Case Study: Game developer Facepunch strengthens cyber defences

Background 

Facepunch is a fast-growing independent game development studio based in Birmingham with almost 100 staff, many of whom work remotely. The company, which created popular Steam games Garry’s Mod and Rust, wanted to strengthen its cyber security measures.

What we did 

Working with Facepunch, Armstrong Watson and their cyber security partner have undertaken a thorough review of the business’s cyber security policies to address the ever-changing threats that pose significant risks to its UK and global operations and have implemented the following measures:

• Continuous attack surface monitoring: Provides real-time visibility into potential vulnerabilities by assessing external-facing assets, helping the business understand its exposure to cyber threats.
• Staff training Facepunch conducts ongoing, regular staff awareness training to mitigate risk and exposure. This includes regular phishing simulations to test and improve employees' responses to phishing attacks and tailored training programmes, enhancing their ability to recognise and respond to cyber threats. 
• Policy and process management: To help create, distribute and manage cyber security policies and procedures, ensuring compliance and promoting best practices across the business.
• Dark web monitoring: Monitors the dark web for any compromised company data, providing alerts to potential breaches and enabling proactive measures to protect sensitive information.

Results

Cyber security has become a key part of Facepunch’s operational due diligence, ensuring its systems are strong and compliant with industry standards. The tailored solutions have enabled the business to identify and mitigate potential risks effectively, safeguarding its global digital assets.

Ben Nicholls, IT Manager, Facepunch Studio, said: “By leveraging Armstrong Watson’s expertise, we’ve strengthened our defences, ensuring business continuity and protecting our reputation in the international market. With their support and guidance they identified specific vulnerabilities within our systems and highlighted areas for improvement, such as enhancing security configurations and protecting critical digital assets. This proactive approach has allowed us to address these challenges and reinforce our operational defences against future threats.

“With their tailored tools and strategies, Armstrong Watson and their cyber security partner have provided us with the means to secure our critical data and maintain compliance with industry best practices. These measures have greatly improved the resilience of our operations, ensuring we remain protected in the face of evolving cyber risks.”

The team at Facepunch can now focus on their core work of game development, knowing their cyber security is in expert hands.