Case Study

From napkin to production, how Good Code helped Cyber Sainik build a next generation XDR

Lisa

4/17/2024

At Good Code, we team up with various cybersecurity companies, ranging from startups still figuring things out to established businesses looking to upgrade their products. Our mission is to not just make products look good, but to ensure they're straightforward and functional. We get especially excited when we get to help build something entirely new from the ground up.

Sam Kumar approached us and asked us to help him build a next-generation XDR (Extended Detection and Response). Sam's expertise was in Network Technology, and he had yet to bring a SAAS product in the cyber security field to market before. When we first started discussing the project with Sam, the team was just forming, consisting of Good Code and a group of advisors. So Sam looked to us for guidance throughout the entire process, from determining what to build to defining its look and functionality.

Quote: "One of the key principles that the Cyber Sainik team emphasized was that the product had to be beautiful but also embody the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid)."

Both aspects are challenges, to design something beautiful, while ensuring functionality, and delivering real value is where Cyber Sainik and many of our other customers rely on Good Code.

To make sure the development of Cyber Sainik's cutting-edge XDR system hit the mark and stayed on track, we opted for a step-by-step approach. We divided our work into sprints—short, focused bursts where we tackled specific parts of the project. This method let us zero in on details without losing sight of the bigger picture, ensuring each piece of the puzzle was perfectly placed.

Regular brainstorming sessions were a key part of our strategy. At the beginning of each sprint, we’d map out our goals, keeping them flexible to adapt to new insights and shifts in the cybersecurity landscape. This way, our project was always up-to-date and aligned with what was needed in the market.

Communication was key to our strategy. We maintained open lines with everyone involved through weekly meetings, a practice we uphold with all our clients at Good Code. In these meetings, we shared updates on what we had accomplished and outlined our plans for the coming week. Each session included detailed presentations that reviewed our progress and set clear goals, helping everyone stay aligned and informed.

Creating a strong brand always starts with a story. For Cyber Sainik, that story was about blending cutting-edge cybersecurity with the strength and vigilance of a soldier. Our first stage was to understand their vision and the message they wanted to send to the world.

A Fresh Look

We kicked off by brainstorming ideas that would capture the essence of both 'cyber' and 'sainik' - which means 'soldier' in several South Asian languages. The logo needed to stand for protection, trust, and tech-smart all at once. We wanted a design that spoke of security in the digital age, something that would make people feel their cyber safety was in good hands.

With a clear plan, we created a logo that was a big change from the old one. This new logo wasn't just an update; it was Cyber Sainik’s new symbol for the digital age.

Colors tell a part of a brand's story too. We picked vibrant purples to paint a picture of innovation paired with trustworthiness. To set Cyber Sainik apart, we ventured into a palette of pastel secondary and status colors, which are quite uncommon in cybersecurity branding. These softer shades not only make the brand more approachable and user-friendly but also ensure that it stands out. Pastels bring a modern, accessible feel to the brand, inviting users to interact with the product with ease and comfort.

With the design framework in place, our next step was to tackle the user experience head-on. Given that XDR concept was relatively new and often misinterpreted in the industry, we aimed for clarity and precision. We needed a deep understanding of the potential users and what they'd require to make the XDR truly beneficial.

Discovery and Research

The groundwork began with in-depth research. We reached out to CISOs and industry analysts to capture a comprehensive picture of what users expect from an XDR system. Our goal was to grasp what would make the system not just operational, but invaluable to daily users.

Strategic Alignment

Gathering insights was only the beginning. Collaborating with Cyber Sainik, we mapped these insights to their strategic goals, ensuring that our design choices would contribute to the product's market success. Recognizing that security leaders have diverse expectations, we concentrated on pinpointing essential features that could deliver tangible benefits, moving beyond a basic checklist to craft a solution that genuinely addresses user challenges.

Detail-Oriented UX Design

Team Development

Alongside this detailed UX work, Sam enlisted our expertise in another crucial area—helping him build a leadership team. While scouting for talent can be a competitive field, at Good Code we believe it's an integral part of fostering enduring partnerships and paving the way for client success. Leveraging our network and deep understanding of the industry, we supported Cyber Sainik in securing a key leadership role, welcoming Dean Teffer as their new CTO.

When the Cyber Sainik team set out to develop their first cybersecurity product, they encountered several common challenges in the startup world. One significant hurdle was balancing the development of the product roadmap with actual product creation, which can often lead to delays. Engineers, striving for perfection, might spend too much time refining features, causing slow progress and numerous iterations.

Design Approach

To tackle this, we introduced rapid prototyping using Figma, which became a game changer. This tool allowed us to create detailed, realistic prototypes that looked and functioned like the final product. These prototypes were crucial for early-stage presentations to stakeholders, allowing us to gather feedback without committing extensive resources to full-scale development. This process ensured that the features we planned were actually needed and feasible, streamlining the path from idea to implementation.

Additionally, our design challenge included integrating a futuristic yet military aesthetic into the product while ensuring accessibility. The primary color, violet, needed to be clearly visible in dark mode settings. To achieve this, we developed a comprehensive design system that became the single source of truth for all teams involved. This system standardized UI components and ensured consistency across the application, making the design scalable and manageable.

Development Strategy

After establishing a solid design foundation, we shifted our focus to the development aspects, particularly optimizing UI elements such as glows and shadows to prevent loading issues. This optimization was crucial for maintaining a smooth user experience without sacrificing the aesthetic appeal of the design, especially for our uniquely styled components like non-rectangular dialogs, buttons, and page containers with complex gradients and glows. The flexibility of our open-source products reaviz and reablocks allowed developers to efficiently implement these sophisticated components, significantly streamlining the development process.

Scalability in development was not just about performance but also how quickly we could bring features to market. By refining our design system, we made it possible to quickly adapt and implement features, significantly reducing the time from concept to market. This approach allowed our engineering team to focus on building essential features validated by stakeholder feedback, avoiding the pitfalls of over-perfectionism and unnecessary delays.

The saying "a picture speaks a thousand words" perfectly fits our journey with Cyber Sainik.

In less than a year, we transformed a basic idea into a sophisticated cybersecurity system. Our involvement extended beyond building software; we shaped a user-friendly experience, provided strategic direction, and developed a supportive team for continued success.

This collaboration has not only enhanced Cyber Sainik’s presence in the cybersecurity market but also strengthened our relationship. At Good Code, we believe in long-term partnerships. We’re committed to supporting our partners like Cyber Sainik at every step, not just through the initial development or MVP stage but as they continue to grow and evolve.

“Good Code is an amazing full-service team of designers and developers. We have really enjoyed working with them, and they have designed and deployed a UI that has exceeded our already high expectations.”

— Dean Teffer, Chief Technology Officer; Cyber Sainik

As we move forward, we’re excited to continue our partnership with Cyber Sainik, supporting them as they expand and innovate.

Ready to step into a world where cybersecurity meets a personalized, unparalleled user experience? Unlock the doors to a future where UI/UX isn't just a feature but a testament to seamless collaboration and innovation. Head over to www.goodcode.us – your next tech adventure begins now!

In a world of rapid change and evolving threats, staying ahead is paramount. At Cyber Sainik, we lead the charge in cybersecurity, equipped with top-notch professionals dedicated to keeping you secure. Explore our website and book a consultation to discover the power of AI technology and how it is being utilized in our innovative XDR solution.