Client spotlight: Explorer Research

Secure enough to win major corporate clients.

How TUCU helped Explorer Research build the secure IT infrastructure needed to win major corporate clients and support their growth from startup to the go-to shopper research agency.

Client since

2017

Industry

Market Research & Consumer Behavior Analysis

Team size

60-70 staff

Solutions

Microsoft 365 Security

Vendor Security Screenings

Managed IT Services & Support

Results at a glance

Secure vendor.

From startup to industry leader with 60+ researchers working with some of the biggest brands in the world, demonstrating the importance of having the right IT infrastructure and security foundation.

Successful acquisition.

Explorer Research’s journey with TUCU culminated in their successful acquisition by Savanta, part of the Next 15 Group, in 2023.

I have no hesitation in recommending TUCU to any company seeking an initial network setup or ongoing IT support. TUCU provides personal attention, is extremely responsive, and is great to work with.

Chris Whitaker

The Challenge

In 2017, Explorer Research faced a pivotal moment in their growth journey. As opportunities to work with major global brands emerged, they needed to significantly enhance their IT infrastructure and security to meet enterprise-level vendor requirements.

“When Explorer Research sought to respond to RFP’s from major vendors, we realized that we needed to invest in our IT infrastructure and online security in order to grow our business,” recalls Chris Whitaker, Partner at Explorer Research.

The Solutions

After receiving a recommendation, Explorer Research partnered with TUCU to transform their IT infrastructure. The implementation included:

Complete network rebuild with enhanced security.

Identity management and data loss prevention.

Cloud platform optimization.

Comprehensive IT compliance management.

Support systems for both local and remote staff.

Positive Impact

The partnership with TUCU enabled Explorer Research to:

Successfully compete for and win major corporate clients.

Maintain competitive advantages through robust cybersecurity.

Support growth from a small team to the current staffing levels.

Enable secure operations for both local and remote teams.

Achieve cost efficiency through strategic cloud platform changes.

Meet enterprise-level vendor security requirements.

What is it like working with TUCU?

We liked their direct approach to technology planning and problem solving.

TUCU came recommended to us.

Adam Thorn, TUCU’s President, walked us through the vendor information security requirements list, identified what we would need, and gave us options without a hard sales pitch.

As our ongoing Managed IT Services provider, TUCU manages our network and supports our growing staff with any technical requests they make. We feel we can rely on TUCU for timely IT advice and to act on our behalf with anything pertaining to technology.

Chris Whitaker

Sound like your team?

About the client

About Explorer Research

Explorer Research specializes in shopper behavior research, emphasizing in-situation testing combined with biometrics to measure both the emotions and behaviors of shoppers. Their deep understanding combined with a consultative approach results in optimized shopper strategies and activations that drive sustained growth. Working with global brands across retail, CPG, and Tech, Explorer Research has established itself as a leader in shopping behavior insights.

Success story

Explorer Research’s journey with TUCU culminated in their successful acquisition by Savanta, part of the Next 15 Group, in 2023.

Their growth from a startup to an industry leader with 60+ researchers working with some of the biggest brands in the world demonstrates the importance of having the right IT infrastructure and security foundation.

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Ready for a great IT partner?

Cybersecurity controls are consistent across many industries, but you have your own challenges and workflows. TUCU is here to help you balance both.

Schedule a call to discuss how we can help you.

Jessica

Reliable, Friendly, and Truly Puts You First! Tucu is the real deal! Fast, friendly, and able to explain everything in plain language without the confusing tech talk. They also gave me peace of mind knowing my security is in good hands. They went above and beyond to accommodate me when I needed help most — that kind of dedication is hard to find. The customer service is truly unmatched. If you need an IT company that genuinely puts you first, Tucu is my recommendation!

Andrew Dales

Excellent service.

Matt Johnson

TUCO is a great IT support provider. Customer service is always responsive normally within 1 business day. When customer service is provided, they are always detailed and kind with responses and explain reasoning concerning issues. The sense of helpfulness is what I enjoy the most. I rate them 1st in class regarding IT support.

Elisa Stragapede

I've had such wonderful experiences with TUCU any time there is a software issue, general query, or tech update. Each member of the TUCU team is knowledgeable and invested in taking the time to fully work through any problems you present to them. Their professionalism and interest in client satisfaction does not go unnoticed!

Mike Freeman

We started working with TUCU in the middle of last year, and it has been a great decision for our business. We are a small team without a strong IT background, and it simply does not make sense for us to have a full in-house IT department. At the same time, many of our clients have meaningful security requirements, so we needed a partner who could help us raise our standards and give us confidence in our setup. TUCU has been excellent in helping us harden our security posture and put the right systems and processes in place. They guided us through what needed to be done, answered our many early questions quickly and clearly, and made the whole process feel manageable rather than overwhelming. They are responsive, practical, and easy to work with. Most importantly, we now feel confident that our business is well managed from an IT and security standpoint and that we are meeting, and in many cases exceeding, our clients’ expectations. We are very appreciative of the partnership and would highly recommend TUCU to other small and mid-sized businesses looking for strong, reliable managed IT support.

Ushra Mirza

The team at TUCU is agile, knowledgeable and super welcoming. No question is a stupid one to them, and I ask a lotta questions - truly appreciate Shannon and the team’s support with my 409 tickets a week!

Janet Choi

The team at TUCU are responsive and very patient and has been helpful to my team. Appreciate their help over the past few years!

Heather Young

We've trusted TUCU with our IT support for years -- a great decision! Their response time is amazing, and the staff are great to deal with -- skillful, friendly and helpful. The tech support has been outstanding, and we've also benefited by purchasing hardware through TUCU and using their online training materials to help us improve our security practices. Highly recommended!

Mayfair Apartments

Fast reply to ticket, and Adam went above and beyond to make sure both my phone and pc were set up to operate efficiently in new work environment. Adam's patience was truly appreciated by me as have limited technical prowess when it comes to networks.

Marilia Silveira

All the opportunities I've had to work with Tucu were great! They are fast and truly committed to resolving any issues. A big shout-out to David and Odesho!