Stay cyber secure. Win bigger clients. Keep your culture.

Creative agencies rely on agility. Their work depends on fast feedback loops, cloud-first tools and secure collaboration across distributed and hybrid teams. This flexibility is often what makes creative businesses exciting places to work. It also helps them deliver standout work while meeting growing expectations around data protection and cyber security.

As agencies begin pitching for larger clients, the expectations around security grow significantly. Enterprise organisations want assurance that their data, ideas and unreleased assets will be protected. For many creative teams, this can trigger a worry that security will slow things down or introduce heavy process.

To explore how modern agencies can stay creative while becoming more secure, we sat down with Marco Foglia Taverna, one of our strategists at LeftBrain who works closely with design, branding and production companies. His insight is rooted in the day to day reality of supporting clients who work quickly, rely on diverse tools and value uncomplicated systems.

Why some creative agencies fear cyber security

When creative teams approach us, the first concern we hear is that stronger security might restrict the freedom they rely on. Marco sees this often. Agencies worry about losing agility, being tied to fewer tools and spending too much time on documentation or compliance activity. They want to grow and take on bigger clients, but they do not want to lose the culture that underpins their work.

As Marco puts it, many teams are stuck between their fear of becoming less flexible and their need to reach a higher standard of reliability. This tension is understandable. The good news is that it can be resolved with the right approach.

How cloud-first security enables creativity

A security model that supports creativity starts with understanding how people already work. Marco spends time listening to clients, mapping their workflows and identifying what truly matters to them. This allows us to introduce security that fits naturally into their environment rather than forcing a complete shift in behaviour.

Many creative agencies already work in sprints, so we deliver security improvements in the same way. Smaller, iterative updates feel manageable and give space for ongoing feedback. Teams stay in control and nothing feels too heavy.

Cloud-first tools also play an important role. Identity access management and mobile device management create a secure foundation for remote and hybrid work without adding friction. Teams can work from anywhere, confidently and safely, and still access the information they need.

Marco often describes this as security that works in the background. It is there when needed and invisible when not. When new systems are introduced, they are built secure from day one so there is no need for disruptive patching later. Automated posture checks handle the ongoing monitoring, which means creative professionals can focus on their projects rather than worrying about compliance.

How agencies can meet enterprise expectations without bureaucracy

Many agencies assume governance will be slow or burdensome. The reality is very different. Lightweight governance is not only possible but usually far more effective for fast moving teams. What makes the real difference is access to experienced leadership. Rather than hiring internally, many agencies choose to lean on external strategic support, including virtual CISO guidance, which gives them clarity without added cost or administration.

This structure provides the assurance enterprise clients expect through security questionnaires, vendor due diligence and governance reviews, while keeping the internal experience simple and people centred. It allows agencies to make confident, well informed decisions, guided by specialists who understand information security, cloud-first environments and the creative mindset.

Why strong cyber security helps agencies win bigger clients

Enterprise organisations prioritise reliability. Creative projects often involve confidential concepts, unreleased campaigns and sensitive intellectual property. Clients want to know that the agencies they work with can protect that material throughout the entire lifecycle of a project.

Certifications such as Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001 deliver instant reassurance. They show that systems are governed properly and that the organisation has made a serious, lasting commitment to secure working practices. These frameworks are familiar to enterprise buyers and often act as a green light in the procurement process.

Marco sees this directly in his work with clients.

A secure foundation does not replace creativity. It strengthens it. When creative teams feel confident in their systems, they can move faster, pitch bigger ideas and take on more ambitious clients. Modern security is not about restriction. It is about enabling agencies to work the way they want, with the trust and stability required to grow.