Cobalt finds its power stroke with Kaseya 365 Endpoint
Overview
Ian Dunstan brings the same relentless endurance to Cobalt, the MSP he founded over two decades ago, that he brings to rowing.
What began as a family-run business has evolved into a trusted force in managed IT and telecom. But Dunstan isn’t one to rest on past wins. As the market shifted and new challenges emerged, so did his vision.
He asked the same question that guides every training session on the water: Does this make the boat go faster? This mindset pushed Cobalt to find tools that matched its pace and ambition. The MSP were already using Datto RMM, but Dunstan wanted something tighter and leaner, with no wasted motion. That search led the company to Kaseya 365 Endpoint.
About
Cobalt is a U.K.-based MSP that delivers smart, secure and scalable IT and telecom solutions to businesses across the globe. With over 25 years of experience, Cobalt’s clients trust the MSP to protect their operations, streamline systems and provide expert support with a team that prioritizes clarity, speed and strong client relationships to achieve this.
Simplifying systems to scale smarter
A passionate rower who thrives on pushing his limits, Dunstan applies that same energy and focus to building a business that stays one step ahead. Although Cobalt built its reputation on dependable, hands-on IT and telecom services, its priorities evolved as clients’ needs changed. “Cobalt’s specialty is being able to move with the times, being able to work and evolve as the market changes,” shared Dunstan.
As cyberthreats became more frequent and sophisticated, it was clear that traditional support wasn’t enough. “There’s a big gap. The cyber side of things has changed, and our customers need more protection rather than just a break-fix or everyday support,” he shared.
Dunstan wanted to help clients grow securely and confidently while also expanding Cobalt’s own reach into global markets. “It’s our job to make sure they’re safe and secure, so they can carry on, grow and develop their businesses,” he added.
But that vision required more than just good intentions. To be proactive, Cobalt needed systems that were fast, connected and easy to manage. At that time, it wasn’t Cobalt’s reality. “We had four different portals, four different vendors and four different systems that we had to try and work with,” Dunstan shared.
That changed with Kaseya 365 Endpoint — a unified platform that matched Cobalt’s ambitions and helped the MSP move forward with clarity and control. Like a well-coordinated rowing team, Kaseya 365 brought all its systems into sync, eliminating the drag of disjointed tools and helping the company power toward its goals.
Working smarter starts with the right tools
Before the shift, Cobalt’s stack was functional but fragmented. Tools from multiple vendors required constant juggling, and the overhead quickly added up. “I was purchasing three separate systems, which cost over 140% more than the single Kaseya 365 license,” Dunstan explained.
The impact of switching to a single platform was immediate. “Kaseya 365 made a huge impact on our bottom line. We save on labor costs. We save on man hours,” Dunstan said. With everything brought into one view, one workflow and one tool, the change was both practical and powerful. “Consolidating everything into one pane of glass reduced our tech burden by at least 30%,” he added.
This was more than a cost-savings move; it opened the door to scale.
“Kaseya 365 has allowed us to scale with the same footprint of engineers,” Dunstan said. “The business efficiency it drives throughout our entire operation has enabled us to take on more customers while reducing the noise and workload for our team.”
The ripple effect of Kaseya 365 reached every part of the business. Engineers no longer wasted time switching between systems or searching for answers. They had everything they needed right in front of them. “Before Kaseya 365 Endpoint, things took longer, especially the smaller jobs. Now they are so much more streamlined when the tickets come in,” said project manager Hannah Swanston.
Even new team members, like IT and comms engineer Sophie Harding, felt the shift. Her work became faster, simpler and more rewarding. “If I need to jump on someone’s server quickly, I can remote in and not wait for someone to let me in or give me access. With other products, it can take a lot longer.”
With Kaseya 365, everything that slowed Cobalt down previously — like manual steps, scattered tools and back-and-forth instructions — was gone. Customers quickly benefited from faster response times and smoother resolution. “Kaseya 365 Endpoint lets us do our jobs quicker, which means they [customers] can get their resolutions quicker, which means that businesses will keep running smoothly,” Sophie added.
Security was another major win. With Kaseya 365 Endpoint, protection isn’t an add-on — it’s built in. “Patch management is handled efficiently. The AV [antivirus] and EDR [endpoint detection and response] do their jobs, the backups work seamlessly and faultlessly, and you’re notified when something needs attention. The whole process is streamlined and efficient. Perfect,” Dunstan shared.
When issues happen, the team knows they’re covered. “If anything goes wrong, we can just grab a backup and restore it. We’ve got that failsafe to keep things going,” Sophie explained.
Sharper, faster, more profitable
Kaseya 365 Endpoint didn’t just consolidate Cobalt’s software — it helped them become the MSP they are today. It powered their proactive model, sharpened operational efficiency, cut costs and gave their 18-strong team the freedom to work smarter, respond faster and protect customers with confidence.
“The return on investment from Kaseya is across the entire business,” said Dunstan.
Today, Cobalt is growing leaner, stronger and more confident. Kaseya 365 Endpoint powers every part of the MSP’s delivery, from behind-the-scenes automation to front-line service.
With guidance from the TruPeer program, Kaseya’s peer group that helps MSPs accelerate growth through expert coaching and shared best practices, Cobalt has pushed even further. “With the work of TruPeer, we truly evolved our business into a proactive MSP,” Dunstan said.
A team that doesn’t miss a beat
For Dunstan, choosing Kaseya was as much about the vision as the features. He saw a company constantly evolving, making smart acquisitions and staying ahead of the curve. “Kaseya is always ahead of the game, and that’s who you want to partner with,” he said. It felt like rowing with a team that not only kept pace but anticipated every turn in the water — steady, responsive and always moving forward.
When asked what keeps him up at night, Dunstan didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely nothing because I have a very safe set of tools. Kaseya 365 monitoring works 24/7, 365 days a year. When we get up in the morning, I know we’re protected.”
“Kaseya 365 has allowed us to scale with the same footprint of engineers. The business efficiency it drives throughout our entire operation has enabled us to take on more customers while reducing the noise and workload for our team.” Ian DunstanCobalt, Managing Director
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