CNNECT; Delivering Best-In-Class Cloud & Cybersecurity Solutions

Managing Partner Joel Berwitz and Technology Director Aaron Bhatti outline the firm’s winning client-first approach and exciting future plans.

Like it or not, the world has gone digital, which means that businesses, if they want to target, engage with and retain a loyal customer-base, have to go digital too. But being ‘online’ isn’t without its risks, security continues to be a major issue. According to statistics from 2024, a staggering 50 percent of UK businesses experienced a cyber-attack or security breach in the previous year, according to the UK Government Cyber Security Breaches Survey.

But businesses don’t have to take these digital security risks lying down. Instead they can turn to CNNECT, a leading technology consultancy which helps “businesses maximise their cloud, collaboration and cyber security investments.”

A cloud services specialist, they offer Microsoft Security Assessment, free Azure landing zones, and free Azure Virtual Desktop pilots to help businesses improve their “security, efficiency, and cloud adoption,” according to the firm’s Managing Partner, Joel Berwitz.

Built on the premise that “there is a more efficient and productive way of delivering for customers,” CNNECT was founded “to provide trusted advisory services, ensuring businesses get the right mix of technology, security, and cost optimisation.”

The business model is no run-of-the-mill affair as it focuses on value-driven services over simply selling licences. “We don’t just sell, we advise,” explains Technology Director Aaron Bhatti. “Many Microsoft partners push licensing but we help customers navigate their entire cloud journey.”

Strategic assessments are offered for free, including Microsoft Security Assessment and Azure pilots, which give clients “risk-free insights before committing”, explains Berwitz. For clients in industries including the legal and professional services sector “we simplify complexity,” adds Berwitz, which he says is crucial for sectors where “compliance and security are critical.”

Launching a business with a high service delivery element wasn’t without its challenges, Berwitz explains. “Building credibility quickly,” was a core challenge as “IT leaders want a partner they trust” meaning they had to prove value from the outset.

Another challenge, according to Bhatti, was “shifting businesses from outdated IT models to modern cloud-based infrastructures while managing concerns about security, costs, and change management.” With the technology consultancy market crowded, Bhatti says they had to stand out via a highly professionalised approach: “Many competitors focus purely on sales rather than consulting.”

Looking ahead there are further hurdles on the horizon including navigating economic uncertainty amid a cautious spending climate among customers, scaling the business while maintaining service quality, and educating clients on the need to maintain and improve their digital resilience. However, the firm’s goal, according to the two leaders, is to become “the go-to partner for security, compliance, and cloud strategy” makes these challenges worthwhile.

Gaining clients and exceeding their expectations is one thing, but what about internal leadership? Well, Berwitz has learned three core lessons; be nice, do what you say you’re going to and “deliver well and with integrity.” Berwitz believes “if you do these three things you are ahead of 99 percent of the market,” sage advice indeed.

The future looks bright and cheery for CNNECT. They plan to expand the consultancy side of the business over the next year and bring in more small-and-mid-sized customers. Another goal, says Bhatti, is “enhancing our cybersecurity and cloud adoption offerings to help clients make the most of Microsoft investments” and “strengthening our team with more technical and strategic consultants to meet growing demand” is part of the plan too.

The most exciting development has to be their AI consulting service, which Berwitz says clients are increasingly interested in but are finding it difficult to “translate” into their business. “We expect it to be a key growth pillar in the future,” he says.

Like any goal-oriented firm, there’s a solid five-year-plan. This includes a vision to see CNNECT as a leading technology consultancy in the UK, known for driving security-first cloud adoption by 2030. According to the pair, this will involve “premium managed services going beyond consulting into fully managed solutions” and international expansion.

Berwitz and Bhatti have a lot on their goals list, but they also have a lot to be proud of so far. From solid revenue growth, client retention, to service security improvements and, according to Berwitz, the completion of “technical accreditations that take years to achieve in other organisations,” this is an innovative and client-focused consultancy that is going places.