,” explains Willem Malan, our national technical director.
“We help people to adapt to new practices, leverage new tools, and find innovative ways to improve efficiency. Microsoft’s recognition is an acknowledgement of our specific capabilities in this area, and our commitment to the highest levels of service delivery.”
As business transformation gains momentum and technology continues to reshape workplaces everywhere, Malan believes a people-first approach to change management is paramount. “Change can be challenging, but when you put people at the centre of the process, and provide the coaching and guidance they need to navigate their new circumstances, you create an environment that encourages user adoption. And that’s important, because people are the end users. They’re the ones who have to utilise the technology to drive the business forward.”
Malan’s sentiments are shared by our Western Cape general manager, Thys Janse Van Rensburg, who has helmed change-management projects for several of our customers, including Capitec Bank.
“Our journeys with customers are characterised by intensive planning, meticulous execution, and teamwork. The teamwork component is perhaps the most important of all, because effective change management requires successful collaboration at every stage,” says Janse Van Rensburg.
BUI is well positioned to help enterprises of all sizes adopt Microsoft Teams, Microsoft SharePoint, Yammer, and other Microsoft 365 technologies for digital enablement, remote productivity, and secure communication.
“We’re all part of the new normal, but ultimately, we’re humans doing business. Here at BUI, we’re determined to help our customers find the best pathways to success as they change, grow, and prepare for the future,” concludes Malan.
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It’s official! BUI has been named a Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Services Provider (MSP). We’re extremely proud to be the first South African company to achieve this distinction, which is currently held by only a select group of Microsoft Partners worldwide.
The Microsoft Azure Expert MSP programme recognises Microsoft Partners with the proven expertise and capability to deliver the highest quality of managed end-to-end Microsoft Azure cloud services, from initial planning and design through to implementation, operation, and optimisation.
“This is a fantastic achievement for BUI and a win for our customers,” says Managing Director Ryan Roseveare. “This is an acknowledgement of our skills and competencies around Microsoft Azure and benefits our company and our customers. It shows that we are in the top tier of globally recognised Microsoft Partners, and that we are highly successful when it comes to managing modern cloud environments. As more and more South African businesses explore cloud-based solutions, the need for Azure specialists grows. We’re proud to rank among the best, and to support local companies.”
Roseveare’s sentiments are shared by Technical Director Willem Malan: “Now, more than ever, I think customers are looking for the best partners to support them through digital transformation. We have attained Microsoft Azure Expert MSP status and that is certainly a validation of our abilities, but more importantly, it’s an assurance for our customers. It shows that we’re equipped to provide truly world-class service, and to deliver Azure cloud services at scale for enterprises across the board.”
To participate in the Azure Expert MSP programme, Microsoft Partners must meet stringent requirements defined by Microsoft and independently evaluated by third-party auditors.
“The process is rigorous,” explains Malan. “Our teams have been assessed on everything from technical aptitude to customer deliveries, and we’re delighted with the positive feedback received. We’re fortunate to have so many talented, passionate people who are committed to delivering business value for our customers,” he says.
“We congratulate BUI on their Azure Expert MSP recognition and look forward to working alongside them, to help more customers make the move to the cloud as a critical enabler of digital transformation. It is a digital transformation journey that for many has accelerated exponentially, as the need for remote working has increased. Our partners are a cornerstone of the Microsoft ecosystem, now more than ever, as we navigate towards a post COVID-19 business landscape that creates hybrid workplaces that are secure, cost efficient and streamlined,” says Lillian Barnard, Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa.
“We’re honoured to have earned this prestigious accreditation, and we look forward to helping more customers benefit from the security and scalability of Microsoft Azure,” concludes Roseveare.
Congratulations, Team BUI! We have won the 2020 Microsoft South Africa Partner of the Year Award! Earlier this evening, BUI was honoured among a global field of top Microsoft Partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.
