Founded in 2003 by Jacob Smith, Westrum & Brown was built on a disciplined, self-taught foundation in web development, search optimization, and security best practices. From the outset, the firm operated with the understanding that digital systems are not merely marketing assets, but operational environments that must be secured, governed, and maintained over time. Clients engaged Westrum & Brown not simply for design or visibility, but for technically grounded guidance that protected data, reinforced trust, and supported long-term continuity.

Under Smith’s leadership as both CEO and CTO, Westrum & Brown developed a security-first operating model well before cybersecurity became a selling point. The firm implemented structured patch management, hardened infrastructure, controlled access environments, and continuity planning—critical safeguards for law firms and professional organizations entrusted with highly sensitive and regulated information. Risk reduction and compliance were treated as complementary responsibilities, embedded into daily operations rather than addressed reactively.

As the firm grew, Westrum & Brown evolved into a full-service consultancy, scaling to a ten-person team that included contracted copywriters and content photographers alongside technical staff. This integrated model ensured cohesive, brand-aligned execution while maintaining strict oversight of systems, permissions, and data handling. By prioritizing depth, governance, and accountability over volume, the firm remained competitive with national providers without compromising its standards.

The firm’s philosophy is rooted in Iowa and informed by the enduring presence of the Allison Monument—a symbol of service, integrity, and quiet permanence. Much like the monument itself, Westrum & Brown values work built to endure: principled, accountable, and resilient over time. That sense of stewardship continues to shape how the firm approaches client relationships, professional responsibility, and long-term trust.

Today, Westrum & Brown stands as a legacy consultancy shaped by more than two decades of disciplined growth and technical evolution. While tools and technologies have changed, the firm’s standards remain constant: reduce risk, protect what matters, and leave every organization stronger, safer, and more resilient than it was before.

As John F. Kennedy observed, “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” That principle has long resonated with Westrum & Brown’s approach to its work. Technical skill, responsiveness, and perseverance matter—but without clear purpose and disciplined direction, they fail to produce durable outcomes. From security governance to brand stewardship, Westrum & Brown has always operated with intention: aligning effort with responsibility, courage with restraint, and action with long-term consequence. Purpose provides the framework, direction provides the discipline, and together they ensure that work is not only effective but worthy of the trust placed in it.