CASE STUDY
The Credit Union that Puts 24/7 Security, Compliance, & Technical Operations at the Heart of Every Member Experience
How UNI Financial Cooperative partnered with Bulletproof to secure sensitive data, maintain uptime, and strengthen resilience with Bulletproof Managed Security Elite (MXDR offering formerly known as Bulletproof 365 Enterprise) and Bulletproof’s Managed IT Infrastructure Services.
The Client
For more than 88 years, UNI Financial Cooperative has served as a cornerstone of New Brunswick’s Acadian community. As the province’s largest financial cooperative, UNI manages more than $340 million in annual revenue while staying true to its mission: to foster sustainable prosperity for its members and the communities they live in. That mission demands more than strong financial performance. It requires constant reliability and complete protection of member data. As banking increasingly shifts to digital channels, even a few minutes of downtime or a single security lapse can undermine decades of earned trust.
When Tyson Johnson joined UNI Financial as Chief Information Officer, he recognized that meeting the cooperative’s growing technology and security needs would require specialized support. His vision was clear: build a security and operations framework capable of delivering uninterrupted, secure service around the clock.
“At UNI Financial, choosing the right partner really matters – to both our business and our members. We look for vendors who get what we do, have a solid reputation in the industry, and bring real expertise in IT, security, and compliance around Microsoft technologies. Just as important, we want people who can work alongside our team, adapt as our needs change, and help us stay ahead in a constantly evolving digital world – Bulletproof is that partner.”
The Situation & Challenges
Like many financial institutions, UNI had invested in modern infrastructure but lacked the resources to run a full 24-hour Security Operations Center. Cybersecurity threats were increasing in frequency and sophistication, and the cooperative’s small internal team could not sustain continuous monitoring or rapid incident response.
At the same time, UNI’s Technical Operations Center struggled with after-hours coverage. Critical banking platforms required constant oversight, and even a brief interruption could delay payroll deposits, loan payments, or fund transfers. These were not merely technical inconveniences; they directly affected members’ financial well-being and the organization’s reputation.
The challenge was to scale both cybersecurity and technical operations without the cost and complexity of building large internal teams. UNI needed a trusted partner who could deliver world-class expertise, advanced Microsoft integration, and a collaborative approach tailored to the cooperative’s unique environment.
Key Priorities & Opportunities for Value:
Maximizing Security Coverage Without Growing Overhead
To deliver a secure and seamless member experience, the organization needed access to deep cybersecurity, IT, and Microsoft expertise—without the cost and complexity of building a large in-house team.
Protecting Member Trust Through Always-On Availability
With financial services relying heavily on uninterrupted access, ensuring 100% uptime was critical to maintaining trust and avoiding any disruption to members’ banking experience.
Staying Ahead of Compliance While Protecting Reputation
In a highly regulated industry, the ability to meet strict compliance requirements and avoid missed payments wasn’t just about avoiding penalties—it was essential to preserving customer relationships and safeguarding the brand.
The Solution
Tyson Johnson, CIO, UNI Financial, was already familiar with Bulletproof’s capabilities from his earlier work with CyberNB, where he had seen firsthand the company’s deep technical knowledge and commitment to cybersecurity excellence. When evaluating partners for UNI, Bulletproof stood out immediately.
Their strong reputation as a Microsoft Solutions Partner, combined with proven experience in financial services, positioned Bulletproof as an ideal collaborator. Most importantly, their approach centered on partnership and co-creation. Rather than imposing a standard model, Bulletproof invested time in learning UNI’s business operations, existing infrastructure, and regulatory priorities before tailoring their services to fit.
Delivering Peace of Mind with Bulletproof's MXDR Solution
To help UNI Financial Firm strengthen its security posture and reduce risk, Bulletproof deployed its flagship managed security service, Bulletproof Managed Security Elite (MxDR offering formerly known as Bulletproof 365 Enterprise). Built on Microsoft’s leading security technologies, the solution provides round-the-clock threat detection, proactive alert triage, and rapid incident response, all tailored to UNI’s unique environment and regulatory requirements.
The Value Delivered:
- Stronger protection across all vectors through Microsoft Sentinel SIEM and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Cloud Apps, and Identity
- Proactive risk mitigation with Tenable.io delivering continuous vulnerability assessments
- Smarter access control and identity protection via Entra ID and Conditional Access
- Customized detection and response with alerting rules fine-tuned to UNI’s specific risks and business priorities
- 24/7 expert response from Tier 1–3 SOC analysts who act as an extension of UNI’s internal team
- Dedicated customer success manager to ensure smooth onboarding, proactive support, and ongoing effective relationship management – driving customer satisfaction and maximizing the value of their investment
What truly sets this partnership apart was its collaborative and integrated approach. Rather than simply deploying tools, Bulletproof worked hand-in-hand with UNI to create custom playbooks and reporting workflows, aligned with internal governance and compliance frameworks. This close coordination established a shared operational rhythm, enabling both teams to anticipate, respond to, and resolve threats faster, keeping systems secure, compliant, and always available to members.
