How F12.net Improved Audit Consistency and Confidence with MHM
Case Study:
F12.net, a Managed IT Services Provider,
Moves from Transactional Audit
Experiences to a Trusted Partnership
Industry: IT Managed Services
Headquarters: Canada
What They Do: Deliver managed IT, cloud, security, and AI solutions to business across Canada.
Core Services: Managed IT, Cybersecurity, Cloud, Data Protection, Recovery & Advisory Services
F12 is a Canadian technology services firm that helps organizations assess, adopt, operate, and secure their technology environments. Beyond managed IT services, F12 delivers cybersecurity, sovereign cloud, data governance, and executive‑level advisory to support organizations with regulatory, risk, and resilience requirements. Through integrated operations, security, and adoption services, F12 enables secure, compliant, and outcome‑driven use of technology across Canada.
The Challenge:
Before working with MHM, F12 had been experiencing disruptions in its auditing process.
One of the biggest issues was inconsistency. As the team explained, they experienced “a revolving door of auditors being assigned to our account.” This lack of continuity made it difficult to maintain efficiency from year to year and created unnecessary friction in the audit process.
Without a consistent audit team, familiarity with F12’s systems, processes, and environment was often lost between engagements. This resulted in delays and challenges completing reports in a timely manner.
At the same time, F12 faced continued pricing increases without meaningful improvements in service. Issues that had been raised in previous audit cycles were not being effectively addressed year over year.
Another important factor was geography. As a Canadian company, F12 wanted to work with a Canadian-based audit firm that understood their business environment and could build a long-term partnership.
Ultimately, these frustrations led F12 to begin searching for a new audit partner who could provide a more reliable and collaborative experience for their SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 audits.
The MHM Approach:
During their search for new auditors, F12 specifically looked for a Canadian firm that could deliver both expertise and consistency.
MHM stood out as a partner that could provide a stable audit team, clearer communication, and a more efficient process overall. Rather than the constant turnover they had previously experienced, F12 valued working with auditors who could maintain familiarity with their organization and maintain continuity across engagements.
This consistency helped create a smoother audit process and allowed both teams to focus on improving outcomes rather than revisiting the same issues each year.
“We felt like we gained a partner that is available to us throughout the year. Jose has made himself available to us to provide advice/insight on compliance matters as we navigate new situations or explore opportunities within our industry. Having a consistent team working with us also makes the process of completing our audits quicker as there is continuity between the audits.” - D.K. Stepanko IT & Compliance Manager
The Results:
Since partnering with MHM, F12 has experienced a more stable and efficient audit process across both their SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 engagments. Key outcomes include:
100% continuity with a dedicated audit team (same principal and auditor each year)
Streamlined the audit process, improving audit report completion timelines and reducing friction by eliminating repetitive explanations
Clear, consistent communication throughout the engagement
A collaborative approach to resolving issues and improving processes
Increased confidence in working with a Canadian-based audit partner that understands their business
Looking Ahead:
For organizations like F12 that operate in highly technical and security-focused environments, having the right audit partner can make a meaningful difference.
By providing consistency, responsiveness, and a structured approach to compliance engagements, MHM has helped F12 move away from a frustrating audit experience and toward a more productive long-term partnership.
“The MHM team easily establishes themselves as a core part of our organization and remains committed to our success as we continue to grow our compliance portfolio.”
- D.K. Stepanko IT & Compliance Manager
“Working with F12 was a true collaboration. Their team brought a high level of engagement, transparency, and technical maturity throughout the process. That made it possible to move efficiently while still strengthening the overall control environment. We value the partnership and look forward to continuing to support their journey.” - Jose Costa, MHM Principal