Managing Director Ryan Roseveare is thrilled with this accolade! It’s not the first time we’ve taken home this trophy, but it’s a particularly special achievement for us in 2020, the year of our 20th corporate anniversary. “We’re honoured to be recognised for delivering innovative, impactful solutions that make our customers more secure, more productive, and more competitive,” Roseveare said.
“Every team member works to ensure that our customers get the best service, the right resources, and real value, every time,” he added.
The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognise Microsoft Partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions during the past year. Awards are classified in several categories, with honourees chosen from a set of more than 3 300 submitted nominations from more than 100 countries worldwide.
BUI was recognised for providing outstanding solutions and services in South Africa.
“Digital transformation and security remain key concerns for South African businesses,” Roseveare said, explaining that BUI is working closely with Microsoft to create platform-specific solutions that address these challenges, while actively driving cloud adoption and providing cutting-edge security services from the BUI Cyber Security Operations Centre.
“Winning the Microsoft country partner award this year is a wonderful acknowledgement of our efforts to support local enterprises as they embrace new tools and technologies for a better tomorrow,” he concluded.
This year’s award announcement was a preliminary celebration ahead of the annual Microsoft Inspire conference, where Partner of the Year winners are also feted.
“It is an honour to recognise the winners and finalists of the 2020 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards,” said Gavriella Schuster, corporate vice president, One Commercial Partner, Microsoft. “These partners go above and beyond, delivering timely solutions that solve the complex challenges that businesses around the world face – from communicating and collaborating virtually to helping customers realise their full potential with Azure cloud services, and beyond. I am proud to honour and congratulate each winner and finalist.”
Take a bow, Team BUI. Successes like these are possible because of the passion and commitment you show every day. Thank you, and well done.
We’re going to implement the DMARC email security standard for our existing customers, free of charge, as part of our ongoing efforts to help create a safer internet.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is an email authentication system designed to protect an email domain from cyberattackers who may try to compromise the owner, brand, or business through domain spoofing, phishing, or cyber fraud.
Created by PayPal together with Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! and other industry leaders, the DMARC protocol leverages two existing email authentication techniques – SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) – while adding a reporting function that provides visibility into the domain owner’s email ecosystem.
As a domain owner, you want to have peace of mind about the emails that are being sent under your banner. Not only for your reputation, but for the reputation of your business, too. You want to know that your staff, customers, partners, and suppliers are receiving legitimate emails from real representatives of your organisation, not scammers impersonating you or your people. DMARC assures all those who receive your emails that the messages are authentic and trustworthy – and that they originated from your true domain.
There were an estimated 3.9 billion active email users last year – and that number is expected to reach 4.2 billion by 2022. Email is a big part of our personal and professional lives – but it’s also an information-rich environment that attracts malicious actors. For cybercriminals, the ability to mimic a business through email is extremely valuable, and could open the door for data theft, identity theft, and account fraud.
More than a million organisations – including Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Dell, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter – are already using DMARC to help secure their email. DMARC is considered best practice by industry leaders around the globe. We’ve decided to deploy DMARC for our customers because we want to make sure that they have comprehensive email protection, in compliance with the latest standards.
We’ve enlisted local technology startup Sendmarc to help us do this as seamlessly as possible. The South African company, co-founded by entrepreneurs Keith Thompson, Sam Hutchinson, and Sacha Matulovich, specialises in DMARC implementation and monitoring.
The Sendmarc software gathers, interprets, and analyses DMARC data reports to provide actionable insights for domain owners. It takes a complex collection of technical data and makes it clear, visual, and easy to understand so that domain owners can see exactly what’s happening in their email environments – and then take steps to address any issues detected.
Phishing plays a role in over 90 percent of all cyberattacks – and that’s why it’s critical for domain owners to be proactive about email security. Brands and businesses can’t afford to ignore the fact that cyberattackers are constantly searching for new ways to steal money, personal information, credit card data, and login credentials. Email will remain a target, but the DMARC protocol can help strengthen cyber resilience at the domain level.
Customers will receive correspondence from BUI, outlining the steps for DMARC deployment and providing additional resources to help them understand the benefits of this email security measure.
