CASE STUDY –
Netprotect

 How NetProtect Built a 40-Person Mexico Team in 18 Months 

 NetProtect needed a scalable, time-zone-aligned alternative to its offshore operations in Asia. CodersLink helped launch and manage a Guadalajara team, starting with six hires and growing the office to 40 people before NetProtect transitioned the operation to its own payroll after 18 months. 
STAFF AUGMENTATION TO PERMANENT PLACEMENT
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IN A NUTSHELL

 NetProtect needed a scalable way to support its applications and customers while improving collaboration with its US-based teams. CodersLink helped the company establish a Guadalajara operation, initially managing recruiting, payroll, benefits, equipment, and office setup. The team grew from six initial hires to a 40-person operation before transitioning to NetProtect’s internal payroll after 18 months. 

Overview

About the client

 NetProtect provides internet protection solutions for consumers and businesses, supporting secure access to files, websites, software, and media. At the time of the engagement, the company operated as part of J2 Global’s portfolio of internet information and services brands. 
  • IndustryInternet Security & Privacy 
  • Company sizeMultinational corporation
  • LocationUnited States / 
    Guadalajara, Mexico
Solution

Our Approach

In short:  CodersLink helped NetProtect establish and operate a nearshore technology team in Guadalajara. The engagement began with managed staff augmentation—including recruiting, payroll, benefits, equipment, and office support—and transitioned to permanent placement and internal ownership after 18 months. 

 

Phase 1 —  Market entry and operating design:

  •  Defined standardized salaries and job descriptions for each role. 

  •  Established benefits offerings and equipment policies. 

  •  Helped NetProtect understand the operating requirements of building a team in Mexico. 

  •  Prepared the Guadalajara office and local employment infrastructure. 

 

Phase 2 —  Team launch and managed operations: 

  •  Recruited an initial team of six professionals. 

  •  Built teams across technical support and software engineering. 

  •  Managed payroll, benefits, equipment purchases, and office operations. 

  •  Integrated the Guadalajara team directly with NetProtect’s US-based organization. 

 

Phase 3 —  Scale and transition: 

  •  Expanded the Guadalajara operation to 40 people. 

  •  Added mobile development, QA, and UX/UI capabilities as the team grew. 

  •  Supported a direct reporting structure between the Mexico team and NetProtect’s US organization. 
  •  Transitioned the full Mexico team to NetProtect’s internal payroll after 18 months. 

 

Key decision:  Staff augmentation was used as a launch bridge, not a permanent dependency. CodersLink managed the operational complexity while NetProtect learned how to run a Mexico team, then supported the transition to direct internal ownership. 

Impact

The Results

The Team:  NetProtect established a Guadalajara operation spanning technical support, engineering, mobile development, quality assurance, and product design. 

 

Roles supported

  •  Technical Support Specialists.

  •  Software Engineers.

  •  Mobile Developers.

  •  QA Engineers.

  •  UX/UI Designers. 

 

Technologies & capabilities
 PHP · Python · Linux · Objective-C · Swift · C · Cocoa · Cocoa Touch · Customer Support 

 

The Metrics: CodersLink helped NetProtect launch its first Mexico operation, scale the Guadalajara team from six initial hires to 40 people, and establish a clear path toward internal ownership. 

 

→ Metric #1 — Team launched quickly 

    • Started with a six-person Guadalajara team that began working directly with NetProtect’s US-based teams within the first few months.

→ Metric #2 — Operation scaled

    • Grew the Mexico operation to 40 people across technical support, software engineering, mobile development, QA, and UX/UI. 

→ Metric #3 — Internal ownership established 

    • After 18 months, NetProtect transitioned the full Mexico team to its internal payroll, having built the structure and operating knowledge to manage the operation directly. 

 

What this enabled

  •  Better time-zone alignment with US-based teams.

  • A scalable operating model for technology and customer support roles.

  • Standardized compensation, benefits, job descriptions, and equipment policies.

  • Direct integration between the Guadalajara operation and NetProtect’s US organization.

  • A planned transition from managed operations to internal payroll. 

 The process of starting up a team in Guadalajara was a lot less painful than we had anticipated. We were able to quickly start with a team of six who in less than a few months are already working with our US based teams. 

NEXT STEP

 Ready to launch and scale your tech team in Mexico? 

 Let’s map the roles, operating support, and transition plan you need to build a Mexico team that integrates with your organization from day one. 

 No pressure—just a quick conversation about your expansion goals.