Anglo-Eastern

Unlike traditional enterprises, Anglo-Eastern operates across both shore-based offices and vessel environments, balancing compliance with evolving maritime cybersecurity regulations while ensuring operational resilience.

"We need to be audit-ready at all times," says Xerxes Kiok Kan, Head of Information Security (CISO) at Anglo-Eastern. "We cannot tell our clients, ‘Don’t audit us today.’ That’s not an option."

Yet when Kiok Kan joined the company, cybersecurity was largely ad hoc. "There was no standardization—no endpoint protection, no clear security framework. We had to hit the reset button," he recalls. With cyber threats on the rise and clients increasingly scrutinizing security postures, Anglo-Eastern needed a robust external attack surface management solution.

The Turning Point: Implementing UpGuard for Continuous Security Monitoring

Recognizing the need for proactive threat detection, Kiok Kan evaluated multiple third-party risk management platforms, including SecurityScorecard, RiskRecon, and Panorays. UpGuard stood out. "UpGuard provided the total package—external attack surface monitoring, typo-squatting detection, and breach alerts—all with API functionality for deeper integration into our security stack."

Once implemented, UpGuard transformed Anglo-Eastern’s approach to cybersecurity. Key benefits included:

• Automated Threat Reports & Proactive Monitoring: Every morning at 10 AM, UpGuard automatically generates and delivers a security report via Microsoft Teams. "This allows us to see exactly what has changed—new risks introduced, vulnerabilities fixed, and our overall security rating—all in real time."
• Reduced False Positives & Increased Trust: Compared to other solutions, UpGuard’s findings were more accurate. "With some competitors, 30-40% of findings were false positives. That wastes time and erodes trust. With UpGuard, when a vulnerability is flagged, we know it’s real."
• Neutralizing Typosquatting Attacks: UpGuard identified and helped Anglo-Eastern take down two cases of typosquatting where fraudulent domains were impersonating the company to scam seafarers. "These fake domains were tricking seafarers into paying fraudulent processing fees. UpGuard helped us detect and neutralize them before they could cause significant harm."
• Cybersecurity as a Business Advantage: Anglo-Eastern now showcases its UpGuard security ratings to customers and auditors, reinforcing its commitment to cybersecurity. "We use UpGuard’s Top 10 Competitor Benchmarking in client presentations to highlight our strong security posture."

From Risk Visibility to Business Enablement

Beyond improving security operations, UpGuard has given Anglo-Eastern a competitive edge. By proactively identifying and mitigating security risks, the company has strengthened trust with clients, ensured continuous compliance, and integrated cybersecurity into strategic decision-making.

"Before UpGuard, I knew we had servers exposed to the internet, but I had no way to quantify the risk," Kiok Kan explains. "Now, I have confidence in our external risk posture and can demonstrate that we’re on top of security—not just reacting to threats, but preventing them."

With automation now at the heart of Anglo-Eastern’s security strategy, UpGuard plays a critical role in their daily operations, helping prevent potential breaches and ensuring the cybersecurity team remains proactive rather than reactive. "UpGuard doesn’t just save us time—it prevents incidents before they happen. That’s where the real value lies."

Key Outcomes

• Increased Proactivity: Real-time risk visibility and automated alerts prevent security incidents before they escalate.
• Time Savings: Automated workflows and API integrations save hundreds of hours annually in security monitoring and reporting.
• Neutralized Typosquatting Attacks: Two fraudulent domains impersonating Anglo-Eastern were detected and removed, preventing potential financial scams targeting seafarers.
• Compliance Readiness: Continuous monitoring ensures Anglo-Eastern remains audit-ready for over 80 clients conducting unannounced security reviews.
• Competitive Differentiation: UpGuard’s security scores and benchmarking help reinforce Anglo-Eastern’s reputation as a cybersecurity leader in maritime.

A Strategic Partnership for the Future

As Anglo-Eastern continues to scale, cybersecurity remains a key pillar of its business strategy. With UpGuard’s continuous monitoring and automation capabilities, the company has successfully shifted from a reactive approach to a proactive, strategic security program.

For organizations facing similar challenges, Anglo-Eastern’s story underscores the value of investing in a security solution that provides visibility, accuracy, and automation. As Kiok Kan puts it: "Give it a go. UpGuard is not just a fancy tool—it works, and it delivers real business impact."