The DMARC protocol will then be added to the customer’s DNS, and approximately 4-6 weeks later, the customer will receive a report outlining any issues detected.
Managing cybersecurity for an increased remote workforce requires careful consideration of the people and protocols throughout your business.
South Africa’s nationwide COVID-19 lockdown has made remote work a business necessity. And while you may have supported a handful of work-from-home employees before the pandemic, a rapid transition to a fully remote workforce is likely to test your capabilities. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution when you pivot from a traditional, physical hub to a virtual workspace, but there is one critical concern that should guide your actions: cybersecurity.
Effective cybersecurity requires both visibility and control. When your day-to-day business operations are centralised, it’s simpler for IT personnel to safeguard data and resources. They’re able to monitor networks, supervise hardware and software usage, and help govern employee behaviour to insulate your company from cyberthreats. They’re gatekeepers and guardians with defined perimeters, 360-degree views, and the power to manage endpoints and end users alike.
But what happens when your employees have to work remotely from their homes? What happens when they use household wi-fi, personal devices, and public applications to keep in touch with colleagues and complete job-related tasks? And what happens to your corporate security posture when it’s suddenly linked to domestic ecosystems that you cannot see and do not own?
The digital landscape has been changed by COVID-19. The threat landscape has been changed as well. One of the biggest challenges for cybersecurity teams right now is the protection of remote workers (and workloads) in a fluid environment where the risks have been greatly amplified by the current social and economic circumstances. While businesses are grappling with the coronavirus fallout on all fronts, cyberattackers are looking for novel ways to exploit systemic vulnerabilities and individual fears. Security measures that factor in technological and human considerations are more important than ever before. You need to look at your protocols and your people as you adjust your defensive strategy for the continuing lockdown, and the future beyond it. Our remote-work checklist will help you to close the gaps and strengthen cyber hygiene…
Few organisations were equipped to transform their employees into remote workers at the pace required for sustained productivity after South Africa’s lockdown announcement in March. Travel limitations and retail restrictions also made it difficult to purchase new corporate hardware for personnel to use at home. As a result, there are several remote-work scenarios in play: staff using company-owned devices; staff using their own devices; staff using borrowed devices from friends and relatives; or a combination of these.
A comprehensive policy that outlines the terms and conditions of remote access to corporate resources, as well as the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved, can reduce the risk of costly disputes in the event of a security incident. Your business may also have additional legal obligations regarding the handling of personally identifiable information and intellectual property in such circumstances, and you may need to consult an expert for guidance on the applicable local and international laws.
Make sure that your employees understand the importance of system updates, program updates, and software patches as part of a healthy cybersecurity routine – and be prepared to offer additional support to those who do not usually perform these tasks on their own.
You can also put device maintenance and protection under your corporate umbrella with a cloud-based endpoint management platform like Microsoft Intune, which gives you the ability to manage and secure company-owned and employee-owned Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS devices.
Check that all devices used by remote workers have adequate firewalls and up-to-date antivirus software installed. This is particularly important for the smartphones, tablets, and laptops that employees use personally and professionally.
Windows 10 has Windows Defender Antivirus built in, and if your IT teams are monitoring endpoints with Intune or a similar solution, then you may have additional functionality to improve the cyber safety nets around remote devices.
Your employees’ home office environments may be shared by their spouses, partners, children, roommates, or even tenants. And their home networks may support web-enabled appliances like smart TVs, or IoT automation systems like lighting control, or wearable technology like fitness trackers, in addition to their own portable devices. Every connected item is a potential gateway for cyberattackers.
You can buffer corporate resources against this wider threat landscape by enforcing the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and remote desktop applications. Make sure that remote workers do all they can to safeguard their home wi-fi routers as well, in terms of physical security (making it tamper-proof) and cybersecurity (changing its default password out of the box).
Implementing multi-factor authentication will help you to maintain control over core system access and protect sensitive business data. The extra steps that remote users have to take to verify their identities are essential security checkpoints for your organisation – and additional obstacles for malicious actors.
