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Calian and ShadowHQ Partner to Elevate Cyber Crisis Readiness

Companies large and small are augmenting their incident preparedness and response processes to ensure timely event remediation and recovery. Many are turning to a mix of service partners and technology to achieve this while uniting key business and security functions across the organization.

That’s why Calian and ShadowHQ are announcing a new partnership to deliver integrated, business-focused cyber crisis management solutions that help organizations prepare, respond, and recover with confidence.

To mark the announcement, I sat down with Eric Barkman, VP Global Delivery, Calian, to discuss the themes and trends shaping the partnership—and why it’s a meaningful step forward for Calian customers.

Nick Scozzaro (NS): There’s a range of confidence when it comes to incident preparedness and response planning — some business and security leaders have confidence in leading this initiative while others aren’t sure where or how to start. From the Value Added Reseller and services partner POV, have more of your customers been approaching you for guidance? What are their concerns?

Eric Barkman (EB): Calian supports customers across regulated industries like healthcare and government, as well as the commercial sector. Organizations approach us for incident preparedness driven by regulatory mandates, insurance requirements, or simply peace of mind.

What we often see is a wide spectrum of readiness. Some have a written incident response (IR) plan but lack detailed playbooks, haven’t tested it through tabletop exercises, or treat it as a one-time checkbox activity. That’s where risk emerges — during an actual incident, clarity, speed, and coordination are critical.

We emphasize that effective response starts with the fundamentals: knowing who to call, what steps to take, and trusting that your partner can respond swiftly and restore operations. Integration is also key — when our SOC detects a threat, seamless collaboration with our IR team ensures a faster, more informed response.

Ultimately, organizations aren’t just looking for a one-time plan. They want a trusted partner who can support them across the full lifecycle: preparation, continuous monitoring, and rapid response.

NS: What gaps do your customers commonly have when it comes to cyber crisis management and incident response processes and technology?

EB: The most common gap we see is the absence of a formal, regularly tested incident response plan; especially one with clear, step-by-step playbooks tailored to different scenarios. During a crisis, this often results in confusion, especially when communication between IT teams and senior leadership breaks down.

Many organizations also lack a secure, centralized communication platform or a well-defined escalation process, which further delays effective action. Another critical gap is the lack of integration—either between internal IT and security teams or across multiple service providers. This fragmented approach slows response and recovery. Calian addresses these challenges by delivering an integrated incident preparedness, response, and recovery program—led by certified analysts and engineers and supported by best-of-breed technology.

NS: Have you noticed any key themes driving these customer inquiries?

EB: We’re seeing a significant shift, organizations are laser-focused on cybersecurity like never before, and it’s not surprising. A few key trends are driving this urgency: regulatory pressures, insurance requirements, and third-party risk assessments are all pushing companies to take a closer look at their security posture and how prepared they are to respond to incidents.

But it’s not just about checking the compliance box. Brand reputation has become a major driver, with cyber breaches constantly making headlines, organizations understand the lasting impact of a poorly managed incident, from customer loss to trust erosion.

This shift is creating a competitive advantage. More than ever, customers are choosing to work with businesses that prioritize cybersecurity. A transparent data security strategy and well-tested incident response plan aren’t just nice to have, they’re essential differentiators in today’s market.

NS: Why did Calian choose to partner with ShadowHQ?

EB: Calian partnered with ShadowHQ because we sought a trusted Canadian technology partner with a purpose-built platform that simplifies and strengthens incident readiness. ShadowHQ stood out for its ability to deliver secure, real-time crisis coordination in a single, centralized platform.

Its secure communication capabilities are essential during high-stress incidents, enabling executives, technical teams, and external stakeholders to collaborate confidently without relying on vulnerable channels like email or text. The platform also acts as a safe repository for critical plans and playbooks, ensuring that essential documentation is readily accessible and protected, even when primary systems are compromised.

ShadowHQ’s commitment to rapid product innovation and strong security foundation enable Calian to deliver a modern, integrated solution that supports our customers across the full incident lifecycle, prepare, respond, and recover.

NS: How is ShadowHQ helping Calian and its customers augment or improve cyber crisis management and incident preparedness/response??

EB: ShadowHQ has meaningfully elevated Calian’s ability to deliver end-to-end cyber crisis management and incident response. The platform enables organizations to instantly activate tailored response playbooks, helping ensure a fast, structured, and coordinated response the moment an incident unfolds.

With secure communication and coordination across internal teams, external partners, and even cross-border stakeholders, ShadowHQ keeps everyone aligned, regardless of location. Its incident tracking capabilities also support compliance, audit reporting, and post-incident forensics by providing clear visibility into response actions and timelines.

Through role-based access and encrypted communications, ShadowHQ helps maintain operational continuity, keeping executives, technical teams, and third parties securely connected and informed throughout the crisis. By integrating ShadowHQ into our incident response services, Calian empowers customers to act with speed, precision, and confidence when it matters most.

NS: What tips would you give to companies considering a mix of services and technology for cyber crisis management/incident response/business continuity?

EB: Effective cyber crisis management demands more than just technology. It requires a top-down commitment to readiness. This includes clear plans, engaged leadership, ongoing training, trusted partners, and purpose-built platforms that work together seamlessly.

Here are some key recommendations for organizations building a resilient, integrated response capability:

  • Develop and test response plans — Create detailed incident response plans and playbooks tailored to your threat landscape. Test them at least annually through tabletop exercises that involve both technical and senior leadership teams.
  • Engage non-technical stakeholders early — Legal, communications, HR, and executives play a vital role during a crisis. Their early involvement ensures clarity in decision-making and public response.
  • Train for individual readiness — Regular cybersecurity awareness training and phishing simulations help reduce human risk, often the weakest link in an incident.
  • Simulate real-world threats — Go beyond tabletops with full-scale simulations (e.g., ransomware scenarios) to uncover operational and communication gaps across teams and technologies.
  • Partner with proven experts — Choose service providers who offer deep industry experience, forensic capabilities, and compliance expertise, not just during a crisis, but throughout the incident lifecycle.
  • Prioritize integration — Look for partners who can deliver end-to-end support (preparation, detection, response, and recovery), all under one roof.
  • Put your platforms to the test — Include your incident response platform, like ShadowHQ, in exercises to validate workflows, communication channels, and role-based access controls before a real incident occurs.

At Calian, we believe true cyber resilience comes from the intersection of disciplined planning, skilled people, expert partners, and trusted technology. When these elements are aligned, organizations are better equipped to respond decisively and recover stronger.

NS: Where can business and security leaders go to learn more about Calian and how they can get started with ShadowHQ?

EB: Business and security leaders can contact our team at ITCS@calian.com to learn more about Calian’s Incident Response and Readiness Services and how integrating the ShadowHQ platform can enhance their cyber crisis management strategy. Our experts are ready to provide tailored guidance, hands-on demos, and support designed to meet your organization’s specific needs.