Driving Operational Excellence Through Purpose-Built IT Support & Monitoring
In addition to the MXDR platform, Bulletproof’s Technical Operations Center partnered closely with UNI Financial Firm to co-design an IT infrastructure and support model tailored to its specific operational and regulatory needs. This collaboration delivered more than just monitoring, it created a resilient, efficient, and secure IT environment optimized for stability and continuous improvement.
By providing 24/7 proactive system monitoring and real-time support, Bulletproof helped UNI stay ahead of potential disruptions, ensuring that digital banking services remained consistently available, secure, and high performing for members. The partnership also enhanced internal visibility and readiness, empowering the client to act quickly and decisively in the face of any operational or compliance challenges.
Key Value-Added Components:
- Staff augmentation to extend internal capabilities without expanding headcount
- Monitoring design and tuning based on UNI’s environment and risk profile
- Custom playbooks, real-time reporting, and executive dashboards for faster decision-making
- Infrastructure architecture diagrams to support clarity, planning, and optimization
- Risk matrices that prioritize issues by severity across infrastructure and applications
- Detailed gap analysis with actionable recommendations,helping UNI evolve its IT strategy and strengthen resilience
Through this comprehensive approach, Bulletproof delivered more than just tools—it provided UNI with a trusted operational framework that enhanced performance, reduced risk, and supported long-term scalability.
The Impact: Greater Reliability, Confidence & Results that Matter
Partnering with Bulletproof brought immediate and measurable improvements to UNI Financial Firm’s IT and security operations. With Bulletproof Managed Security Elite and ongoing support from the Technical Operations Center, UNI gained the visibility, protection, and operational agility needed to support both its members and internal teams.
By shifting from reactive firefighting to proactive defense, UNI’s internal IT team could refocus on strategic initiatives, while security operations ran 24/7 in the background, efficiently and reliably.
24/7 Expert Security & Operations Coverage
Around-the-clock monitoring and incident response provided continuous protection and peace of mind, ensuring threats were identified and contained before impact.
Real-Time Visibility & Insight
Custom dashboards and Microsoft-native tools gave UNI a centralized, real-time view of both security and infrastructure performance, improving decision-making and accountability.
Reduced Incident Volume & Faster Response Times
Intelligent alerting and proactive response workflows led to a significant drop in escalated incidents and enabled faster, more effective threat mitigation.
Operational Efficiency & Cost Savings
With fewer disruptions and more efficient resource use, UNI achieved IT efficiency and cost-savings (based on reduced downtime, optimized resource allocation, and improved compliance readiness).
Stronger IT Infrastructure Oversight
With 24/7 monitoring from the Technical Operations Center, UNI’s financial systems are now constantly reviewed for performance, availability, and compliance, ensuring a reliable experience for members.
Ultimately, continuous monitoring through the Security Operations Center and Technical Operations Center eliminated after-hours gaps and improved operational resilience. Members experienced consistent, uninterrupted access to their accounts, reinforcing UNI’s promise of reliability. From a compliance standpoint, Bulletproof’s detailed reporting helped UNI strengthen its regulatory posture and demonstrate effective controls to internal and external stakeholders. The cooperative also benefited from access to Microsoft’s evolving security ecosystem, ensuring that its environment remained aligned with global best practices.
"Working with Bulletproof has given us real confidence in how we run the credit union and stay ahead of security threats. Their 24/7 support means fewer events turn into real incidents, which helps protect our reputation and keeps our members' trust strong. As digital banking becomes our main way of serving members, having Bulletproof as a round-the-clock partner keeps us a step ahead. Their Technical Operations Center has also been a huge help—keeping a close eye on our systems, supporting our compliance efforts, and helping us avoid potential legal risks and downtime. It's allowed our team to focus on the bigger picture while knowing the day-to-day is covered."
Looking Ahead: A Continued Partnership with Members at the Core
With Bulletproof as a trusted strategic partner, UNI continues to strengthen its security posture and operational resilience. Backed by continuous optimization, automation enhancements, and expert guidance, the cooperative now operates from a position of confidence and control.
This partnership goes far beyond traditional managed services, it's built on shared accountability, collaboration, and a joint commitment to keeping UNI’s members at the center of every decision. As UNI advances its digital transformation, Bulletproof solutions remain critical pillars, enabling secure, scalable growth and ensuring that member trust is protected every step of the way.
And the journey doesn’t stop here, UNI is continuing to engage with Bulletproof to expand capabilities, embrace innovation, and stay ahead of tomorrow’s challenges, always with their members’ needs top of mind.
Bulletproof Credentials
With 25+ years of IT, cybersecurity, and compliance experience, Bulletproof is a trusted Microsoft and Fortinet partner supporting organizations across North America. Our credentials include recognition on CRN’s 2026 Solution Provider 500, Fast Growth 150, and MSP 500 lists; Microsoft Security Trailblazer Award winner; 2021 Microsoft Global Security Partner of the Year; and 5× Microsoft Canada Security IMPACT Award winner. Bulletproof is also SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, a member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association, and a Fortinet Advanced Expert Partner, backed by 24/7 SOC, NOC, Service Desk, and Technology Operations capabilities.
“I’m so pleased to congratulate Bulletproof this year’s Microsoft Security Excellence awards recipient for Security Trailblazer award. Our partner community plays such an important role in helping our customers navigate a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. We are so proud to work alongside them in a shared commitment to building a safer world for everyone.”
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