Phishing attacks are increasing as cybervillains move to exploit the public demand for coronavirus-related news and information. And you may already know that around 80% of data breaches are linked to compromised, weak, or reused passwords. Enabling MFA can help you to secure every employee login, no matter where the employee is located.
You have to account for the fact that technical aptitude differs from person to person, and that remote work in itself may be daunting for employees who are more comfortable in a communal office where the IT department is a few metres away. Make sure remote staff know who to contact for everyday troubleshooting and emergency intervention, so that they don’t have to look for workarounds and quick fixes that could compromise their cybersecurity, and by extension, your company’s as well.
SEE HOW WE DO IT | Step inside the BUI Cyber Security Operations Centre
The COVID-19 pandemic may have pushed you to explore remote productivity earlier than you’d planned – but if you make cybersecurity the guiding principle for your remote workers today, then they’ll be better prepared to face the digital environment of the future.
We’ve embraced the idea of the modern workplace, and we’ve helped many of our customers to do the same. Neil du Plessis, our cloud solutions security architect, will discuss rapid deployment for remote work in our webinar on 27 May 2020.
He’ll be covering key areas including secure connectivity, secure collaboration, and business productivity options for small and medium-sized enterprises, with a special focus on Microsoft Teams.
Ryan Roseveare remembers walking through a Sandton shopping mall with a cellphone in his hand and hearing hushed chatter from the people behind him. “Look, that guy’s got one of those new cellphone thingies,” someone had whispered in amazement. It was the dawn of the new millennium. The world was still getting used to novelty items like mobile phones. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn were on the distant horizon. And digital technology was evolving at an unprecedented speed.
In the year 2000, Roseveare and his good friend, Willem Malan, were working at an IT firm that was struggling to adapt after a takeover. “We saw a very dynamic business deteriorate into a complete mess. It became very clear very quickly that the focus was on the stakeholders instead of the people.”
As the corporate carnage continued, Roseveare and Malan weighed their options. “We knew we didn’t want to do mundane IT. And we knew we wanted to put people first. We soon realised that starting our own business was the best thing to do,” he says. And so, BUI was born.
They started small and focused on their strengths, gradually building up a customer base in Johannesburg before taking on projects from around the country. It was a year before they could afford to move the business out of Roseveare’s house and into a corporate space. But the lessons learned in those first 12 months proved invaluable, and Roseveare believes their success comes down to five key factors…
Johannesburg had been BUI’s main hub since inception, but satellite staff had been supporting customers elsewhere, too. With increasing demand in the Mother City, and a desire to broaden the company’s range of solutions, Roseveare approached Living Tech, a leader in managed services. “We were looking to establish a hub in Cape Town, and we were also looking to expand our capabilities,” he explains.
The acquisition of Living Tech ticked both boxes: BUI gained a metropolitan office in the Cape and a new business arm to leverage in service of a growing customer base. Roseveare was determined to make the integration as smooth as possible for Living Tech employees. “For two years, we didn’t change anything. We didn’t even change the coffee!” It was a thoughtful approach that created an opportunity for new faces to become familiar ones, and for teams to learn each other’s rhythms and routines. And it worked. “We have a very close-knit community,” he says.
BUI’s expansion and continued success didn’t go unnoticed. “We had multiple corporates courting us, trying to purchase us, and we turned down a lot of offers,” confesses Roseveare, adding that he and Malan had similar concerns about BUI losing its unique identity. It was a proposal from First Technology Group CEO Arnold Sharp that finally made them reconsider.
“When Arnold came to us, he understood who we were, what we were doing, and how we worked – and he didn’t want to change us. He wanted us to retain our independence, but benefit from belonging to a bigger family,” remembers Roseveare. BUI joined the First Technology Group in 2015. “It was a positive move. It’s given us more strength, more credibility, more reach, and an ally who appreciates our philosophy.”
