Introduction on OutboundSync & Security in Sales/MarTech
Hey Harris! Tell us a bit about yourself, what's your background?
I’m the founder of OutboundSync. I started a sales consulting company back in April 2019, which eventually led to the creation of this software product as part of my agency. In April 2024, I spun OutboundSync out as a standalone company. I’m a non-technical founder with deep expertise in what we do, but I rely on my engineering team and the right tools to help us deliver a top-tier product to our users.
How is OutboundSync positioned in the crowded Sales/MarTech space? And compared to the competition?
OutboundSync is a niche solution that solves a very specific problem in the Sales/MarTech ecosystem. Our customers use our platform to connect fragmented sales engagement tools (eg. Smartlead, Instantly, and EmailBison) with CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce. What makes us stand out is our obsessive focus on this one problem. We specialize in it, and that’s why customers and agency partners trust us to help them track activities, attribute revenue, and run a unified modern outbound tech stack.
What purpose should security serve in a sales tooling context?
Our customers depend on us as a trusted partner with access to their most critical systems of record. Security is foundational to that trust. Many of our customers operate in environments where data security isn’t optional—it’s an absolute requirement. Programs like SOC 2 demonstrate our commitment to meeting these high standards and protecting their data.
Many of our customers operate in environments where data security isn’t optional—it’s an absolute requirement. Programs like SOC 2 demonstrate our commitment to meeting these high standards and protecting their data.
From SOC 2 audit preparation to continuous compliance
What’s the one thing that made you go: “We need to get serious about security?”
Security has been a priority for us since day one, but as a bootstrapped company, we had to be pragmatic about when and how to invest. The decision to pursue SOC 2 Type II was a pivotal moment. It represented a significant step up in our security posture, and it was the right time to adopt tools like Vanta, Auth0, and Aikido. These tools supported us as a startup, allowing us to implement advanced security solutions without breaking the bank.
Tools like Vanta, Auth0, and Aikido allow us to implement advanced security solutions – without breaking the bank
While we didn’t have major security concerns that kept us awake at night, we always knew there was more we could do. Security is never “done.” Even now, after significant investments in our security posture, I view it as an ongoing process that requires continuous improvement.
What challenges or pains were you experiencing before using Aikido?
Preparing for our SOC 2 Type II audit felt overwhelming at first. There were so many requirements to meet, and the tools we considered were often point solutions that didn’t integrate well or align with our needs. Many were also expensive and didn’t make sense for us as a small team. We were stuck for a brief period until we found Aikido. Once implemented, Aikido streamlined the entire process, allowing our engineering team to identify and resolve issues efficiently. It saved us significant time and effort—not just during audit prep but in maintaining compliance afterward.
Preparing for our SOC 2 Type II audit felt overwhelming at first. There were so many requirements to meet, and the tools we considered were often point solutions that didn’t integrate well or align with our needs. Aikido streamlined the entire process, allowing our engineering team to identify and resolve issues efficiently. It saved us significant time and effort—not just during audit prep but in maintaining compliance afterward.
Evaluating Security tools fit for growing companies
Tell us a bit more about your journey exploring the Security tooling landscape!
We evaluated several tools that addressed individual compliance needs, but none offered the comprehensive coverage that Aikido provides. We didn’t even get to the trial stage with other solutions because it was clear they wouldn’t take us from audit preparation to continuous compliance. Aikido stood out as the only tool that could handle the full scope of what we needed.
We evaluated several tools that addressed individual compliance needs, but none offered the comprehensive coverage (from audit preparation to continuous compliance) that Aikido provides.
Aikido provides a single, clean, and effective way to maintain our security posture and monitor our environment. We ran a pilot, and I simply asked my engineers: thumbs up or thumbs down, will it save them time so they can focus on our product?
The answer back was a clear and resounding yes. So I upgraded our plan on the spot. Aikido saves our engineering team time, simplifies compliance, and helps us deliver a better, more secure product.
Aikido saves our engineering team time, simplifies compliance, and helps us deliver a better, more secure product.
So far, what's your experience working with our team and software?
The Aikido team has been incredibly responsive and supportive. They went above and beyond to answer our questions and help us prepare for our SOC 2 audit. As we continue to grow and evolve our tech stack, I know they’ll be there to support us.
My favorite feature is the dashboard. It’s clean, intuitive, and gives me peace of mind when I log in and see everything in good shape. I also appreciate the seamless integrations—especially with Vanta—it saved us so much manual effort.
My favorite feature is the dashboard. It’s clean, intuitive, and gives me peace of mind when I log in and see everything in good shape. I also appreciate the seamless integrations—especially with Vanta—it saved us so much manual effort.
Quick Wins with Aikido
- Enhanced Security Posture: Caught issues we weren’t aware of, allowing us to act swiftly and secure our stack.
- Streamlined Audit Prep: Simplified SOC 2 compliance, from preparation to maintenance, saving significant time for our engineering team.
- Boosted Enterprise Readiness: Helped us confidently address enterprise RFPs with robust security and compliance answers.
Why Security Matters to OutboundSync: “It’s our *ss on the line.” As a trusted partner handling critical systems, ensuring data security is non-negotiable. Aikido helps us stay ahead of potential threats while allowing our developers to focus on what matters most: building a product our customers love.
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