Being part of the First Technology Group also enabled greater collaboration within the local IT industry. BUI has had a strategic relationship with Ascent Technology since 2017. It’s an accord that Roseveare attributes as much to their shared mission as to their shared status as First Technology relatives. “I think we’re kindred spirits, as far as businesses go. And our agenda is the same: to transform our customers’ IT, modernise them, and make them secure. It makes sense for us to work together to deliver more value to the people we serve.”
Delivering value to customers is one of BUI’s fundamental principles, and technology vendors and partners have always been chosen with this core tenet in mind. “If you’re going to pin your flag to someone else’s mast, then you better choose wisely,” advises Roseveare. “We’ve been selective. We’ve chosen good partners, and good platforms, and we’ve got it right the first time.”
Going all-in with Microsoft was a key decision, and a natural one. “It was a Microsoft world when we started BUI. That worked in our favour, because we knew the market and we had the expertise. But we also saw how technology was changing society. We knew we’d have the chance to innovate alongside one of the most innovative companies in the world,” says Roseveare.
BUI also has longstanding relationships with Cisco and Palo Alto Networks. “For us, end-to-end consulting means having advanced capabilities,” explains Roseveare. “It means knowing which complementary products and services would best suit a customer’s needs. And it means mastering the skills required to develop seamless, integrated solutions.”
Aptitude is important, says Roseveare, but attitude is paramount. “We’ve got an eclectic bunch of individuals here, and our offices are open, interactive places. We talk, we share, and we encourage friendly rivalry. But there’s a golden thread in our business: everyone has the same drive, and the same passion to be the best.”
The company culture is something that Roseveare set out to establish from Day 1. Working from the spare room of his Parkhurst home, he had the dual responsibilities of new parent and new business owner. Malan, likewise, was balancing his home life with the demands of entrepreneurship and a commute of more than 100km every day. “He used to spend half his salary on petrol and the other half on food,” chuckles Roseveare. “It took a lot of energy, but we did it. We planned, we prepared, and we executed.”
Their personal experiences informed their team-building techniques over the years. “We’ve built a people-focused business with a specific culture around agility, flexibility, excellence, and positive outcomes – for BUI and for our customers,” explains Roseveare. The results speak for themselves: dozens of elite technical specialists; a trophy cabinet full of industry accolades; and an enviable list of clients in diverse sectors. “We’re just warming up,” he quips.
BUI will continue to focus on managed cloud services, cyber security and networking, especially in the local market, where skills shortages remain a challenge for even the largest enterprises. Roseveare is also committed to expanding the company’s footprint internationally.
“We’re putting a lot of focus into growing our customer base in sub-Saharan Africa,” he says, adding that cloud-centric solutions make sense in developing countries where infrastructure and capacity constraints may be obstacles to productivity.
He has similar plans for the BUI base in the United States, but he’s being purposefully methodical about scaling up in a foreign environment. “We’re ambitious about our growth. We do want to become a truly global business. But first, we need to make sure that what we’re doing here can be replicated successfully overseas.”
After 20 years at the helm, Roseveare has every confidence in BUI – and his team. “The people in this company… They’re the ones waking up at dawn to solve problems for customers. They’re putting everything they have, and more, into making BUI a success. Without them, nothing would happen. It’s that simple.”
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan says the company is working to address privacy and security concerns, but cyber experts and government agencies have already raised the alarm regarding:
In response, many organisations have strongly discouraged the use of Zoom, or banned the software altogether.
Likewise, we do not recommend your business use Zoom until these vulnerabilities are patched
OUR ADVICE
Rather use Microsoft Teams. Microsoft’s powerful communication tool is your best option for secure online video-conferencing. If you don’t already have Teams as part of your Microsoft licensing package, the free version is available now. Learn more.
Get the Zoom For Teams add-on. If you’re required to participate in an external Zoom meeting, then use this app to do so from within your Microsoft Teams environment, with full control over your conference participation.
BUI is fully operational during the COVID-19 lockdown period and our specialists are available to help you make the most of Microsoft Teams. Contact us today.
